Mon, 05/30/2022 - 11:06

Forbidden Kingdom back in training

Emily Shields
Forbidden Kingdom ran last of six as the even-money favorite in the Santa Anita Derby, and emerged with a swollen throat.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Forbidden Kingdom, last of six as the even-money favorite in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 9, recently resumed racetrack training after being sidelined with a swollen throat.

The illness was diagnosed after the loss in the Santa Anita Derby, which put an end to any plans for a start in a Triple Crown race for Forbidden Kingdom.

Forbidden Kingdom galloped on Sunday, and has done so for several days, trainer Richard Mandella said.

“It’s really good, good enough to train,” Mandella said of Forbidden Kingdom’s condition.

Sun, 05/29/2022 - 19:42

Hernandez has Santa Anita riding title in his sights

Benoit photo
Jockey Juan Hernandez won the Daytona Stakes aboard Bran on Sunday at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Juan Hernandez recorded his first five-win day at Santa Anita on Saturday, the third time he achieved that mark in his career and the first time he won four stakes on a single day.

There could be more milestones in 2022 for Hernandez, the leading rider at the track’s winter-spring meeting.

Hernandez won five races on a single day at Golden Gate Fields in 2018 and 2019. The Saturday program was his best afternoon since he relocated from Northern California in 2020.

Sun, 05/29/2022 - 14:42

Casse: Running Golden Glider in Belmont is no-brainer

Barbara D. Livingston
Mark Casse will talk about racing horses in multiple jurisdictions at the Jockey Club Round Table, which will be a virtual event this year.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The best part of finishing second in the Peter Pan Stakes was that it earned Golden Glider a fees-paid berth into the June 11 Belmont Stakes. So, to trainer Mark Casse, it makes pointing the horse to the Belmont Stakes a virtual no-brainer.

“I don’t know what you take out of it,” Casse said, “but we got a free ride into the Belmont.”

Fri, 05/27/2022 - 15:54

Zenyatta's daughter Zilkha gets feel for racetrack

Zilkha, a 2-year-old filly out of 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, had her first workout at Santa Anita on Wednesday, exercising three furlongs in 38.40 seconds. 

“We wanted to show her the track,” trainer John Shirreffs said. 

Zilkha, by Candy Ride, arrived at Santa Anita and the Shirreffs stable earlier this month, having undergone early training in Florida. 

Fri, 05/27/2022 - 14:58

Jessica Pyfer has a new agent

Jockey Jessica Pyfer, the champion apprentice of 2021, is switching agents. 

Pyfer said on Friday that she will be represented by Bill Castle beginning next week at Santa Anita. Castle said in a text message he will continue to book mounts on behalf of Ramon Vazquez. Castle and Vazquez relocated to California from the Midwest last month. 

Pyfer was previously represented by Brandon O’Bryan, who said on Friday that he will continue working for jockey Drayden Van Dyke. 

Fri, 05/27/2022 - 13:57

Life Is Good, Malathaat among Pletcher workers

Dubai Racing Club
Life Is Good, here training in Dubai before the Dubai World Cup, worked a half-mile Friday at Belmont Park for the July 2 John Nerud Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. - In addition to his two prospects for the Belmont Stakes - Mo Donegal and Nest - trainer Todd Pletcher worked several other notable runners on Friday morning at Belmont Park.

Life Is Good, the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup Invitational winner, breezed a half-mile in 49.05 seconds by himself over the Belmont training track. He is preparing for a start in the Grade 2, $250,000 John Nerud Stakes here on July 2.

Fri, 05/27/2022 - 11:11

Danner trying to make Rachel Alexandra sister a stakes winner

Barbara D. Livingston
Gladys (left), with trainer Kelsey Danner and stablemate Airstreem.

Kelsey Danner would like nothing more than win a stakes this year with a 4-year-old named Gladys – not that the filly isn’t already extremely valuable.

Gladys was sired by Medaglia d’Oro and produced by Lotta Kim, making her a full sister to the great Rachel Alexandra. She posted her third victory from 12 career starts in a second-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles on the Churchill turf May 19, and now Danner is looking for a spot for black type. Gladys was nominated to the Keertana here this weekend, but the race came back too quick.

Fri, 05/27/2022 - 10:41

Peter Miller to start a horse Sunday at Churchill, his first runner since November

Barbara D. Livingston
Mr. Dougie Fresh's positive test for phenylbutazone was Peter Miller's third medication infraction in the last year.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Peter Miller, who announced last fall to considerable fanfare that he was taking a hiatus from training, will have his first starter in six months when a 3-year-old gelding named Respect the Code runs under his name in the eighth race Sunday at Churchill Downs.

Miller said via text message early Friday from California that he is gearing up his stable for the upcoming Los Alamitos and Del Mar meets on his home circuit. He said Respect the Code, owned by Gary Barber, is his only horse in Kentucky.

Fri, 05/27/2022 - 10:04

Romans considering Howling Time for Belmont Stakes

Coady Photography
Howling Time wins the 2021 Street Sense, the only stakes victory since October 2020 for trainer Dale Romans.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Howling Time is being considered for the Belmont Stakes off a resounding recent allowance victory, although trainer Dale Romans cautioned the colt might run back the same weekend in the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Howling Time earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure with a five-length triumph over Rattle N Roll and five other 3-year-olds in a May 21 allowance going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill. It was enough to lead Romans to put the June 11 Belmont into play, with the Matt Winn the next day being the alternative.

Thu, 05/26/2022 - 14:36

Santa Anita offering bonuses to out-of-state shippers at fall meet

Santa Anita is enhancing a bonus program paid to out-of-state shippers at its autumn meeting later this year in an effort to increase field sizes. 

Horses that have not raced in California in the preceding 12 months will be guaranteed a $5,000 bonus in their first start of the meeting, and will receive a 35 percent bonus on purse earnings for first- through fifth-place finishes in overnight races. Last year, a similar plan paid $3,000 and 35 percent bonuses.