Thu, 06/26/2014 - 15:51

Stakes schedule includes 35 races for $3.59 million

The Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby on Sept. 28 leads an expanded 35-race, $3.59 million stakes schedule for the Remington Park meet that opens Aug. 15. The 67-date season will run through Dec. 14.

Thu, 06/26/2014 - 15:19

Police investigate Romans-'Indian Charlie' scuffle

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Stewards at Churchill Downs said they were awaiting police and security reports before deciding whether to schedule a hearing in regard to a fistfight that occurred Thursday morning in the stable area between Eclipse Award-winning trainer Dale Romans and Ed Musselman, publisher of the controversial Indian Charlie newsletter.

Thu, 06/26/2014 - 15:18

The Mother of all Gooses

The banner on the front pages of Daily Racing Form and The Racing Times of June 9, 1991 were the same: “The Mother of All Gooses.” It was a sly, ripped-from-the-headlines reference to Saddam Hussein’s hollow, defiant cry, “mother of all battles,” from the first Iraq War. This battle, however, proved to be not nearly as one-sided.

Thu, 06/26/2014 - 12:39

Princess of Sylmar on track for Delaware Handicap

Barbara D. Livingston
Princess of Sylmar won the Cat Cay Stakes by 3 1/2 lengths on Sunday at Aqueduct in her 2014 debut.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Princess of Sylmar remains on target for the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap, trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed Thursday.

Thu, 06/26/2014 - 12:09

Conquest Tsunami’s plans uncertain

Michael Burns
Conquest Tsunami wins the $148,250 Victoria Stakes with an 80 Beyer last Saturday at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Casse has yet to pick out the next race for his sensational 2-year-old Conquest Tsunami, who won the $148,250 Victoria Stakes by 7 3/4 lengths with an 80 Beyer Speed Figure last Saturday at Woodbine. Conquest Tsunami, an Ontario-bred colt by Stormy Atlantic owned by Conquest Stables, has captured his two races by a combined 14 lengths.

Thu, 06/26/2014 - 12:05

Canadian trainer Dumas dies at age 74

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Successful Canadian trainer Jacques Dumas died Wednesday from natural causes at age 74.

Dumas, a Montreal native, trained a host of top horses in the 1970s and 1980s for prominent owner Jean-Louis Levesque, including Giboulee, Fanfreluche, and Le Danseur. Giboulee finished seventh in the 1977 Kentucky Derby after ending up second to Seattle Slew in the Grade 1 Flamingo Stakes. Dumas also conditioned 1980 Canadian champion 3-year-old Ben Fab, who won the Breeders’ Stakes, and 1980 Canadian Oaks winner Par Excellance.

Thu, 06/26/2014 - 11:42

NYRA cancels show wagering in Mother Goose Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Despite there being six entrants in Saturday’s Grade 1 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park, the New York Racing Association has canceled show wagering because Kentucky Oaks winner Untapable is expected to be an extremely heavy favorite. NYRA morning-line-maker Eric Donovan has made Untapable the 1-5 favorite.

Besides Untapable, the only other stakes winner in the field is Stopchargingmaria. On Thursday morning, trainer Todd Pletcher said Stopchargingmaria was “not fully committed to the Mother Goose.”

“We might just wait for the CCA Oaks,” he said.

Thu, 06/26/2014 - 11:31

Unhindered on short rest in My Dear Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Unhindered will run back two weeks after her dazzling debut score when she starts Saturday at Woodbine in the $125,000 My Dear Stakes, a five-furlong dash for 2-year-old fillies.

Unhindered, a daughter of Stormy Atlantic, led throughout a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race June 14. She got home on top by five lengths under a hand ride in a brisk time of 51.86 seconds, an effort that earned her just a 57 Beyer Speed Figure.

“She’s quick,” said trainer Ralph Biamonte. “She’s small, but she’s very athletic.”

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 18:05

Irad Ortiz Jr. released from hospital after three-horse spill

ELMONT, N.Y. - Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. was released from North Shore Hospital Wednesday evening after tests showed that he had not broken any bones in an ugly three-horse spill in Wednesday’s eighth race at Belmont Park. Ortiz had been transported from the turf course to a waiting ambulance on a back-board.

Cornelio Velasquez and John Velazquez, who also went down in the spill, walked off the course and were seen and released by the first-aid department.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 16:54

Untapable draws post 2 as Mother Goose favorite

Barbara D. Livingston
Kentucky Oaks winner Untapable will run next in either the Acorn or the Mother Goose at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. - How low will they go?

The odds on Untapable in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose at Belmont Park won't appeal to many bettors, but they probably are an accurate reflection of her chances of winning. Even-money when she dusted 11 rivals in the Kentucky Oaks eight weeks ago, Untapable should be less than half that in the Mother Goose.

Despite there being six entrants, show wagering will not be offered. A late scratch or two is not out of the question. The Mother Goose has been carded as the fourth race of the day.