Sun, 02/22/2015 - 12:15

El Kabeir gets in half-mile workout despite weather concerns

ELMONT, N.Y. – El Kabeir, who is attempting to take New York’s pot-hole-laden road to the Kentucky Derby, squeezed in a half-mile workout Sunday morning at Belmont Park and remains on course for a start March 7 in the Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.

Sat, 02/21/2015 - 14:20

California Chrome has first work toward Dubai World Cup

CYPRESS, Calif. – California Chrome worked a half-mile in 48.80 seconds Saturday at Los Alamitos, his first workout since a second to Shared Belief in the $590,900 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita and his first workout in the buildup to the $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 28.

Typical of his workouts in the last year at Los Alamitos, California Chrome had the track to himself for a few minutes shortly after the 8 a.m. renovation.

Sat, 02/21/2015 - 09:14

Take Charge Brandi works for Honeybee Stakes

Coady Photography
Take Charge Brandi wins the Martha Washington Stakes by a head Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Champion Take Charge Brandi had a significant work Saturday morning at Oaklawn Park, as she continues preparations for the track's Grade 3, $150,000 Honeybee on March 7. Take Charge Brandi worked in a three-horse set shortly after Oaklawn opened for training and covered five furlongs on a track rated “good” in 1:00.40.

Fri, 02/20/2015 - 15:48

Eagle out of commission

Eagle, who ran well in finishing third last fall in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes but finished a disappointing seventh in the Jan. 17 Lecomte here in his 3-year-old debut, is out of training with what trainer Neil Howard described to Fair Grounds publicity as a “jarred knee.” Howard declined to provide further details about the nature of the injury or how much time Eagle might miss.

By Candy Ride, Eagle was bred and is owned by Will Farish.

Fri, 02/20/2015 - 15:46

Hard Aces sold, joins Sadler

Hard Aces was to be scratched from the Mineshaft Handicap on Saturday because a private purchase that appeared to have fallen through was completed this week.

Fri, 02/20/2015 - 15:44

Eden Grey’s Kitten to dirt

As well as Eden Grey’s Kitten won his career debut, trainer Steve Flint said not to be surprised if the Louisiana-bred 3-year-old shows more when he races again Sunday.

Fri, 02/20/2015 - 15:35

Fever knocks J S Bach out of Risen Star

Tom Keyser
J S Bach won his second start, a maiden race, by 8 1/2 lengths.

NEW ORLEANS – J S Bach, the sharp Gulfstream Park maiden winner who would have been among the favorites in Saturday’s Risen Star Stakes here, had to be scratched because of a fever, and the focus now is getting him well enough to ship back to Gulfstream early next week.

Fri, 02/20/2015 - 14:31

Tom’s Tribute retired following ankle injury

Barbara D. Livingston
Multiple stakes winner Tom's Tribute won 6 of 16 starts and earned $634,880.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Tom’s Tribute, the winner of the Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar in 2014 and three other stakes in his career, has been retired because of an ankle injury, trainer Jim Cassidy said Friday.

Tom’s Tribute may stand at stud this spring, pending discussions with farms, Cassidy said.

Owned by Marilyn Braly, Tom’s Tribute won 6 of 16 starts and earned $634,880. Cassidy said that Tom’s Tribute emerged from a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes on Jan. 3 with an ankle injury.

Fri, 02/20/2015 - 14:30

Patrioticandproud may get shot at Santa Anita Handicap

Nikki Sherman
Patrioticandproud is under consideration for the March 7 Santa Anita Handicap.

Patrioticandproud, a stakes winner at Woodbine who was seventh in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes on Feb. 7, is a candidate for the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 7, trainer Mark Casse said.

Patrioticandproud, a 6-year-old gelding, was third in the Las Vegas Marathon on dirt here last October and later second in two turf stakes – the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar on Nov. 27 and the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes here Jan. 3.

“He’s trained extremely well on the dirt,” Casse said. “We know the distance will not be an issue. We’re thinking about it.”

Fri, 02/20/2015 - 14:26

Big Macher, Conquest Two Step headed to Golden Shaheen

Shigeki Kikkawa
Conquest Two Step is headed to the $2 million Golden Shaheen in Dubai on March 28.

Three Southern California-based sprinters – Big Macher, Conquest Two Step, and Secret Circle – are candidates for the $2 million Golden Shaheen at six furlongs at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on March 28.

Conquest Two Step and Secret Circle were first and second in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes at six furlongs Jan. 31. Big Macher was fifth in that race.

On Friday, Big Macher worked a half-mile in 47.80 seconds.

“We’re planning on going if he continues to do well,” trainer Richard Baltas said.