Wed, 02/11/2015 - 15:11

J S Bach ships in for Southwest

Tom Keyser
J S Bach comes into the Southwest off a fast maiden win at Gulfstream Park.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – J S Bach will make his stakes debut Monday in the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn following a flashy win at Gulfstream Park. He rolled by 8 1/2 lengths in a maiden special weight at the same 1 1/16-mile distance of the Southwest, and late Wednesday morning, he touched down in Arkansas aboard a flight from Florida.

Wed, 02/11/2015 - 15:03

Lord Nelson sharpens for San Felipe

Benoit & Associates
Lord Nelson is being pointed to the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe Stakes on March 7.

Lord Nelson, winner of the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes for sprinters on Feb. 1, worked a half-mile in 48 seconds at Santa Anita on Wednesday.

Trained by Bob Baffert for John Fort’s Peachtree Stables, Lord Nelson is being prepared for the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on March 7.

“He came out of the race sharp,” Baffert said. “I was happy with the work. He’s right on schedule for the San Felipe.”

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays

Wed, 02/11/2015 - 14:51

Indianaughty chases Derby points

You might say that Dale Romans is going out of his way to try to get Indianaughty some Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

On Tuesday, Romans sent the Indian Charlie colt clear across the continent on a Federal Express flight from south Florida to Memphis, Tenn., then on to San Francisco for the El Camino Real Derby on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields. The 1 1/8-mile Tapeta race is worth 10 Derby points to the winner.

Wed, 02/11/2015 - 14:50

No excuse for Protonico in Donn Handicap

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Protonico, ridden by Joe Bravo, wins the Grade 3 Discovery by 2 3/4 lengths.

Protonico was eased in the stretch of the Grade 1 Donn Handicap last weekend, but trainer Todd Pletcher said the Giant’s Causeway colt came out of the race “super” and that he has been unable to find a reason for such a poor performance as the 5-1 third choice in a field of nine.

“I don’t have any excuse to offer,” he said.

Wed, 02/11/2015 - 14:47

Lea unlikely to start in Dubai World Cup

Barbara D. Livingston
Lea will make his second start following an extended layoff in Saturday's Donn Handicap.

Lea, second as the 13-10 favorite in the Donn, probably will not be sent to Dubai next month for the $10 million Dubai World Cup, as had been speculated beforehand, according to Walker Hancock, president of Claiborne Farm, which co-owns the 6-year-old horse with Adele Dilschneider.

Wed, 02/11/2015 - 14:44

Clubhouse Ride's future plans undecided

Benoit & Associates
A suspensory injury has cast doubt as to whether Clubhouse Ride will race again.

The multiple stakes winner Clubhouse Ride sustained a suspensory injury in the San Antonio Stakes last Saturday, leading to discussions about whether to retire him for immediate stallion service or attempt a comeback later this year, trainer Craig Lewis said on Wednesday.

“There’s some questions about what his future is,” Lewis said. “He might go to stud, or he could come back. It’s being discussed.”

Wed, 02/11/2015 - 14:10

Main Sequence on target for 2015 debut in Mac Diarmida

Tom Keyser
Main Sequence capped a 4-for-4 campaign by winning the Breeders' Cup Turf on Nov. 1.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Graham Motion said that Eclipse Award winner Main Sequence remains on target for the Mac Diarmida Stakes at Gulfstream a week from Saturday, a race he’ll use as a prep for the Dubai Sheema Classic on March 28. On Monday, Main Sequence worked seven furlongs around the Palm Meadows turf course in 1:23.90 in company with stablemate Bravodino, his fifth work since arriving at the training center from Fair Hill at the start of 2015.

Wed, 02/11/2015 - 14:10

California Chrome gets back to the track

Shigeki Kikkawa
California Chrome is scheduled to depart California in mid-March for Dubai, where he will run in the $10 million Dubai World Cup.

CYPRESS, Calif. –California Chrome was back in action at Los Alamitos on Wednesday morning, jogging four days after finishing second in his 2015 debut in the $590,000 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita.

The schedule follows a routine set in the last year for California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year, according to Alan Sherman, assistant trainer for his father, Art. After three days of walking, California Chrome jogs for a day before resuming galloping.

“He was ready to do something,” Alan Sherman said.

Wed, 02/11/2015 - 13:54

Bourbon Courage begins 2015 with focus on one-turn races

Tom Keyser
Bourbon Courage will start on Monday in the $250,000 General George Handicap at Laurel Park.

Bourbon Courage reinvented himself during a three-race campaign last fall, winning his first race in two years and, somewhat surprisingly, making the case that he is better around one turn than two.

On the Presidents Day card Monday at Laurel Park, a freshened Bourbon Courage will begin his 6-year-old season in the $250,000 General George Handicap.

“If he runs well at Laurel, we’ll go to the Carter with him,” said trainer Kellyn Gorder.

The Grade 1 Carter Handicap will be run at Aqueduct on April 4. Like the General George, it is seven furlongs.

Tue, 02/10/2015 - 15:57

Mirahmadi to call races at Monmouth

Frank Mirahmadi will be the announcer at Monmouth Park when the New Jersey track begins its 2015 season on May 9.

Mirahmadi, 47, replaces Travis Stone, who called the 2014 Monmouth meet but has since been named the announcer at Churchill Downs. Stone has also worked for the New York Racing Association this winter.