Fri, 07/08/2022 - 14:33

Nest doing so well Pletcher tweaks her schedule; CCA Oaks likely next

Barbara D. Livingston
Nest is by Curlin out of an A.P. Indy mare, indicating 1 1/2 miles should not be a problem.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Nest, the Grade 1-winning 3-year-old filly who finished second in the Belmont Stakes, will most likely make her next start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga on July 23, trainer Todd Pletcher said Friday.

Fri, 07/08/2022 - 14:19

Munnys Gold has bruised foot, will miss Schuylerville

Ryan Denver/ EQUI-PHOTO
Munnys Gold wins her debut by 14 1/2 lengths at Monmouth Park, earning a 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Munnys Gold, who earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure in her 14 1/2-length debut victory at Monmouth Park on June 17, has a bruise in a hind foot and will not run in Thursday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Schuylerville Stakes, the opening-day feature at Saratoga Race Course.

Munnys Gold has not worked back since the maiden victory and has been walking for a few days. She remains at Monmouth Park.

Fri, 07/08/2022 - 13:50

Delgado taking conservative route to Breeders' Cup with Smile winner Willy Boi

Adam Coglianese
Willy Boi earned a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure winning the Smile Sprint.

Reigning Filly and Mare Sprint champ Ce Ce was the star of the show last weekend at Gulfstream Park when successfully and easily defending her title in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney, a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. But Ce Ce wasn’t the only horse on the card with designs on the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 5, a date trainer Jorge Delgado has circled on his calender for Willy Boi, impressive winner of the Grade 3 Smile Sprint earlier on the card.

Thu, 07/07/2022 - 17:13

Cyberknife, Home Brew could give Cox a pair for Haskell

Coady Photography
Cyberknife wins the Matt Winn Stakes on June 12 at Churchill Downs.

Cyberknife remains on track for the $1 million Haskell Stakes on July 23 at Monmouth Park, while his Brad Cox-trained stablemate Home Brew remains a possible starter in the 1 1/8-mile fixture for 3-year-olds.

Thu, 07/07/2022 - 16:56

Hawthorne meet concluded with no racing, training fatalities

Hawthorne Racecourse concluded a 28-day spring meeting on June 25 during which, the track and the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association announced Wednesday, there were no catastrophic breakdowns during racing or training.

Wed, 07/06/2022 - 15:00

Rainbow Futurity, Derby, and Oaks trials focus of the weekend

Jake Rogers/Ruidoso Downs
Jess Savin Candy won the Ruidoso Futurity (above) by a neck on June 13. His margin of victory in last Sunday's Rainbow Futurity was a nose.

There will be no sweep of the Ruidoso Triple Crown for 2-year-olds this year.

Otts Boy, the winner of the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity on June 12, was not entered in time trials for the Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs on Friday and Saturday. Owner and breeder Luke Goebel said on Monday that Otts Boy was held out of the Rainbow Futurity trials to prepare for the third race in the series, the $3 million All American Futurity which has time trials on Aug. 19-20 and a final on Sept. 5.

Otts Boy, trained by Toby Keeton, is unbeaten in three starts.

Wed, 07/06/2022 - 14:37

Trainer Marvin Johnson, vet suspended by stewards at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Coady Photography
Trainer Marvin Johnson has been summarily suspended by stewards at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Trainer Marvin Johnson has been summarily suspended by stewards at Horseshoe Indianapolis as has a veterinarian he employs, Dr. Cynthia Loomis. 

Johnson confirmed in a phone interview Wednesday that the suspension relates to the possibility that Loomis treated one of his horses on Monday, the same day the horse was entered to race. Race-day treatments other than Lasix are prohibited. Both Johnsons runners were scratched Monday, and Johnson said racing officials took the two horses to the receiving barn to have blood drawn for testing.

Wed, 07/06/2022 - 14:29

Appleby will take on Brown's army in Diana with Creative Flair

Barbara Livingston
Bleecker Street wins the New York Stakes, the last of seven straight victories to begin her career and her lone Grade 1.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Though Chad Brown has 10 of the 14 fillies and mares nominated to the Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga on July 16, he will not be the only trainer with runners in the race.

Trainer Charlie Appleby plans to run Creative Flair in the Diana, run at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Last year, Appleby ran one-two in the Diana with Althiqa and Summer Romance, ending a string of five successive years in which Brown won the Diana.

Creative Flair is already in New York, having arrived with the two 3-year-olds Appleby plans to run in this weekend’s Belmont Derby and Belmont Oaks.

Wed, 07/06/2022 - 13:59

Dubb, Kumin, and partners buy maiden winner Oxymore

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Oxymore was timed in 1:07.84 winning his career debut on turf by 6 1/4 lengths. He defeated the Michael Dubb-owned Dr Oseran, who Dubb holds in high regard.

ELMONT, N.Y. - A group led by Michael Dubb and Sol Kumin privately purchased Oxymore, the impressive 2-year-old gelding who won his debut by 6 1/4 lengths at Belmont Park last Friday.

Oxymore, who shipped in from Presque Isle Downs for owner/trainer Adam Rice, will be trained by Chad Brown. The other partners on the horse include Morris Bailey and Bill Rucker.

Wed, 07/06/2022 - 09:54

Asmussen rallies for 26th Churchill Downs title

Emily Shields
Steve Asmussen saddled the one-two finishers in the Texas Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Steve Asmussen closed with a flourish at the Churchill spring meet, winning eight races over the last seven days to overtake Brad Cox for the training title by a 25-23 count. This was a record-extending 26th time Asmussen has won or shared the title at Churchill, where he also is the all-time leading trainer in wins (846).