Sun, 11/20/2022 - 09:23

Fincher has two juveniles tuning-up at Remington for possible stakes starts

Emily Shields
Todd Fincher could notch the biggest win of his breeding career with Hustle Up in the Sunland Derby on Sunday.

Trainer Todd Fincher has a pair of 2-year-olds auditioning on Monday for possible stakes starts next month at Remington Park.

Sat, 11/19/2022 - 14:46

Pizza Bianca works half-mile for possible Matriarch Stakes start

Emily Shields
Pizza Bianca would be making her first start since mid-June if she runs next Saturday in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Saturday was the last day turf works were offered at Belmont Park for the season and trainer Christophe Clement and Shug McGaughey took advantage, each working five horses over the inner grass course.

Among Clement’s quintet was Pizza Bianca, the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner, who breezed a half-mile in 50.09 seconds in company with Soldier Rising. Pizza Bianca, who failed to reach her reserve at the Fasig-Tipton November sale on Nov. 6, is being considered for a start in the Grade 1 Matriarch at Del Mar on Dec. 4, Clement said.

Fri, 11/18/2022 - 17:32

Trevor McCarthy breaks collarbone in spill, out at least through 2022

Barbara D. Livingston
Trevor McCarthy is all smiles returning to the winner's circle aboard Weyburn, the 46-1 upset winner of last year's Gotham Stakes.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Jockey Trevor McCarthy will be sidelined through at least the end of 2022 after suffering a broken collarbone as well as a pelvic injury after being involved in a spill during the running of Friday’s sixth race at Aqueduct.

McCarthy stayed overnight at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and was hopeful of being discharged sometime Saturday, according to his agent Joey Migliore.

Migliore confirmed the broken collarbone and said while McCarthy did suffer a pelvic injury the extent of it is not yet clear.

Thu, 11/17/2022 - 16:40

Longshots force carryovers in pick five and pick six for Friday

Jim Sewastynowicz
After 16 days of the Belmont at the Big A meet, all-sources handle was down 15.2 percent, and ontrack handle was down 19 percent.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - A day of inscrutable results at Aqueduct on Thursday led to carryovers in the late pick-5 and the pick-6 for Friday.

The carryover in the late pick-5 is $172,117. The pick-6 carryover is $25,215. There are 10 races Friday, so the late pick-5 starts in race 6 (2:16 p.m. Eastern). The late pick-5 is a 50-cent minimum wager. The pick-6 begins on race 5 (1:46) and is a $1 minimum wager.

Thu, 11/17/2022 - 13:24

Gustavo Rodriguez suspended seven days for bute overage

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Gustavo Rodriguez on Sunday will begin serving a seven-day suspension handed him by the New York Gaming Commission after one of his horses tested for on overage of the therapeutic medication Phenylbutazone (bute) in a race at Aqueduct.

Rodriguez, who waived his right of appeal and who was also fined $1,000, will be eligible to return on Nov. 27.

Wed, 11/16/2022 - 14:50

Terranova has out-of-town plans for Freedom Trail, Midnight Stroll

Chelsea Durand
Freedom Trail returned $5.80 in winning the Awad Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer John Terranova could be spending the holidays on the road.

Freedom Trail, unbeaten in two starts, both on turf, is likely to make his dirt debut in the Grade 2, $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs on Nov. 26 - two days after Thanksgiving - said Terranova.

Midnight Stroll, the Delaware Oaks winner who recently finished third in the Grade 2, $350,000 Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland, could start in the Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.

Wed, 11/16/2022 - 14:40

Toscano barn goes from ecstasy to agony in a day

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos
Blewitt, who won nine races and earned more than $360,000, was injured last month and had to be euthanized.

On Oct. 29, the John Toscano barn celebrated a victory by Runninsonofagun in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler at Aqueduct. The next morning, the barn mourned the loss of Blewitt, an 8-year-old gelding who had gotten loose while on the Belmont training track and wound up getting injured in the barn area and had to be euthanized.

“We went from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows,” said John Toscano III, son of and assistant to his father. “That was absolutely sick. He was one of my favorites. What a shame.”

Wed, 11/16/2022 - 14:32

Attfield bringing in Churchtown for Gio Ponti Stakes

Churchtown would be Roger Attfield's first starter at Aqueduct since 2019.

Trainer Roger Attfield will have his first starter at Aqueduct in three years when he ships Churchtown in from Woodbine for Saturday’s $135,000 Gio Ponti Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Churchtown, a gelding by Air Force Blue is coming off a neck loss to Luckman in the Toronto Cup at Woodbine on Sept. 10. Prior to that, he won an allowance on synthetic and one on turf, also at Woodbine.

Wed, 11/16/2022 - 12:16

Cairo Memories to be auctioned early next year

Benoit Photo
Cairo Memories wins the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes on May 29 at Santa Anita.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Graded stakes-winning 3-year-old filly Cairo Memories is out of training and scheduled to be sold, according to trainer Bob Hess Jr.

Cairo Memories won three turf stakes, including a pair of Grade 3 races early this year at Santa Anita, but misfired last out in the Grade 3 Autumn Miss at Santa Anita. She finished fifth of 11 as the even-money favorite.

“We had her in the November sale, we flew her [to Kentucky] to sell her, but she got sick,” Hess said, adding that she will be listed in one of two sales early next year.

Wed, 11/16/2022 - 12:16

American Theorem being freshened; Cabo Spirit to Hollywood Derby

Benoit Photo
American Theorem wins the Bing Crosby at Del Mar in July. He may not have handled the Keeneland track when finishing eighth last out in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

DEL MAR, Calif. – American Theorem, the California-based Grade 1 winner who became one of the circuit’s top sprinters in spring and summer, is on vacation following his eighth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

“He’s back, he came out of the race good, we just want to give him a little time off,” trainer George Papaprodomou said. “There’s nothing coming up right now.”