Mon, 06/02/2014 - 16:10

California Chrome, sponsored by Skechers

California Chrome will be sponsored by the footwear company Skechers in the Belmont Stakes, according to the company and officials who participated in the deal, with the company’s brand being featured on clothing worn by his owners and stable team.

The deal is “probably the largest ever reached in horse racing,” according to Ben Sturner, the president of the Leverage Agency, a sports marketing firm hired by California Chrome’s owners to represent the horse. Sturner would not provide details about the deal but said his agency expects to announce other deals this week.

Mon, 06/02/2014 - 15:13

Frac Daddy eyes Dominion Day

Michael Burns
Frac Daddy affirmed his love for synthetic surfaces with this victory in the Eclipse on Saturday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Frac Daddy improved his record on synthetic surfaces to 3 for 3 by dominating a field that included 2013 Canadian champion older male Alpha Bettor in Sunday’s Grade 2, $202,400 Eclipse Stakes.

Frac Daddy stalked front-runner Really Sharp in the early going before taking command on the far turn and winning by five lengths. Frac Daddy, 4, earned a 100 Beyer, his second straight triple-digit mark on Polytrack. He earned a 103 in the Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland on April 19.

Mon, 06/02/2014 - 10:34

Sahara Sky to bypass Met Mile in favor of Triple Bend Stakes

Tom Keyser
Sahara Sky, shown winning the 2013 Met Mile, will bypass this year's renewal at Belmont and will instead target the June 28 Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sahara Sky will not seek a second consecutive win in the $1,250,000 Metropolitan Handicap on Saturday at Belmont Park, co-owner Kim Lloyd said on Sunday.

Lloyd said that Sahara Sky will be pointed for the $300,000 Triple Bend Stakes over seven furlongs on June 28 at Santa Anita. Trained and co-owned by Jerry Hollendorfer, Sahara Sky finished seventh in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes on May 3 in his last start.

“This will give him another three weeks,” Lloyd said. “This will keep him fresh for the summer.”

Sun, 06/01/2014 - 20:58

$129,366 pick six carryover for Thursday card

ARCADIA, Calif. – There is a pick six carryover of $129,366 for Thursday at Santa Anita.

Going into Sunday’s last race, five horses were covered in the pick six. Real Deal Appeal ($15.80) took the lead at the start of the maiden claimer over 5 1/2 furlongs and led throughout, clinching the carryover.

Thursday’s eight-race program begins at 1 p.m. Pacific. The first leg of the pick six, the third race, is due off at 2 p.m.

Thursday’s pick six races feature fields of 8, 6, 8, 8, 6, and 8 runners.

Sun, 06/01/2014 - 16:22

Room Service rolling with three straight graded stakes wins

Benoit Photo
Room Service won her third consecutive graded stakes with a Grade 1 win Saturday in the American Oaks.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The success Room Service has displayed winning three consecutive graded stakes across the nation this year partially can be credited to a decision trainer Wayne Catalano made last year.

He opted to do nothing with the filly when forming a team to go to Saratoga last summer.

“She needed time, and we left her behind,” he said. “It sure paid off.”

Sun, 06/01/2014 - 14:57

Clubhouse Ride eyes Gold Cup after Californian win

Benoit Photo
Clubhouse Ride, who edged out Fury Kapcori in the Californian Stakes, will likely be pointed to the Santa Anita Gold Cup.

ARCADIA, Calif. – When Clubhouse Ride won Saturday’s $200,500 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita for the second consecutive year, the 6-year-old horse ended an eight-race losing streak dating back a year and put rest to a tumultuous start to his 2014 campaign.

Last winter, trainer Craig Lewis sent Clubhouse Ride to a local farm for a break. While Clubhouse Ride was there, Lewis was alarmed to learn that the 6-year-old was shod in a way that a considerable portion of his foot was removed, the trainer said.

Sun, 06/01/2014 - 14:10

Del Mar will install dirt surface similar to Santa Anita

Del Mar will install a dirt surface in 2015 with material similar to what will be in place at Santa Anita this fall, according to Tom Robbins, the track’s director of racing.

The material is known as El Segundo sand, a locally based soil named for the portion of Southern California from which it is sourced. Santa Anita is collecting the same material and preparing for it installation on its main track in July. The material for the Santa Anita track is being stored in a parking lot on track property.

Sun, 06/01/2014 - 13:24

Wicked Strong works a fast five Sunday morning

Barbara Livingston
Wicked Strong worked five furlongs in 59.17 seconds Sunday at Belmont Park in advance of the Belmont Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. – On Saturday, Wicked Strong will chase Belmont Stakes glory. On Sunday, he was chasing Belmont Stakes history.

In his final workout in preparation for the 146th Belmont Stakes, Wicked Strong, the Wood Memorial winner, found himself about 30 yards behind Palace Malice – last year’s Belmont Stakes winner – who was preparing for Saturday’s Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap. Exercise rider Kelvin Pahal did a good job keeping Wicked Strong in abeyance, but still, Wicked Strong worked a fast five furlongs in 59.17 seconds.

Sat, 05/31/2014 - 14:14

California Chrome shines in final pre-Belmont work

Michael Amoruso
California Chrome works a half-mile in 47.47 seconds at Belmont Park on Saturday, his only breeze between the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

Belmont Park: Track – Fast; Weather – Sunny; Temp – 63
Aqueduct: Track – Fast; Weather – Sunny; Temp – 63

ELMONT, N.Y. – Anybody looking for a chink in California Chrome’s armor heading into the Belmont Stakes certainly didn’t find one Saturday at Belmont Park, where the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner turned in an outstanding final workout a week in advance of his quest to complete the elusive Triple Crown sweep with a victory in the Belmont Stakes.

Sat, 05/31/2014 - 12:00

Samraat works a mile for Belmont Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Samraat (above) is trainer Rick Violette Jr.'s second Kentucky Derby starter. He finished seventh with Read the Footnotes in 2004.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – In sharp contrast to the large throng of cheering spectators who assembled at Belmont Park early Saturday morning to watch California Chrome turn in his final work for the Belmont Stakes, trainer Rick Violette and a few disinterested members of the cleaning crew were about the extent of the crowd on hand when Samraat did likewise across town at Aqueduct later that morning.