Wed, 09/15/2021 - 13:36

Mackinnon could train up to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

Benoit Photo
Juan Hernandez urges Mackinnon to victory in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf.

Mackinnon won his stakes debut in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 6 and could have his next start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 5 at Del Mar.

Trainer Doug O’Neill said forthcoming workouts will determine whether Mackinnon starts in the $200,000 Zuma Beach Stakes at a mile on turf on Oct. 3 at Santa Anita or is trained toward the BC Juvenile Turf.

“We’ve got options,” O’Neill said. “The more time in between races the better. It’s a strong temptation to wait, but if he’s coming out of his skin we’ll have to consider” the Zuma Beach.

Wed, 09/15/2021 - 13:30

Loud Mouth targeting Cary Grant Stakes

Benoit Photo
Loud Mouth con su jinete Abel Cedillo luego de subir al primer lugar

The disqualification of Peaceful Transfer in Sunday’s $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for California-bred milers at Los Alamitos moved Loud Mouth into the winner’s circle for his first stakes win since November.

This fall, trainer Steve Knapp has a familiar list of goals for Loud Mouth, a 5-year-old horse who has won 8 of 29 starts and earned $374,070. Last November, Loud Mouth won the $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes for California-breds at seven furlongs at Del Mar, and the same race on Nov. 21 is on the horse’s schedule this year.

Wed, 09/15/2021 - 13:30

Smooth Like Strait ready to work

Benoit Photo
Umberto Rispoli and Smooth Like Strait team up for their fourth stakes win since August in Monday's Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita.

Smooth Like Strait, one of the top turf milers in California, is scheduled to have a workout at Santa Anita this weekend that will determine whether the six-time stakes winner starts before the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Smooth Like Strait won the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita in May to earn a fees-paid berth to the BC Mile. Smooth Like Strait finished second by a head to BC Mile hopeful Mo Forza in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 21 in his latest start.

Wed, 09/15/2021 - 11:30

Cannon to have surgery following Monday spill

Tom Keyser
Declan Cannon will ride at Turfway Park through the winter.

Jockey Declan Cannon was scheduled to undergo surgery Wednesday morning at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis after suffering three fractured vertebrae Monday in a spill at Indiana Grand.

Cannon’s agent, Tim Hanisch, said doctors expect the jockey to make a full recovery and that he could be back riding in six months or so.

Wed, 09/15/2021 - 11:30

Saturday night card has Breeders' Cup implications

Debra A. Roma
Gamine, with John Velazquez riding, wins the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff by 1 1/2 lengths.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – An 11-race card showcasing 2020 Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil in the Locust Grove is set for Saturday night at Churchill, where twin Breeders’ Cup qualifiers, the Iroquois and Pocahontas, also are among five stakes on an outstanding card.

First post is 6 p.m. Eastern, with the last race going at 11:10.

Wed, 09/15/2021 - 11:20

Swiss Skydiver done for the year, will sell at Fasig-Tipton on Nov. 9

Barbara D. Livingston
Swiss Skydiver, training last week at Saratoga, won last year's Preakness and will try to beat the boys again in the Aug. 7 Whitney.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Swiss Skydiver, the Preakness winner and 3-year-old filly champion in 2020, in all likelihood is finished racing and is scheduled to be sold Nov. 9 at the Night of Stars Sale at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington.

Ken McPeek, who trained Swiss Skydiver throughout a 16-race career highlighted by victories in three Grade 1 events – the 2020 Alabama and Preakness and 2021 Beholder Mile – said Wednesday the 4-year-old daughter of Daredevil is currently in good stead at his Magdalena Farm in Lexington.

Wed, 09/15/2021 - 10:36

Brickyard Ride being freshened for 2022 campaign

Benoit Photo
Brickyard Ride led throughout while winning the Thor’s Echo by 4 3/4 lengths. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 104.

Brickyard Ride, a multiple stakes winner and quickest sprinter in California, has been turned out after a tough-luck summer at Del Mar. Trainer Craig Lewis and owner-breeder Alfred Pais opted to end his campaign after the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien on Aug. 28 at Del Mar.

Brickyard Ride broke through the gate, ran off before the start, then finished ninth in the Pat O’Brien. In his previous start in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby, he broke slowly, rushed to the lead, and finished fifth.

Tue, 09/14/2021 - 16:48

Imbriale tests positive for COVID-19, will miss opening week of Belmont fall meet

NYRA Photo
John Imbriale will call the races at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga.

John Imbriale, the track announcer for the New York Racing Association, tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss the opening week of the Belmont Park fall meet, according to a NYRA spokesman.

Frank Mirahmadi was scheduled to call Thursday’s opening-day program. Chris Griffin, the track announcer at Parx Racing, is scheduled to call the Friday-through-Sunday programs.

According to Pat McKenna, the NYRA director of communications, Imbriale tested positive for COVID following the conclusion of the Saratoga meet, which ended Sept. 6.

Tue, 09/14/2021 - 16:44

Mejia will appear before stewards to address buzzer allegations

Ryan Denver/ EQUI-PHOTO
Tomas Mejia returns to the Monmouth winner's circle after winning a July 23 race.

Jockey Tomas Mejia, who returned to riding in early September after being out for one month with an injury, has been ordered to appear before the stewards at Monmouth Park in New Jersey on Wednesday morning under suspicion of using an electrical device in a race on Sept. 3, according to New Jersey racing officials.

Mon, 09/13/2021 - 16:11

Gulfstream schedules four stakes on new Tapeta track during fall meet

Barbara D. Livingston
The new Tapeta track will be a mile and 70 yards around and complement a seven-furlong turf course and a 1 1/8-mile dirt track.

Four stakes races decided on the turf during the final Gulfstream Park West meet, conducted in the fall of 2020, will all be run over the newly installed Tapeta course during the upcoming Gulfstream Park fall session, which begins on Sep. 30 and continues through Nov. 21.

The first race over the Tapeta track, which has been installed over the outer section of the turf course, is scheduled to be run on Thursday, Sept. 23.