Mon, 10/13/2014 - 12:22

Battaglia won’t work Breeders’ Cup broadcast for NBC

Barbara D. Livingston
Mike Battaglia will call the races live at Churchill Downs from Oct. 26 through Nov. 2 while Larry Collmus is on leave.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Mike Battaglia, part of major racing broadcasts on NBC for more than 20 years, said recently at Keeneland that he will not be working the upcoming Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita and instead will call the races live at Churchill Downs while Larry Collmus is on leave.

Sun, 10/12/2014 - 15:04

Mandella prefers Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint for Silentio

Benoit & Associates
Silentio finished third in last year's Breeders' Cup Mile, but trainer Gary Mandella says he's leaning towards running the horse in the BC Turf Sprint.

ARCADIA, Calif.-  Silentio will race in sprints this autumn, with the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 1 the next goal for the 5-year-old horse.

Trainer Gary Mandella said on Sunday that Silentio will be cross-entered for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile, a race in which he finished third last year. Mandella emphasized that he would prefer to run Silentio in the Turf Sprint.

“That’s my first preference,” Mandella said. “I think he might really like it.”

Sun, 10/12/2014 - 13:44

Untapable, Tapiture tune up for Breeders' Cup

Tom Keyser
The 3-year-old filly Untapable, winner of last month's Cotillion at Parx, will challenge older horses in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Steve Asmussen has sent six horses to California, all for the Breeders’ Cup, and on Sunday morning at Santa Anita, he worked the best of them, Kentucky Oaks winner Untapable -- who is preparing for the Distaff -- as well as Tapiture, who will go in either the Dirt Mile or the Classic.

Both worked five furlongs, both went solo, and both had exercise rider Carlos Rosas aboard.

Sat, 10/11/2014 - 16:51

Moulin de Mougin will miss Breeders' Cup

Benoit & Associates
Moulin de Mougin won her first stakes in the John C. Mabee last Sunday.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Moulin de Mougin,  the winner of the Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes in August but who went down  in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes on Sept. 27, will miss the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.

Trainer Richard Mandella told Santa Anita’s publicity department  that the 4-year-old  Moulin de Mougin emerged from the spill with bone bruising in a stifle and shoulder. She will be pointed for a 2015 campaign.

“We did a nuclear scan two days ago and it showed bone bruising,” Mandella said on Saturday.

Sat, 10/11/2014 - 14:46

Kulik Lodge looks ready to step up to stakes

Shigeki Kikkawa
Kulik Lodge, with Mike Smith aboard, extended his winning streak to three races Friday.

Kulik Lodge ran his win streak to three in an optional claimer over 1 1/8 miles on turf on Friday at Santa Anita and may run next in a stakes.

Ridden by Mike Smith, Kulik Lodge ($5) stalked pacesetter Ethnic Dance to the final furlong before winning by a length. Ethnic Dance is best known for winning a division of the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby in September 2013.

Sat, 10/11/2014 - 14:07

Sadler encouraged by how Candy Boy is working

Barbara D. Livingston
Since finishing third in last month's Pennsylvania Derby, Candy Boy has turned in two good workouts towards the Breeders' Cup Classic.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Candy Boy and Sweet Swap, two of trainer John Sadler’s hopes for Breeders’ Cup races on Nov. 1, worked at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Candy Boy, a candidate for the BC Classic, worked five furlongs in 1:00.80. Sadler timed the 3-year-old Candy Boy galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.40. Candy Boy has had two workouts since finishing third in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing on Sept. 20. Candy Boy worked a half-mile in 47.80 seconds on Oct. 4.

“He looked good last week and this week,” Sadler said.

Sat, 10/11/2014 - 13:21

Fast Anna, Little Alexis work towards Breeders' Cup

Tom Keyser
Little Alexis remains on target for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainers Kathy Ritvo and Carlo Vaccarezza were all smiles after watching their respective Breeders’ Cup candidates Fast Anna and Little Alexis work over a very quick main track Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park.

Fri, 10/10/2014 - 15:23

Lochte gets allowance test before Breeders’ Cup Mile decision

Leslie Martin/Coglianese Photos
Lochte will start in Sunday's $44,000 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park West, and a decision will be made afterward on the gelding's status for the Breeders' Cup Mile.

MIAMI – Trainer Marcus Vitali said his Grade 1 winner Lochte could use Sunday’s $44,000 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park West as a springboard to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.

Fri, 10/10/2014 - 15:19

Injured jockey Juarez begins rehab

Apprentice Nik Juarez, who was injured when his mount fell in the eighth race at Monmouth Park on Sept. 28, has been cleared to begin rehab.

Juarez sustained a mid-grade tear to the muscles in his buttocks and upper leg when his mount fell on the first turn of the race at one mile and 70 yards. He is scheduled to rehab and then revisit his doctors Oct. 27.

Fri, 10/10/2014 - 14:52

Palace back on work tab for BC Sprint

Barbara D. Livingston
Palace continued his hot streak Saturday with a 3 1/2-length victory in the Forego Stakes at Saratoga.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The multiple Grade 1-winning sprinter Palace worked a strong four furlongs in 48.41 seconds over the Belmont training track Friday in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. It was his first work since finishing third in the Grade 1 Vosburgh on Sept. 27 and the fastest of 41 works at the distance Friday.

Palace, under Cornelio Velasquez, galloped out a strong five furlongs in 1:00.63 and six furlongs in 1:12.91.