Mon, 03/17/2014 - 15:02

Gulfstream Park: Romans pair have big futures

Barbara D. Livingston
Medal Count won't make the Florida Derby but he has the makings of a top grass horse, said trainer Dale Romans

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Dale Romans said he will skip the Florida Derby with Medal Count, who finished fifth, beaten 8 1/4 lengths by Wildcat Red, in the Fountain of Youth. Medal Count won his turf debut in a dead heat here this winter under high-priced entry-level optional-claiming conditions.

Mon, 03/17/2014 - 14:58

Aqueduct: Noble Moon works to prove readiness for Wood Memorial start

Michael Amoruso
Noble Moon won the Grade 2 Jerome on Jan. 4 at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – In order for Noble Moon to be ready to run in the $1 million Wood Memorial on April 5, he had to start showing trainer Leah Gyarmati more in his morning training than he had been.

On Monday, Noble Moon took a positive step toward the Wood Memorial by working five furlongs in 1:01.54 over the Belmont Park training track. It was the second-fastest of 10 works at the distance, with the fastest move having been posted by a horse who worked out of the starting gate. Noble Moon, who worked in company, worked from the pole.

Mon, 03/17/2014 - 14:55

Gulfstream Park: Fallen rider leads to no-contest

Barbara D. Livingston
Edgar Prado fell from his mount in Sunday's 10th race and bruised his right shoulder

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Jockey Edgar Prado badly bruised his right shoulder after falling from his mount Go Go Romeo during Sunday’s 10th race. The stewards called the race a no-contest and had the riders pull their horses up prior to the finish line as a safety precaution, with Prado still laying on the course near the clubhouse turn.

[Clocker Reports: Get Mike Welsch’s clocker reports from Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows]

Mon, 03/17/2014 - 14:43

Santa Anita: Bejarano, Stormy Lucy prove potent team

Benoit & Associates
Rafael Bejarano drives Stormy Lucy home to win the Grade 2 Santa Ana on Sunday.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Rafael Bejarano, the meet’s leading rider, won three races on Sunday, highlighted by Stormy Lucy’s victory in the Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes for female turf runners.

Bejarano had never ridden Stormy Lucy, hadn’t even worked her, but no one does more extensive homework before a race. Bejarano pores over past performances, and gets eye strain from watching videos. All that preparation paid off.

Mon, 03/17/2014 - 14:39

Santa Anita: Sahara Sky has two options

Shigeki Kikkawa
Sahara Sky and jockey Joel Rosario win the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes on Saturday.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Sahara Sky, who won the San Carlos Stakes on March 8, worked a half-mile in 50.80 seconds on Sunday morning as he prepares for his next start, either the Grade 1 Carter at Aqueduct on April 5 or the Grade 2 Potrero Grande at Santa Anita on April 12.

Mon, 03/17/2014 - 14:28

Gulfstream Park: Sonja's Angel faces tougher

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Sonja’s Angel will put her four-race local winning streak on the line when she steps up in class to take on seven fillies and mares in Wednesday’s $54,500 optional-claiming feature at one mile.

Mon, 03/17/2014 - 13:47

Santa Anita: Let Faith Arise feeling right at home

Shigeki Kikkawa
Let Faith Arise wins the Santa Margarita on Saturday for her first Grade 1 victory.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The elongated season under which Santa Anita now operates could be advantageous for Let Faith Arise, who has progressed mightily this meet and reached new heights by capturing the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Stakes on Saturday.

Mon, 03/17/2014 - 12:21

Tampa Bay Downs: Ness stable continues racking up winners

Tom Keyser
Through Sunday’s racing program, Jamie Ness (pictured here) has sent out the winners of 35 races to hold a 13-win lead over Gerald Bennett.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Just prior to the opening of the 2013-14 Tampa Bay Downs meeting, trainer Jamie Ness was asked for an assessment of his expectations for the season.

“I think we’ll have a good meeting but we’ve had a long year,” Ness said. “Many of our horses need a little break, and we’re also leaving some horses up north, so while I’m cautiously optimistic, I also realize it will be tough this winter.”

Sun, 03/16/2014 - 14:41

Oaklawn Park: Arkansas Derby or Santa Anita Derby next for Hoppertunity

Coady Photography
Hoppertunity earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure for his win in the Rebel Stakes.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Bob Baffert, the trainer of Hoppertunity, on Sunday morning at Santa Anita said the Rebel winner would run next in either the Santa Anita Derby on April 5, or return to Oaklawn for the Arkansas Derby on April 12. Both are $1 million races at 1 1/8 miles. Hoppertunity earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 100 for his half-length win over Tapiture in the Rebel, a Grade 2, $600,000 race run Saturday.  

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

Sat, 03/15/2014 - 16:09

Sunland Park Derby attracts pair from Pletcher and Baffert barns

Shigeki Kikkawa
Chitu will make his 3-year-old debut in a yet to be determined stakes after winning an optional claimer with an 83 Beyer Speed Figure on Friday.

Trainers Bob Baffert and Todd Pletcher plan to invade New Mexico with two shippers each next Sunday for the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby. The 1 1/8-mile race could have as many as 10 horses when entries are drawn on Wednesday.

The Sunland Derby carries 85 preference points for the Kentucky Derby, to be divided among the first four finishers on a scale of 50-20-10-5. The Sunland Derby anchors a program of seven stakes worth a cumulative $1.4 million. The program includes the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks, which offers its first four finishers points toward the Kentucky Oaks.