Thu, 11/21/2013 - 15:52

Aqueduct notes: My Miss Aurelia’s return likely postponed until 2014

Tom Keyser
Champion My Miss Aurelia's comeback has been postponed.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The comeback of champion My Miss Aurelia remains on hold and will now likely not take place until this winter in south Florida.

Hoping to run My Miss Aurelia in the Grade 2, $300,000 Go for Wand at Aqueduct on Nov. 29, trainer Todd Pletcher has had to scrap those plans due to a nagging foot issue that has plagued My Miss Aurelia for the past month. Pletcher said that My Miss Aurelia will head to south Florida on Saturday to train for a presumed comeback beginning at Gulfstream Park in early 2014.

Thu, 11/21/2013 - 12:18

Churchill Downs: Stephanie's Kitten joining Chad Brown's barn in Florida

Tom Keyser
Owner Ken Ramsey has set his sights on winning an Eclipse Award with Stephanie's Kitten in 2014, so he wants her based in New York during the summer.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The standout turf filly Stephanie’s Kitten is scheduled to be sent Friday from Ramsey Farm in Kentucky to the Palm Meadows training center in south Florida, where she will have a new trainer in Chad Brown.

Owner-breeder Ken Ramsey said he and his wife, Sarah, are looking to win a divisional Eclipse Award in 2014 with Stephanie’s Kitten and that “probably the best way to do that is have her based in New York” later in the year after Brown leaves Florida in early spring.

Thu, 11/21/2013 - 11:58

Hollywood Park notes: Mandella plans for big March with Beholder, Setsuko, Indy Point

Tom Keyser
Beholder, the winner of the Breeders' Cup Distaff on Nov. 1, likely will return to the races in March.

ARCADIA, Calif. – March could be a big month for trainer Richard Mandella. If all goes according to plan, Beholder will make her first start of 2014, Setsuko will try again to win the Santa Anita Handicap, and Indy Point will run in a lucrative race in Dubai.

While those three head in different directions short term, Mandella hopes all three end their campaigns next fall at Santa Anita. When asked to identify their long-term goals, Mandella cracked, “The Breeders’ Cup next year.” It is not that far-fetched.

Wed, 11/20/2013 - 15:41

Churchill Downs notes: Will Take Charge the likely favorite in Clark matchup with Game On Dude

Tom Keyser
Will Take Charge (above) is likely to be favored over Game On Dude in the Clark Handicap on Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With things coming together for an alluring matchup between Game On Dude and Will Take Charge in the signature race of the Churchill Downs fall meet, the Grade 1 Clark Handicap, there’s this question: Which horse will be favored?

Clearly, part of that depends on the complexion of the 1 1/8-mile race, for example, what other pace will be present to challenge Game On Dude. Other probable starters for the $500,000 Clark, to be run next Friday, Nov. 29, include Bourbon Courage, Finnegans Wake, Prayer for Relief, and hopefully at least a couple more.

Wed, 11/20/2013 - 15:37

Fair Grounds: Delaunay, Gantry to clash again in Thanksgiving Handicap

Barbara D. Livingston
Gantry worked five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.60 on Aug. 31.

NEW ORLEANS – As rivalries go, it has been more than a little one-sided: The tally stands at Delaunay 4, Gantry 0. But who knows where things stand when the two best sprinters at Fair Grounds meet again next Thursday in the $100,000 Thanksgiving Handicap?

Wed, 11/20/2013 - 15:20

Zia Park: Evans going after three stakes on Oaks card

Barbara D. Livingston
Jaycito was one of two runners in the Marathon field to work Monday at Santa Anita, going five furlongs in 1:02.19.

Justin Evans, the runaway leader in the trainer standings at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M., will be out in full force Sunday when Zia Park puts on an 11-race Thoroughbred card led by the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks. Evans has nine starters on the program, including representatives in three of the five stakes. The stakes are worth a combined $845,000.

Evans has Lady of Luck in the 1 1/16-mile Oaks. She missed by a neck in a second-level allowance at Zia on Oct. 19.

“She ran a really good race and seems to be improving by big strides every time we lead her up there,” Evans said.

Wed, 11/20/2013 - 15:12

Florida notes: Campo settling in at new position

Barbara D. Livingston
Reveron, with trainer Augustin Bezara, returns in a Sunday allowance at Gulfstream.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – P.J. Campo, the newly appointed vice president of racing for the Stronach Group, spent his first week on the job getting used to the lay of the land at Gulfstream Park, and he saw a lot of very familiar faces during his first meet-and-greet with local horsemen.

Wed, 11/20/2013 - 14:34

Aqueduct: Cigar Mile gets Flat Out, but may lose Alpha

Tom Keyser
Flat Out, who has been in Florida since the Breeders' Cup earlier this month, remains on target for the Nov. 30 Cigar Mile.

Flat Out is in, and Alpha is now on the fence for the Grade 1 Cigar Mile on Nov. 30 at Aqueduct.

Flat Out, the two-time winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup who finished eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic earlier this month, is on schedule for the Cigar Mile, trainer Bill Mott said from Florida on Wednesday.

Wed, 11/20/2013 - 14:08

Hollywood Park notes: Teddy's Promise nearing start of broodmare career

Benoit & Associates
Teeddy's Promise, winning the L.A. Woman Stakes in October, will have at most two more starts.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Trainer Ron Ellis will be saying good-bye soon to one of his stable stars, the sprint mare Teddy’s Promise, who will become a broodmare next spring. She will race at least once more and no more than twice, beginning with the $100,000 Playa Del Rey Stakes going six furlongs at Hollywood Park on Dec. 15.