Tue, 08/19/2014 - 17:00

Vacation for Get Happy Mister

Coady Photography
Get Happy Mister is now 9 for 9 locally after winning the Arapahoe Park Classic under Mike Ziegler.

Get Happy Mister, who won all five of his starts during the Arapahoe Park meet that closed Sunday, has been turned out in a vacation that will last until about the first of the year, said trainer Butch Gleason. The horse is based at the Colorado farm of his owner, Annette Bishop.

“We’re going to let him rest,” Gleason said.

Get Happy Mister won the $100,000 Arapahoe Park Classic by 2 3/4 lengths Saturday to earn a 90 Beyer. He stalked a quick pace and shuttled home under regular rider Mike Ziegler.

Tue, 08/19/2014 - 15:30

Code West proves a smart buy for new owner

Dustin Orona Photography
Code West scores in the Governor's Cup last Saturday at Remington Park.

Code West opened up a host of options for his new connections Saturday night, when he won the $175,000 Governor’s Cup at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. He was a half-length winner over pacesetter Right to Vote in the 1 1/8-mile race during opening weekend and earned one of his best career Beyer Speed Figures, a 95, for his effort.

Tue, 08/19/2014 - 14:40

Bayern to get distance test in Travers Stakes

Tom Keyser
Bayern's longest win came in the 1 1/8-mile Haskell last month.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When Bob Baffert sent Bayern out for a workout Tuesday at Del Mar, he said he was looking for a reason not to put the speedy 3-year-old on a plane Wednesday morning headed for Saratoga and Saturday’s $1.25 million Travers Stakes.

“I’m always looking for an excuse not to get on the plane,” Baffert said. “So far, I haven’t found it.”

Tue, 08/19/2014 - 14:10

Shared Belief completes Pacific Classic preparations

Shigeki Kikkawa
Shared Belief had his final workout for the Pacific Classic on Tuesday.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Shared Belief, who will put his unbeaten record on the line against a strong group of older horses in the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on Sunday at Del Mar, had his final work Tuesday, a half-mile in 49.60 seconds at Golden Gate Fields, where he has trained regularly since the spring.

“I think we’ve done all the things we need to do to be ready,” Jerry Hollendorfer, who trains and is a co-owner of Shared Belief, said via telephone. “The proof comes on Sunday.”

Tue, 08/19/2014 - 14:06

Few willing to challenge Obviously

Shigeki Kikkawa
Obviously defeated He Be Fire N Ice by a half-length in the 2013 Del Mar Mile.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Only a handful of challengers are expected to face the outstanding turf miler Obviously in the Grade 2, $250,000 Del Mar Mile, which joins the Pacific Classic and Pat O’Brien on Sunday’s card.

Obviously will be seeking to win the Del Mar Mile for the third straight year. He is unbeaten in three starts lifetime at Del Mar, all on turf.

His main rival Sunday is Tom’s Tribute, who won the Grade 1 Eddie Read earlier this meet.

Tue, 08/19/2014 - 13:48

Big Macher, Fed Biz confirmed for Pat O'Brien

Benoit & Associates
Big Macher, let off at 9-1, wins the Grade 1 Bing Crosby under Tyler Baze on Sunday.

DEL MAR, Calif . – Big Macher will attempt a sweep of this track’s major races for sprinters when he competes in the Grade 2, $300,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes on Sunday.

Big Macher won the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at six furlongs last month, narrowly defeating Goldencents, and those two are among the prospective field for the seven-furlong O’Brien, along with Fed Biz, whom trainer Bob Baffert on Tuesday said would defend his title in the Pat O’Brien.

Big Macher had his final work for the O’Brien on Tuesday, going a half-mile in 48 seconds for trainer Richard Baltas.

Tue, 08/19/2014 - 13:46

Assateague out, Filimbi in Ballston Spa

Barbara D. Livingston
Filimbi wins the De La Rose on Saturday at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Assateague, the winner of the Dr. James Penny Memorial at Parx last out, will miss Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Ballston Spa Stakes due to a bout of colic, trainer Michael Matz said.

Matz said Assateague’s large colon got displaced, and she needed to undergo surgery to repair it.

“She’s back at the barn now, but she’s not going to be able to run Saturday,” Matz said.

Trainer Bill Mott said that Filimbi, the winner of the De La Rose Stakes on Aug. 2, will wheel back in three weeks and run in the Ballston Spa at 1 1/16 miles.

Tue, 08/19/2014 - 13:42

Competitive Edge works for Hopeful Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Competitive Edge works five furlongs on Tuesday for a start in the Hopeful.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Competitive Edge, a very impressive debut winner here July 26, worked five furlongs in 1:00.13 on Tuesday as he continues preparations for the Grade 1, $350,000 Hopeful here Sept. 1.

Trainer Todd Pletcher had Competitive Edge start off behind stablemate Blame Jim – a debut winner July 19 – before having jockey John Velazquez tip him out wide and finish in the stretch. Competitive Edge started two lengths back and finished about a length in front. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.09 and seven furlongs in 1:27.87.

Tue, 08/19/2014 - 13:40

Grace Hall, My Wandy's Girl to miss Ballerina

Barbara D. Livingston
Grace Hall injured a foot during a work and will not run in the Ballerina on Saturday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Graded stakes winners Grace Hall and My Wandy’s Girl, who were expected to run in Saturday’s Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga, will miss the race due to physical issues. The racing careers of both are also in question.

Grace Hall, the winner of the Grade 1 Spinaway here as a 2-year-old, injured a foot in a workout over the Oklahoma training track Aug. 11. According to trainer Bill Mott, Grace Hall was galloping out after the work when she shied from horses working on the Oklahoma turf course, which is slightly above the dirt course.

Tue, 08/19/2014 - 12:06

Pair of allowance races top Gulfstream card

Shigeki Kikkawa
Georgia will have Rafael Bejarano aboard for the $100,000 Sharp Cat on Saturday.

Back-to-back $39,000 allowance races anchor a 10-race card at Gulfstream Park, as another four-day week resumes Thursday at the south Florida track.

Carded as the eighth and ninth races, both carry a first-level restriction and a competitive look, with the eighth scheduled for five furlongs on turf and the ninth going as a one-turn mile on the main track.