Wed, 02/18/2015 - 15:24

Angela Renee has wintered well, on target for Rachel Alexandra

Barbara D. Livingston
Angele Renee, who has been training at Palm Beach Downs, will be pointed to the Rachel Alexandra Stakes, according to her connections.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has spoken encouragingly about the filly he is sending for the Rachel Alexandra Stakes, Angela Renee, whose 2-year-old campaign he described as “hit and miss for sure.”

Wed, 02/18/2015 - 14:50

J S Bach forced to adjust to scheduling changes

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

NEW ORLEANS – Ash Wednesday, the day after Mardi Gras, one can find a few folks wandering the French Quarter in New Orleans with a “What am I doing here?” glaze over their eyes.

A couple miles away at Fair Grounds, forgive the colt J S Bach if he has adopted a similar bearing.

Wed, 02/18/2015 - 14:21

Vyjack working toward return

Barbara D. Livingston
The Stymie on March 22 at Aqueduct is a possible target for Vyjack.

Vyjack, the multiple graded stakes-winning gelding, has had two workouts at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland and could return to the races in March or April, trainer Rudy Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez mentioned the $100,000 Stymie on March 22 as a possible spot.

“He’s working very good at Fair Hill. We’re going to try and point him to the Stymie,” Rodriguez said. “He’s working very good. They showed me everything that he’s done over there.”

Wed, 02/18/2015 - 14:15

Salutos Amigos doubtful for Dubai

Debra A. Roma
Salutos Amigos may stay home for the Tom Fool on March 7.

Though he hasn’t completely closed the door on shipping his top sprinter, Salutos Amigos, to Dubai for the $2 million Golden Shaheen, trainer David Jacobson said Wednesday that he is leaning toward staying home and pointing to one or two graded stakes at Aqueduct.

Jacobson said Dubai is “still in the discussion phase; it’s all about the horse – if we feel he’s up to the task or not. But we just feel so much more comfortable playing on our home field.

Wed, 02/18/2015 - 13:45

Kid Cruz set for comeback in Evening Attire

Barbara D. Livingston
Kid Cruz, idle since last August, will make his first start following knee surgery in Sunday's Evening Attire.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Under less-than-ideal circumstances, Kid Cruz will make his return to the races in Sunday’s $100,000 Evening Attire Stakes at Aqueduct, trainer Linda Rice said Wednesday.

Kid Cruz, who won four stakes as a 3-year-old in 2014, has not raced since finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 23. He emerged from that race with a chip in a knee and underwent surgery.

Wed, 02/18/2015 - 13:01

Hot prospect Japan makes debut Saturday

Look for first-time starter Japan to take a significant amount of action in Saturday’s third race at Gulfstream Park, a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race for 3-year-olds that has lured a number of well-bred newcomers from top barns. Japan, a colt by Medaglia d’Oro, has trained strongly at Palm Meadows for trainer Mike Hushion and owner Barry Schwartz.

:: GULFSTREAM PARK: Get PPs, watch Saturday’s card live

Wed, 02/18/2015 - 12:50

Shared Belief maintains fitness for Santa Anita Handicap

Shigeki Kikkawa
Shared Belief will have two more maintenance-type workouts before the March 7 Santa Anita Handicap.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Shared Belief will not have a strenuous series of workouts in advance of the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 7.

On Wednesday at Golden Gate Fields, Shared Belief, the champion 2-year-old male of 2013, worked a half-mile in 51.80 seconds, and more of the same is likely in the coming weeks for the 4-year-old gelding, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.

“I don’t have to be real hard on him for his next race,” Hollendorfer said. “He’s very fit and doing very well.”

Wed, 02/18/2015 - 12:00

Davona Dale’s mile ideal for Eskenformoney

Lauren King/Coglianese Photos
Eskenformoney is 2 for 2 going a mile, the same distance as Saturday's Davona Dale for 3-year-old fillies.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Starlight Racing is hoping that its undefeated Itsaknockout will move one step closer to another Kentucky Derby opportunity for the ownership group with a big performance Saturday in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park. A few hours earlier, Star Ladies Racing will have plenty to root for when its up-and-coming Eskenformoney tries to put herself in the Kentucky Oaks picture with a strong effort in the Grade 2 Davona Dale.

Wed, 02/18/2015 - 11:20

Metanovic sets sights on even bigger derby for Metaboss

Barbara D. Livingston
Metaboss wins the El Camino Real on Feb. 14 at Golden Gate Fields.

ALBANY, Calif. – When bloodstock agent Mersad Metanovic purchased a Street Boss weanling for $10,000, he was hoping he’d made a bargain purchase of a good, useful horse.

Little did he imagine that he’d just purchased a colt who would win the race he’d always dreamed of winning, the El Camino Real Derby.

Tue, 02/17/2015 - 15:55

Fair Grounds: Untapable, Tapiture continue to progress

Barbara D. Livingston
Tapiture, training two weeks ago at Saratoga, has had seven weeks off before the West Virginia Derby.

Untapable worked five furlongs in 1:01.96 on Monday as she continues gearing up for her 4-year-old debut.

Untapable worked by herself, and trainer Steve Asmussen said she would have at least one more solo drill before he would consider breezing Untapable in company. It was Untapable’s second five-furlong work and her fourth breeze in total since she returned to training this winter. She had been turned out at owner-breeder Ron Winchell’s farm in Kentucky after her win the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.