Tue, 08/30/2022 - 15:43

Side trip to turf planned for Rated R Superstar in Remington Green

Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park
Rated R Superstar ganando el Governor's Cup S. de 2022

Rated R Superstar has limited stakes options on the horizon at the Remington Park meet after winning the season's richest race for older horses earlier this month in the $175,000 Governor’s Cup.

As such, he could make a rare appearance on the grass. 

“There’s a possibility that we go in the Remington Green,” said Danny Caldwell, who owns Rated R Superstar. “He hasn’t run on the grass in a while. There’s really not a lot for him at Remington for a while, so that’s a possibility.” 

Tue, 08/30/2022 - 14:51

Iowa juvenile flash Tyler's Tribe will prep for Breeders' Cup at home track

Coady Photography
Tyler's Tribe runs his record to 3 for 3 with a victory in the Prairie Meadows Freshman, earning a 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

Tyler’s Tribe, who owns three of the top Beyer Speed Figures among 2-year-olds in 2022, will have his final prep for the Breeders’ Cup at his home track of Prairie Meadows, trainer Tim Martin said Tuesday.  

Tyler’s Tribe is being pointed for the $100,000 Iowa Cradle, a six-furlong race for colts and geldings bred in Iowa. It is part of the Iowa Classics card Oct. 1. 

Tue, 08/30/2022 - 14:34

Top turf horse Domestic Spending returns to work tab

Barbara D. Livingston
Domestic Spending works three furlongs in 39.04 over the Oklahoma training track Monday morning. It was his first recorded work in 10 months.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Domestic Spending, the multiple Grade 1 winner who was scratched from last November’s Breeders’ Cup Turf with a suspensory issue, had his first work in exactly 10 months Monday, going three furlongs in 39.04 seconds over the Oklahoma training track in Saratoga.

It was Domestic Spending’s first work since last Oct. 29 at Belmont Park when he had a final move before shipping to Southern California, where he was the favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, but scratched two days before the race due to a suspensory ligament issue.

Mon, 08/29/2022 - 13:36

Dandy Warhol stepping up, stretching out in Del Mar Derby

Benoit Photo
Trainer Mark Glatt speaks with jockey Flavien Prat at Santa Anita in January. Prat will ride the Glatt-trained Dandy Warhol in Saturday's Grade 2 Del Mar Derby.

Dandy Warhol will have a new rider, race at a new distance, and have a tougher assignment when he starts in Saturday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

There are indications that the lightly raced Irish-bred gelding can adapt and be a factor in the $300,000 Del Mar Derby, the track’s top summertime race for 3-year-olds.

Flavien Prat, former leading rider in Southern California and now based in New York, will ride Dandy Warhol for the first time, replacing Umberto Rispoli, who rides top contender Balnikhov.

Mon, 08/29/2022 - 11:56

Kentucky Downs kicks off seven-day meet with Tapit Stakes

Coady Photography
In Love, winner of the Grade 1 Keeneland Turf Mile last fall, is the likely favorite for Thursday’s Tapit Stakes.

It’s that time of year again.

Time for horsemen and fans alike to revisit the unique aspects of a racetrack plunked down in the middle of nowhere, one providing a welcome respite from the day-to-day grind of American racing.

Time, especially, for jaw-drops and double-takes when a horseplayer sees the purses at Kentucky Downs, where the 2022 meet begins Thursday with a 10-race program comprised mostly of full fields.

Mon, 08/29/2022 - 11:46

Kentucky Downs undercard races offering beaucoup bucks

Coady Photography
Amalfi Princess runs in race 5 on Thursday, which offers a purse of $180,000.

Besides the $400,000 Tapit on the opening-day card Thursday at Kentucky Downs, a $180,000 allowance sprint that drew an overflow field of fillies and mares (race 5) is among the many excellent supporting events.

The top two trainers in track history, Mike Maker (67 wins) and Wesley Ward (42), have top contenders in Amalfi Princess and Red Ghost, respectively. Those 4-year-old fillies are among a well-matched group that also includes Social Chatter, Saranya, and a second Maker filly, Phantom Vision, as major players.

Mon, 08/29/2022 - 11:10

Geroux back from the coast to ride Kentucky Downs meet

Coady Photography
Florent Geroux has been racking up the frequent flyer miles this summer.

Commuting two hours each way on Interstate 65 isn’t much fun, but it should be far simpler than all the traveling Florent Geroux has done in recent months.

Geroux, who intends to ride the entire seven-day meet at Kentucky Downs, operated out of Southern California for five hectic weeks, ending Aug. 26, while interrupting his stay at Del Mar with long plane rides to and from racetracks back East.

Mon, 08/29/2022 - 11:10

Trainer Ruben Alvarado fined for failing to report gelding

DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Ruben Alvarado was fined $1,000 by Del Mar stewards on Sunday for failing to correctly designate that Anmer Hall had been gelded before a scheduled start June 19 at Santa Anita.

Anmer Hall was in the receiving barn in advance of that day’s eighth race when racing officials notified track stewards that the 3-year-old was a gelding. Anmer Hall was not permitted to run.

Mon, 08/29/2022 - 11:06

Procrastination's next start delayed until winter

DEL MAR, Calif. – Procrastination, second in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar, has been sidelined.

Trainer Michael McCarthy said Sunday that Procrastination “will get a fall break.”

McCarthy did not describe why Procrastination is out of training, but said the situation was “nothing too serious” and that the filly will return to training for the Santa Anita winter meeting.

Mon, 08/29/2022 - 11:06

Jockey agent Vince DeGregory celebrates 90th birthday

Barbara D. Livingston
Jockey agent Vince DeGregory, pictured in 2018, celebrated his 90th birthday on Monday.

DEL MAR, Calif. – An emotional Vince DeGregory was honored by more than 60 members of the Del Mar backstretch community on Sunday morning, a day before the legendary jockey agent’s 90th birthday.

DeGregory was visibly touched by the brief ceremony, held under palm trees adjacent to the backstretch racing office.

“I’ve been one of the lucky ones in the game,” he told the group of well-wishers. “There’s nothing like being with great people who give their lives to the horses.

“I’m happy to be part of the game. I don’t deserve all the accolades.”