Sun, 02/06/2022 - 17:06

Count Again vs. Subconscious rematch possible in Kilroe Mile

Benoit photo
Count Again (left) and Subconscious finished one-two in the Thunder Road at Santa Anita on Saturday.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Count Again and Subconscious were first and second in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Saturday, and a rematch is possible in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf on March 5.

Count Again closed from fifth in a field of six to finish a half-length in front of 3-5 favorite Subconscious. The $100,500 Thunder Road was Count Again’s first win since the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar in November 2020 and first race since a last-place finish in a field of five in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile last August.

Sun, 02/06/2022 - 16:52

Flightline sends birthday wishes to Leyva

Benoit Photo
Possible next starts for Flightline include the San Carlos at Santa Anita and the Essex at Oaklawn.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Flightline, the brilliant 4-year-old colt, gave assistant trainer Juan Leyva a unique birthday present at Santa Anita on Sunday – a smooth half-mile workout in 48 seconds in preparation for the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes on March 5.

Leyva, who turned 38 on Sunday, has been a regular work rider for Flightline, who is unbeaten in three starts for trainer John Sadler. On Dec. 26, Flightline won his stakes debut in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds by 11 1/2 lengths. The $200,000 San Carlos is also run at seven furlongs.

Sun, 02/06/2022 - 14:15

Brown takes wait-and-see position on Early Voting's next race

Chelsea Durand
Early Voting was given a 78 Beyer Speed Figure for the triumph in the Withers at Aqueduct on Saturday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - For the second straight year, trainer Chad Brown and owner Seth Klarman teamed to win the Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. The Eclipse Award-winning connections will hope Early Voting can have more success on the Triple Crown trail this year than Risk Taking did in 2021.

Sun, 02/06/2022 - 13:50

White Abarrio likely for Florida Derby, Make It Big heads to Sam F. Davis

Barbara D. Livingston
White Abarrio was given a 97 Beyer Speed Figure for the triumph in the Holy Bull on Saturday at Gulfstream.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - It was thumbs up all around on Sunday for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s two top 3-year-old prospects White Abarrio and Make It Big. The former was in good order following his one-sided victory the previous afternoon in the Grade 3 Holy Bull, and the latter was confirmed for next Saturday’s Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs following a strong half-mile work earlier Sunday morning.

Sat, 02/05/2022 - 10:28

Cold weather prompts Laurel to cancel Saturday card

Barbara D. Livingston
Laurel Park has not raced since Nov. 28 while its dirt racing surface has been undergoing renovations.

The effects of a winter storm has prompted Laurel Park to cancel Saturday’s nine-race card.

The storm passed through the Mid-Atlantic region Thursday and Friday, leaving freezing temperatures and wind chills in its wake.

:: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures

Laurel and the rest of the Maryland Jockey Club OTB network remain open for simulcasting.

Fri, 02/04/2022 - 16:34

Aqueduct's pick-six carryover grows to $98,633 for Withers Day; wet track expected

Barbara D. Livingston
There is a pick-six carryover of more than $98,000 on Saturday's Withers card at Aqueduct after a steady stream of longshots started off Friday's sequence over a sloppy track.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - There will be a pick-six carryover of $98,633 entering Saturday’s card at Aqueduct after the wager was not hit Friday.

There was a carryover of $31,130 entering Friday’s card after that same carryover was taken out of Thursday’s pool triggered by the cancellation of Thursday’s last race. There was $118,425 in new money wagered into the pick six on Friday, approximately $72,000 less than was wagered into the pool on Thursday.

Fri, 02/04/2022 - 14:36

Sea Foam headed to Laurel for John B. Campbell

Joe Labozzetta/NYRA
Sea Foam wins the Alex M. Robb on Dec. 31 at Aqueduct. He runs next in the John B. Campbell at Laurel.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Sea Foam, a New York-bred stakes winner who has excelled in races run around two turns, will be pointed to the $100,000 John B. Campbell Stakes at Laurel Park on Feb. 19, trainer Michelle Giangiulio said Friday.

The Campbell is run at 1 1/16 miles. Sea Foam’s last four wins have come in two-turn races at 1 1/8 miles.

Fri, 02/04/2022 - 14:30

Belmont Stakes among 59 stakes to be run at spring-summer meet

Debra A. Roma
Essential Quality, winner of the Belmont Stakes, will make his next start at Saratoga.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Topped by the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, there will be 59 stakes worth $16.95 million offered at the 2022 Belmont Park spring-summer meet, a schedule that virtually mirrors the 2021 schedule.

The 44-day Belmont meet runs from April 28 through July 10.

Fri, 02/04/2022 - 13:30

Desormeaux hearing before Santa Anita stewards postponed

Barbara D. Livingston
Kent Desormeaux has legal problems in Louisiana and also faces a hearing before the Santa Anita stewards regarding a separate matter.

Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, who was arrested on Jan. 28 on charges of domestic abuse and battery in Louisiana, received a continuance of a hearing before Santa Anita stewards on Thursday for a complaint issued by California Horse Racing Board investigators regarding alcohol use at an RV park on Del Mar property last November.

Roger Licht, an attorney representing Desormeaux, requested the continuance. A new hearing date has not been set.

Fri, 02/04/2022 - 13:26

Friar's Road's San Marcos victory earns him possible trip to Keeneland

Benoit Photo
Friar's Road finishes second by a nose in the San Gabriel Stakes in late December. He is under consideration for the Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland in April.

Last fall, Friar’s Road was pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita, but failed to draw into the field.

The same race is a goal this fall, at Keeneland in November, which looks like a very suitable race considering Friar’s Road’s 2022 debut win in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 30.

Friar’s Road won the 1 1/4-mile San Marcos Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths as the 11-10 favorite, stalking the pace before drawing clear for his first stakes win.

“He ran to his training,” trainer Michael McCarthy said Friday.