Fri, 08/01/2014 - 13:44

Beholder breezes slow, easy three furlongs

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Richard Mandella said Beholder is unlikely to run this summer at Del Mar.

DEL MAR, Calif. – The two-time champion Beholder worked three furlongs in 39.60 seconds Friday at Del Mar, her first significant exercise since finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park on June 7.

Beholder emerged from that race with a pastern injury that required several weeks to heal. On Friday, trainer Richard Mandella said Beholder is unlikely to run during the current Del Mar meeting, which ends Sept. 3. She will be pointed for the Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 27.

Mandella said he timed Beholder in 37 seconds.

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 13:37

Indy Point training in Argentina for possible comeback

Tom Keyser
Indy Point, third in the Breeders' Cup Turf last fall, is attempting to recover from a suspensory injury.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Indy Point, third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last November, has resumed training in Argentina after being sidelined by a suspensory injury last December, trainer Richard Mandella said.

Mandella said it is too early to determine whether Indy Point will return to racing – in Argentina or the United States.

“They started him back a couple of months ago, and they’ll see if the injury has mended,” Mandella said. “They probably should start him once [in South America], but I’m sure they’ve given some serious thought about it. I hope he comes back.”

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 13:34

Bejarano faces tough climb to top of rider standings

Benoit & Associates
Rafael Bejarano comes into the weekend tied for fifth in the jockey standings at Del Mar, where he was leading rider each of the past two seasons.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Rafael Bejarano has won 18 riding titles in Southern California since late 2007. Earning a 19th crown at the current Del Mar meeting might prove tougher than expected.

Through Thursday, the 11th day of the 36-day meeting, Bejarano was tied for fifth in the standings with seven wins, three behind joint leaders Tyler Baze, Kent Desormeaux, and Elvis Trujillo.

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 12:59

Wando Woman due for B.C. Cup win

Four-Footed Fotos
Wando Woman wins the Strawberry Morn Stakes in 2011 at Hastings.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The time has come for Wando Woman to win a B.C. Cup race. Beginning in 2010, when she finished second in the B.C. Cup Dogwood as a 3-year-old, Wando Woman has been favored in three of her four starts in B.C. Cup races. She has finished second three times and fourth once. Last year, she was dismissed at 8-1 in the B.C. Cup Distaff but ran a big race to finish second behind Dashing Daisy.

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 11:55

Nicks glad his nomad days are over

Barbara D. Livingston
After 30 years of traveling from one track to another, Ralph Nicks has made Gulfstream Park his home base.

Ralph Nicks began his racetrack career at age 16, and until this past year, he was always in perpetual motion.

“I’m 47, and I’ve had to move at least twice a year every year since I began on the racetrack,” Nicks said. “Until this year. With Gulfstream going year-round, we’ve been able to stay here and settle down. We haven’t had to move, and, boy, I’ll tell you, it’s nice. Thirty years as a transient was enough.”

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 21:32

Del Mar cancels turf racing until Aug. 9

DEL MAR, Calif. – Del Mar has abandoned turf racing until Aug. 9 and will not conduct sprints or races for claimers on turf for the remainder of the summer meeting, the track announced on its website Friday.

The decisions were made after track and racing officials discussed options Friday, a day after a filly was seriously injured in a turf sprint on the troubled course.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 21:07

Two-day pick six carryover of $239,002 for Friday

DEL MAR, Calif. – There is a two-day carryover of $239,002 for Friday’s pick six at Del Mar.

The eight-race program begins at 4 p.m. Pacific.

The pick six covers the third through eighth race. The sequence offers several tricky races, with no morning-line favorite listed at lower than 5-2. Three races have morning-line favorites listed at 7-2.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 19:31

Hawthorne to cut race days, stakes in fall

The Illinois Racing Board on Thursday granted Hawthorne Race Course’s request to drop 13 racing dates from its 62-day fall meet and to pare to the bone the stakes schedule for the upcoming meet.

Hawthorne will host just one open stakes race this fall, the Hawthorne Gold Cup, which has been cut from $350,000 last year to $250,000 this year. In 2013, Hawthorne hosted four open stakes worth $700,000. The Hawthorne Derby, the Robert F. Carey Memorial, and the Indian Maid all have been removed from the 2014 schedule.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 17:22

Del Mar owners scratch horse as protest

Owners David Frankham and Brian Carmody withdrew Smogcutter from Thursday’s first race at Del Mar to protest the presence of a rival horse that tested positive for a sedative in March, but whose trainer, A.C. Avila, has yet to be sanctioned.

Smogcutter was scratched at 12:55 p.m., a few minutes before he was due to be sent to the receiving barn before the race. Horses are sent to the receiving barn before proceeding to the paddock to be saddled. Not showing up at the receiving barn before a race is a violation of California Horse Racing Board rules.

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 15:36

Game On Dude eyes repeat in Pacific Classic

Shigeki Kikkawa
Game On Dude won the 2013 Pacific Classic, which again will be worth $1 million.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Game On Dude is likely to be part of a crowded field when he attempts to win the $1 million Pacific Classic for the second consecutive year Aug. 24.

On Thursday, Game On Dude worked five furlongs in 1:01.40, galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.60, according to track clockers. Game On Dude worked alone under jockey Martin Garcia. Trainer Bob Baffert timed Game On Dude galloping out in 1:14.

A 7-year-old gelding, Game On Dude finished fourth behind Majestic Harbor in the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 28, his most recent start.