Fri, 06/14/2013 - 16:57

Arapahoe: Justcallheraggie cuts back in distance for Molly Brown

Justcallheraggie cuts back from a mile to one turn while attempting to win her fourth consecutive race in the $40,000 Molly Brown Sunday at Arapahoe Park. The six-furlong stakes for fillies and mares drew a field of 10.

Justcallheraggie’s streak has been built exclusively in one-mile races, starting with a pair of $20,000 claimers on the grass at Turf Paradise in April and May. She then moved to the main track and the allowance ranks for her Arapahoe Park debut June 9, and wired her Colorado rivals at 4-5.

Fri, 06/14/2013 - 16:53

Beulah: Tsunaami Stu goes turf to dirt seeking repeat in Sydney Gendelman Memorial

Tsunaami Stu upset last year’s Sydney Gendelman Memorial Stakes for Ohio-breds when it was contested on turf at River Downs. On Sunday, the $50,000 Gendelman will be run on the dirt at Beulah Park, and Tsunaami Stu will be a longshot again.

Trained by Mike Rone, the 6-year-old Tsunaami Stu won his only start of 2013, a $10,000 claimer at seven furlongs on turf at Mountaineer Racetrack on May 26.

Fri, 06/14/2013 - 16:50

Hollywood Park notes: Gomez takes off mounts

Barbara D. Livingston
Jockey Garrett Gomez finished 12th in the national purse standings in 2012.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Jockey Garrett Gomez is off his mounts this week to deal with personal problems, the stewards said on Thursday. The stewards did not elaborate on the reasons for Gomez’s absence.

Gomez and his agent, Tony Matos, did not return phone calls seeking comment on Thursday and Friday. The stewards said they were informed that Gomez would return to riding next week.

Gomez gave up the mount on top contender More Chocolate in Saturday’s $250,000 Vanity Handicap. He was not named to ride on Sunday’s nine-race program.

More surgery for Scott

Fri, 06/14/2013 - 16:49

Belmont: San Pablo upsets Mucho Macho Man in Criminal Type

ELMONT, N.Y. - Mucho Macho Man’s return to the races was spoiled by the return of San Pablo, who ran by Mucho Macho Man in mid-stretch and drew clear to win Friday’s $90,000 Criminal Type Stakes at Belmont Park by 3 1/2 lengths.

Mucho Macho Man, who made the lead after pressing fairly solid fractions, flattened out to finish third, three-quarters of a length behind Hymn Book.

Mucho Macho Man, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up, was making his first start since being pulled up in the Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream in January.

Fri, 06/14/2013 - 16:49

Canterbury: Hammers Terror major threat on front end in Brooks Fields

Hammers Terror, winner of the inaugural Mystic Lake Derby last year at a mile on turf, returns to Canterbury Park’s turf course as the tepid 4-1 morning-line favorite in the $50,000 Brooks Fields Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs on Sunday.

Fri, 06/14/2013 - 16:39

Emerald Downs: Budweiser matches speedsters Hoist, Makors Finale

AUBURN, Wash. – If pace truly makes the race, then Sunday’s $50,000 Budweiser Handicap should provide quality entertainment for the Father’s Day crowd at Emerald Downs. The Budweiser, for older horses at one mile, attracted a stellar field of nine, and the pace, with Makors Finale and Hoist leading the way, should be crackling.

First post for the 11-race card is 2 p.m. Pacific. The Budweiser, a stepping-stone to the Grade 3 Longacres Mile on Aug. 18, is the ninth race on the program.

Fri, 06/14/2013 - 16:32

Hollywood Park: Tyler Baze admits to failing alcohol test

Benoit & Associates
Tyler Baze missed more than a year of riding, from August 2011 to October 2012, because of problems with alcoholism.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Jockey Tyler Baze admitted Thursday afternoon that he failed an alcohol test administered earlier that day by the California Horse Racing Board because he had consumed alcohol on Wednesday.

Baze, 30, was taken off his mounts at Betfair Hollywood Park on Thursday. Baze is expected to face a suspension for violating the terms of a conditional license issued last September after the jockey missed more than a year of riding for failing to take a Breathalyzer test at Del Mar in September 2011.

Fri, 06/14/2013 - 16:25

Gretna Racing granted amended permit by Florida

The Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering has awarded amended racing permits to an equine facility and card room in the state’s panhandle allowing it to conduct Quarter Horse races that start at the drop of a flag, according to state records.

Fri, 06/14/2013 - 16:10

Arlington Park: Sharp debut winner Ascot Eye tries turf

The 3-year-old filly Ascot Eye debuted May 29 at Arlington showing a series of eye-catching works. Indeed, her morning activity had caught the eye of someone in possession of a big mouth, a big wallet, or both. Ascot Eye went postward at odds of 4-5 in an off-the-turf five-furlong maiden race. Taking such a short price on a first-time starter seems foolhardy, but Ascot Eye’s backers got paid, and never with a nervous moment.

“I was kind of surprised how quickly she cleared everybody,” said Dan Peitz, who trains Ascot Eye, a Daaher filly, for Shadwell Stables.

Fri, 06/14/2013 - 15:56

Calder: U Can Do It winner Capitalism at Risk proving blue-chip claim

Coady Photography
Capitalism at Risk, who last summer lost for a $6,250 tag, wins the U Can Do It last Saturday and will probably run next in the Grade 1 Princess Rooney.

MIAMI – Capitalism at Risk has been claimed five times and passed through nine different trainers’ hands since beginning her racing career four years ago. She also finished off the board in a $6,250 conditioned claiming race here last summer.

One week ago, the same Capitalism at Risk led from start to finish under jockey Orlando Bocachica to win the $75,000 U Can Do It Handicap, the key local prep for Calder’s only Grade 1 race, the Princess Rooney Handicap.