Mon, 04/08/2013 - 00:22

Flashback off Kentucky Derby trail with knee chip

Shigeki Kikkawa
Flashback (above) will be joined by stablemates Super Ninety Nine and Power Broker in the Santa Anita Handicap, but not by Hear the Ghost, who has been sidelined by an injury.

Flashback, who finished second to Goldencents in the Santa Anita Derby on Saturday, was found on Sunday afternoon to have a small chip in his right knee, trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday night. He is off the Kentucky Derby trail, but is expected to make a full recovery after having surgery in Kentucky with Dr. Larry Bramlage.

"There was heat in his right knee and we took X-rays and had them sent to Bramlage," Baffert said Sunday night. "He's got a chip. It's small. It's fresh. When you take it out right away they can make a full recovery."

Sun, 04/07/2013 - 21:33

Kentucky Derby: Velazquez injured at Aqueduct, hopes for quick return

Barbara D. Livingston
A day after winning the Wood Memorial on Verrazano, John Velazquez fractured a rib and chipped a bone in his wrist during a spill at Aqueduct.

MANHASSET, N.Y. - Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez fractured a rib on his right side and chipped a bone in his right wrist as a result of being involved in a spill Sunday at Aqueduct.

 While Velazquez will not be able to ride Horse of the Year Wise Dan in his seasonal debut in Friday’s Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland, Velazquez said he hopes to be back in time to ride the Kentucky Derby.

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

Sun, 04/07/2013 - 19:26

Golden Gate Fields: Ex-claimer Luscious Lonna carries speed to Golden Poppy upset

Vassar Photography
Luscious Lonna, ridden by Jesus Velazquez, proves uncatchable as she gives trainer Nick Sloan his first career stakes victory in the Golden Poppy.

Luscious Lonna, a $6,250 claim in March 2012, became trainer Nick Sloan's first stakes winner as she wired a field of 11 fillies and mares, including four from trainer Jerry Hollendorfer's barn, in the $61,350 Golden Poppy at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday.

"This is the first horse I've ever had run above the claiming level," said Sloan of the first stakes entrant in his career.

Luscious Lonna ($26.80) had 4 wins and a pair of seconds in her past 6 starts against claiming and allowance company heading into the race.

Sun, 04/07/2013 - 18:38

Oaklawn: Devil and a Half provides Canchari with first stakes win in Arkansas Breeders'

Coady Photography
Alex Canchari, who just became a jouirneyman rider last month, earns his first career stakes victory aboard Devil and a Half in the Arkansas Breeders' Stakes.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.- Devil and a Half gave his jockey, Alex Canchari, the first stakes win of his career Sunday at Oaklawn Park, when he successfully defended his title in the $60,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Stakes. Devil and a Half won by six lengths over favorite Humble Smarty, while it was another length back in third to Presidential Colors.

The win was one of three on the card for trainer Mac Robertson. 

Sun, 04/07/2013 - 17:36

Santa Anita: I Dazzle tops 1-2-3 sweep for Sadler in American Beauty

Benoit & Associates
The 5-year-old I Dazzle, making her first start for trainer John Sadler, wins the American Beauty under Rafael Bejarano.

ARCADIA, Calif. - I Dazzle won her first stakes, and gave trainer John Sadler a sweep of the first three positions, in Sunday’s $76,500 American Beauty Stakes for fillies and mares on turf at Santa Anita.

I Dazzle ($11.40) ran a mile in 1:33.42, outrunning the English import Moone’s My Name by a neck. Byrony was third.

In the Stars, the 1-2 favorite, was well-placed until early stretch but faded in the final furlong to finish five lengths behind I Dazzle. Little Emily finished last in the field of five.

Sun, 04/07/2013 - 17:26

Kentucky Derby: Verrazano heads Wood Memorial trio heading to Louisville

Barbara D. Livingston
John Velazquez has to decide whether he wants to ride Wood Memorial winner Verrazano (above) or Florida Derby winner Orb in the Kentucky Derby.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. -  Led by undefeated Verrazano, the top three finishers from Saturday’s $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct will all head to Churchill Downs early to begin preparing for the May 4 Kentucky Derby.

Sun, 04/07/2013 - 17:06

Los Alamitos: Revv Me Up prevails by nose in La Primera Del Ano Derby

Revv Me Up caught the 43-1 outsider Feature Malinche in the final strides to win Saturday’s $200,000 La Primera Del Ano Derby for 3-year-old Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos.

The La Primera Del Ano Derby was the first stakes win for Revv Me Up and her second win in 10 starts. She won a division of the La Primera Del Ano Derby trials on March 16 after losing her first eight starts.

Sun, 04/07/2013 - 14:59

Keeneland: Hungry Island sharp in prep for Churchill Distaff Turf Mile

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Hungry Island made her return to the races a winning one at Keeneland on Sunday, passing Grade 1 winner Karlovy Vary in the stretch on the way to a one-length victory in a $68,000 turf allowance, the third race of the day.

Sun, 04/07/2013 - 14:52

Oaklawn: Grace Hall heads seven-horse field for Apple Blossom

Tom Keyser
Grace Hall has had three consecutive bullet workouts since finishing third in the Feb. 17 Sabin.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark .- Grace Hall will be seeking the fifth graded stakes win of her career on Friday, when she breaks from post 2 in the Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park. She was one of seven fillies and mares entered in the 1 1/16-mile race on Sunday.

Sun, 04/07/2013 - 12:58

Goldencents will follow same pattern to Kentucky Derby that worked for O'Neill last year

Shigeki Kikkawa
Goldencents, in the Santa Anita winner's circle with jockey Kevin Krigger, earned a career-high 105 Beyer Speed Figure for his Santa Anita Derby victory.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Goldencents, who won the Santa Anita Derby on Saturday, emerged from the race “great,” trainer Doug O’Neill said Sunday morning, and will move on to the May 4 Kentucky Derby, a race O’Neill won last year with I’ll Have Another, who also won the Santa Anita Derby in his final prep.

“We’re flying high,” O’Neill said Sunday morning.

Goldencents was awarded a career-best 105 Beyer Speed Figure for his performance in the Santa Anita Derby.