Mon, 12/05/2022 - 14:26

Jonathan Wong, Tommy Town start process of moving to Kentucky

Benoit Photo
Jonathan Wong, the leading trainer at Golden Gate Fields, is taking most of his horses to Kentucky.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jonathan Wong, the dominant trainer in Northern California in recent years, is shifting his stable to Kentucky and plans to greatly downsize his operation in California.

Wong said on Sunday that the decision has the support of his leading client, Tom and Debi Stull’s Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, one of California’s leading owners and breeders.

Wong said the Stulls have sold some of their broodmares and racehorses recently and will continue to do so. The Stulls are scouting for farm property in Kentucky, Wong said.

Mon, 12/05/2022 - 13:46

Prat's six-win Sunday earns another Del Mar title

Benoit Photo
Flavien Prat on on a riding clinic at Del Mar on Sunday, winning six races, including the Grade 1 Matriarch on Regal Glory and the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille on Speed Boat Beach.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Flavien Prat won six races on a single card for the fourth time in his career on Sunday at Del Mar, and for the second time this year.

Prat was a victory short of equaling the most wins on a single program at Del Mar, a milestone accomplished by Victor Espinoza in 2006 and Drayden Van Dyke in 2018.

Prat equals Bill Shoemaker, Laffit Pincay Jr., and Rudy Rosales as jockeys who have won six races on a program at Del Mar. Pincay won six races twice.

Prat has won six races at Santa Anita three times, most recently on Jan. 1 of this year.

Mon, 12/05/2022 - 13:40

Regal Glory's jaw-dropping Matriarch win strengthens Eclipse outlook

Benoit Photo
Regal Glory inhaled front-running Hamwood Flyer in mid-stretch of the Grade 1 Matriarch under Flavien Prat and pulled away to an effortless 5 1/4-length victory.

DEL MAR, Calif. – In his 15-year career, trainer Chad Brown has trained seven fillies and mares honored with the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding turf female.

There may be an eighth in the near future.

Regal Glory’s win in Sunday’s Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar was her third win in a race at the highest level this year and puts the now-retired 6-year-old firmly at the front of discussions regarding the 2022 turf female championship.

From Brown’s perspective, she’s done that and more.

Mon, 12/05/2022 - 13:26

Yates scores weekend wins on two fronts

Tom Keyser
Dorth Vader takes the Sandpiper at Tampa Bay Downs for trainer Michael Yates. Dorth Vader has won three of her last four starts.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – When Honor Tori ran off the screen to an eye-catching 17 1/4-length victory to win her maiden at second asking in Sunday’s second race it capped a huge weekend for trainer Michael Yates, who had won a pair of races the previous afternoon, including the Sandpiper Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs with Dorth Vader.

Mon, 12/05/2022 - 13:10

Katie Davis enjoys week to remember

Debra A. Roma
Jockey Katie Davis aboard Diva Banker prior to Friday's fourth race at Saratoga.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – On and off the track, jockey Katie Davis enjoyed a pretty nice week.

On track, Davis won two races as she attempts a comeback after being away 16 months preparing for and following the birth of her first child. On Dec. 1, Davis won a maiden $75,000 claiming race aboard Narciso Dali for trainer Amira Chichakly. On Dec. 3, Davis won a $16,000 claimer on Diva Banker for trainer Ray Handal.

Mon, 12/05/2022 - 13:06

Handal barn heating up as weather cools down

Chelsea Durand
Sweetlou’sgotaces, trained by Ray Handal, wins the Tepin Stakes on Nov. 27.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Ray Handal is enjoying a productive fall meet at Aqueduct, something he hopes is a harbinger for the winter when he will have strings in both New York and South Florida.

Through the first 18 days of the 29-day Aqueduct fall meeting, Handal has nine wins from 28 starters, tying him for second in wins with Todd Pletcher, both five behind Chad Brown. Handal has won with claimers, allowance types, and on Nov. 27 he captured the Tepin Stakes with the promising 2-year-old turf filly Sweetlou’sgotaces, who entered the race as a maiden.

Mon, 12/05/2022 - 11:56

Oaklawn opening-day runners have come from far and wide

Barbara Livingston
Tyler's Tribe swicthes back to dirt for the Advent Stakes on opening day after suffering his first loss in the the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., long has lured horses from a large swath of jurisdictions and that again will be the case for the meet that gets under way Friday. The nine-race opener has drawn runners who last raced in New York, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa, Louisiana, Ohio, Delaware, New Mexico, and even Chile.

Mon, 12/05/2022 - 11:50

Julia Shining could make next start in Suncoast Stakes

Coady Photography
Julia Shining (left) outfinishes Affirmative Lady to win the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Julia Shining, narrow winner of Saturday’s Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes, left for South Florida on Monday morning and will take residence at trainer Todd Pletcher’s Palm Beach Downs base.

Pletcher indicated to the New York Racing Association press department that Julia Shining could make her 3-year-old debut in the Suncoast Stakes on Feb. 11 at Tampa Bay Downs. Though the race is only a mile and 40 yards, it would keep her racing around two turns. It is the same race Pletcher used with Nest to kick off her 3-year-old campaign in 2021.

Mon, 12/05/2022 - 11:46

Dr B targeting Barbara Fritchie at Laurel

Barbara D. Livingston
Dr B, with Irad Ortiz Jr. up, wins the Grade 3 Go for Wand Stakes in the slop at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Following her career-best performance winning Saturday’s Grade 3 Go for Wand Stakes in the slop at Aqueduct, Dr B will likely target the Grade 3, $250,000 Barbara Fritchie Stakes on Feb. 18 at Laurel Park, trainer Butch Reid said Sunday.

Sun, 12/04/2022 - 16:50

Speaking Scout, winner of Hollywood Derby, will be based at Santa Anita

Benoit Photo
Speaking Scout pasando en el momento oportuno para ganar el Hollywood Derby G1

DEL MAR, Calif. - Speaking Scout, the winner of Saturday’s Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar, will be based at Santa Anita in coming weeks and could make his next start at that track’s winter-spring meeting, which begins on Dec. 26.

Considering the way Speaking Scout has been campaigned this year, any venue with a turf course could be on the gelding’s agenda.