ARCADIA, Calif. - Races near and far are under consideration for Newgrange following his third stakes win in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita.
Trainer Phil D’Amato said on Sunday that Newgrange is a candidate for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 4 or the $12 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 25. Both races are run at 1 1/4 miles.
“The owners are going to talk,” D’Amato said. “There is a lot of money overseas.”
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Kentucky Oaks is the goal for Wet Paint following her Saturday win in the $200,000 Martha Washington at Oaklawn Park, but the path she will take to get the filly classic is still to be determined, trainer Brad Cox said on Sunday.
Wet Paint made her stakes debut in the Martha Washington and closed from last for a two-length win under Flavien Prat. She earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 77. Wet Paint came into the 1 1/16-mile race off a runner-up finish in a first-level allowance route on the synthetic track at Turfway Park.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The field for the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on Saturday will consist of four entrants trained by Bob Baffert.
The $200,000 race at 1 1/16 miles drew 16 nominations – 14 trained by Baffert as well as Eastbound, trained by John Shirreffs, and Thirsty John, trained by Peter Miller.
Baffert has entered Arabian Lion, Hard to Figure, Newgate and Worcester, Santa Anita racing officials said.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Beginning Thursday, equipment changes will not be permitted at New York Racing Association tracks once the overnight is published.
A rule that has been published on the overnight for the last several weeks states: “Effective Feb. 1st, only equipment specifically approved by the stewards shall be worn or carried by a jockey or a horse in a race. No equipment changes [including shoes] will be allowed once the overnight is published.”
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Repo Rocks took his game to a new level Saturday, earning a 111 Beyer Speed Figure for his 8 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan Stakes at Aqueduct.
The figure was the highest recorded by any horse through the first month of 2023. It surpassed the previous highest figure for Repo Rocks, a 99 recorded in an allowance win at Belmont in April 2022.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The field for Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Withers at Aqueduct is in flux after several defections from the list of possible starters.
Lord Miles (trained by Saffie Joseph Jr.), Classic Catch (Todd Pletcher), Mr Bob (Robert Falcone Jr.) and Classic Legacy (Bill Mott) – all based in South Florida – were all removed from consideration for the Withers by their trainers. Subpar workouts or difficult shipping logistics were the primary reasons given.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Bill Mott said Art Collector was happy, bright and seemed to be “feeling pretty good about himself” Sunday morning at Payson Park. And well he should have been after running 11 talented rivals off their feet on route to a super impressive 4 1/2-length victory in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Gunite remains on course for a trip to Saudi Arabia, trainer Steve Asmussen said Sunday, a day after the 4-year-old put up one of the best Beyer Speed Figures of his career in the $150,000 King Cotton at Oaklawn Park.
The horse is being pointed for the $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint. It will be run Feb. 25.
Gunite on Saturday earned a 104 Beyer for a standout performance in the six-furlong King Cotton. He tracked the pace in the slop, took command through five furlongs in 57.18 seconds, and finished up six furlongs in 1:08.89.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Arabian Knight has initially emerged from his tour-de-force run in the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest on Saturday at Oaklawn Park in fine fashion and likely will have a good amount of time between now and his next start, trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday. The horse is scheduled to return to his Santa Anita base Tuesday, the trainer said.
