Fri, 08/22/2014 - 13:57

Vicar's in Trouble targets Super Derby

Lynn Roberts/Hodges Photography
Vicar's in Trouble hasn't run in Louisiana since winning the Louisiana Derby in March, but will return to his home state for the Sept. 6 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.

Vicar’s in Trouble is coming home to Louisiana, at least for a brief visit. Trainer Mike Maker said the Louisiana-bred is to make his next start in the Grade 2, $400,000 Super Derby. The race anchors the richest card of the Louisiana Downs meet Sept. 6.

Maker said Rosie Napravnik is scheduled to ride Vicar’s in Trouble.

The last time Vicar’s in Trouble visited his home state, he won the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds on March 29. Napravnik was aboard. The horse will enter the Super Derby off a third-pace finish in the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby on Aug. 2.

Fri, 08/22/2014 - 13:47

Floating Feather on hot streak heading into Pederson Memorial

AUBURN, Wash. – Race 10 on Sunday’s Emerald Downs card – the $22,575 Pete Pederson Memorial at one mile – attracted six horses, with Floating Feather, the dominant stakes runner in Idaho, among the leading contenders. He’ll be ridden by the remarkable Nikeela Black, a 29-year-old Boise, Idaho, lawyer who moonlights as a jockey – the leading jockey – at Les Bois Park.

Fri, 08/22/2014 - 13:00

California Chrome gets serious in half-mile workout

Scott Martinez/Los Alamitos
California Chrome worked a half-mile in 47.40 seconds with Victor Espinoza aboard Friday.

CYPRESS, Calif. – Workouts became more serious for California Chrome at Los Alamitos on Friday.

For the first time since a fourth-place finish June 7 in the Belmont Stakes, California Chrome was ridden by jockey Victor Espinoza in Friday’s half-mile workout in 47.40 seconds. California Chrome is scheduled to make his comeback Sept. 20 in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing, a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.

Fri, 08/22/2014 - 11:52

Brown remains unsure where to run Dayatthespa

Tom Keyser
Dayatthespa, who has been training at Saratoga, may return from an eight-month layoff Saturday in the De La Rose Stakes.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - A decision on whether Grade 1 winner Dayatthespa will race in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Ballston Spa or in Sunday's $150,000 Yaddo for New York-breds will not be made until Friday evening or possibly even Saturday morning.

Fri, 08/22/2014 - 11:40

Lincoln Race Course to hold another one-furlong race

Lincoln Race Course received approval from the Nebraska State Racing Commission on Thursday to conduct a live race Sept. 4 at its new location on the southwest side of Lincoln.

Formerly located north of downtown Lincoln at the former Nebraska State Fairgrounds, the track moved into its new facility near the intersection of Highway 77 and West Denton Road late last summer and has been conducting nationwide simulcasting since then.

Fri, 08/22/2014 - 11:35

Gulfstream notes: Palatine Hill targets Claiming Crown

The Claiming Crown in December remains the main long-term goal for the Peter Walder-trained Palatine Hill after the lanky gelding easily won for the fifth time in his last seven starts Thursday at Gulfstream.

Palatine Hill was claimed for $12,500 in January and remains eligible for several races in the $1 million Claiming Crown series, which will be run for the 16th time Dec. 6, opening day of the championship meet.

Fri, 08/22/2014 - 11:22

Three-year-old filly Georgia gets fresh start in Florida

Coglianese Photos
Running without blinkers for the first time, Georgia wins an optional claimer on Thursday at Gulfstream.

Changes in scenery and equipment led to a very encouraging performance for a 3-year-old filly named Georgia at Gulfstream Park on Thursday.

Making her first start since being transferred from the West Coast and into the barn of Marty Wolfson, Georgia won a first-level, one-turn optional claimer going a mile by 3 3/4 lengths, earning a 77 Beyer Speed Figure while showing marked improvement following a disappointing return to action last month over Polytrack at Del Mar. She was racing without blinkers for the first time in five career starts.

Thu, 08/21/2014 - 15:13

Guarantees on Travers Day pick four, pick six

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With 14 races on Saturday’s card there are a few changes to the wagering menu.

There will be three pick-four wagers offered, starting with races 2, 9, and 11. The pick four that begins with race 9 comprises all stakes and will have a guaranteed pool of $1 million.

::DRF Live: Get real-time updates and insights from DRF reporters and handicappers starting at 11:30 p.m. ET on Saturday

Thu, 08/21/2014 - 15:12

New York Turf Writers’ Cup rescheduled for Monday

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Due to heavy rain that hit the area on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, Thursday’s Grade 1, $150,000 New York Turf Writers’ Cup Steeplechase Stakes was postponed until Monday.

It was the second time this meet that New York Racing Association officials rescheduled a steeplechase race from a Thursday to a Monday due to course condition. All five of Thursday’s scheduled turf flat races were moved to the dirt.

The New York Turf Writers’ Cup was re-drawn on Thursday and the same nine horses who were originally entered were entered again.