Tue, 10/07/2014 - 15:30

Santa Anita cards extra race for Thursday

ARCADIA, Calif. -- For the second time in a week, there are nine races on a weekday at Santa Anita on Thursday.

Overall demand to enter horses was sufficient enough last Friday and again for Thursday to add a race to scheduled eight-race programs, racing secretary Rick Hammerle said.

Tue, 10/07/2014 - 15:13

Kaplan mulls options for improving East Hall

Tom Keyser
East Hall won the Grade 2 Indiana Derby last Saturday at Indiana Grand.

MIAMI – East Hall was enjoying a well-deserved day off Tuesday after returning home from a surprising one-length victory over Vicar’s in Trouble in last Saturday’s Grade 2 Indiana Derby. East Hall, who also won the Ohio Derby this summer, defeated an Indiana Derby field that included another 3-year-old based at Gulfstream Park, the previously undefeated Atreides, who finished a well-beaten sixth as the even-money favorite.

Tue, 10/07/2014 - 13:48

O'Neill's horses to run in assistant's name

Barbara D. Livingston
Doug O'Neill endured a string of critical articles in The New York Times and other publications after winning the Kentucky Derby last year.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Doug O’Neill, who faces a 45-day suspension for a medication violation in New York, will not be the trainer of record of horses from his stable at Santa Anita on Thursday and Friday.

The horses will run under the name of his assistant, Leandro Mora, a decision that O’Neill said Tuesday was made by the owners last weekend.

“They have asked to have Leandro run the horses on Thursday and Friday,” he said.

Tue, 10/07/2014 - 12:20

Bayerd eyes Remington 2-year-old series

Barbara D. Livingston
Bayerd will start next in the $100,000 Clever Trevor at Remington on Nov. 7.

Bayerd, an 11 1/2-length maiden winner at Saratoga in August, shipped to Remington last month with an eye on the track’s 2-year-old stakes program, said trainer Steve Asmussen. The horse won the $75,825 Kip Deville on the Oklahoma Derby undercard Sept. 28 and is now being pointed for the $100,000 Clever Trevor at Remington on Nov. 7. The final race in the series is the $250,000 Springboard Mile on Dec. 14.

“It’s a nice program,” Asmussen said.

Tue, 10/07/2014 - 11:58

Paths diverge for Remington Sprint Championship exacta Mico Margarita, Heitai

Coady Photography
Mico Margarita will get a shot at the Grade 1, $1.5 million Breeders' Cup Sprint on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.

Mico Margarita and Heitai made for a dramatic one-two finish in last month’s $150,000 Remington Park Sprint Championship, each earning a triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure. Now, the pair is heading down different roads.

Mico Margarita is scheduled to make his next start in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 1, trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. Heitai’s focus moving forward will be turf racing, according to trainer Karl Broberg.

Tue, 10/07/2014 - 11:49

Big Cazanova eyes Breeders' Cup Classic

Barbara D. Livingston
Big Cazanova was eighth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup last out.

When Big Cazanova went to New York last month for the Jockey Club Gold Cup, trainer Peter Miller was hoping to learn just how far the South American import had progressed. But Miller said he never got the chance to find out, and he’s willing to try once more, this time on racing’s biggest late-season stage.

Mon, 10/06/2014 - 16:23

Velazquez bags five wins on Saturday

Keeneland/Coady Photography
John Velazquez won with five of his seven mounts on the Saturday card at Keeneland.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez won with five of seven mounts on Saturday at Keeneland, marking the 18th time that has been done. Velazquez swept the late pick four (races 7-10), including three straight Grade 1 wins on Dayatthespa in the First Lady, Carpe Diem in the Breeders’ Futurity, and Wise Dan in the Shadwell Turf Mile.

The Keeneland record for the most wins on a card is shared by three jockeys: Randy Romero and Craig Perret both won six in a day at the 1990 spring meet, and Julien Leparoux did it at the 2012 spring meet.

Mon, 10/06/2014 - 16:19

Handle down opening weekend at Keeneland

LEXINGTON, Ky. – All-sources wagering on Keeneland racing on the opening three-day Fall Stars Weekend was down marginally from 2013, according to figures released by the track.

Total handle was $29.4 million, down 5 percent from the $31.1 million handle on opening weekend last year. Saturday and Sunday handle actually were up from last year, but handle on the Friday opener, which marked the debut of the new dirt surface amid nasty weather, was down 24 percent.

Mon, 10/06/2014 - 16:19

Euro Charline to skip Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup

Four-Footed Fotos
Euro Charline will not start in Saturday's $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.

Euro Charline has been declared from consideration for the final Grade 1 race of the Keeneland fall meet, the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on Saturday, after trainer Todd Pletcher did not work the filly as scheduled Monday at Belmont. The British-bred filly loomed a solid favorite in the QE II.

Mon, 10/06/2014 - 16:10

Lawn Ranger improving ahead of BC Juvenile Turf

Coady Photography
Chris Landeros guides Lawn Ranger to a half-length victory in the Dixiana Bourbon for 2-year-olds.

The winners of last weekend’s Breeders’ Cup challenge races for the Grade 1, $1 million Juvenile Turf appear headed in different directions. Lawn Ranger, who won the Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland, is on board for the Breeders’ Cup, while Full Mast, placed first in the Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp, is calling it a season.

The races were the final Win and You’re In preps for the BC Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 31.