Thu, 06/10/2021 - 14:40

Maracuja targets Mother Goose

Emily Shields
Maracuja (above) is expected to face Always Carina and Zaajel in the Mother Goose Stakes on June 26 at Belmont.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Maracuja, seventh in the Kentucky Oaks, is pointing to the Grade 2, $250,000 Mother Goose Stakes on June 26, trainer Rob Atras said Thursday.

Maracuja came off a maiden win to run second to Search Results in the Grade 3 Gazelle on April 3 to earn a spot in the Kentucky Oaks.

In the Oaks, Maracuja got off a little slow, was well off the pace, and wound up splitting the field.

Thu, 06/10/2021 - 14:40

Wit might head to Sanford after clever debut

Barbara D. Livingston
Wit wins his debut by six lengths despite a slow start on June 5 at Belmont.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The 2-year-old colt Wit made quite the auspicious career debut on Belmont Stakes Day, overcoming a slow start to win a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race by six lengths.

Wit is a son of Practical Joke and a half-brother to the Grade 3 winner Barkley owned by Mike Repole, Vinnie Viola’s St. Elias Stable, and Gainesway Stable. He is trained by Todd Pletcher, who also sent out that race’s runner-up Keepcalmcarryon.

Thu, 06/10/2021 - 14:36

Malathaat has first breeze toward CCA Oaks

Emily Shields
Malathaat, winning the Kentucky Oaks on April 30, had her first work in almost a month on Thursday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Malathaat, the undefeated winner of the Kentucky Oaks, returned to the work tab for the first time in almost a month Thursday, breezing a half-mile in 50.58 seconds over the Belmont Park training track.

Malathaat worked in company with Dynamic One, the Wood Memorial runner-up who finished 18th in the Kentucky Derby. It was Dynamic One’s first workout since the Derby.

Malathaat, who is 5 for 5, is training toward an expected start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 24 at Saratoga.

Thu, 06/10/2021 - 10:46

Woodbine gets started with 101-day 2021 meet

Michael Burns
Woodbine opens its season on Saturday and will race through Dec. 5.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Woodbine managed to squeeze in a successful 96-day meet between lockdowns in 2020. This year’s meet, which also was delayed from mid-April due to government restrictions from the ongoing pandemic, gets under way Saturday in unison with Stage 1 of Ontario’s reopening, with closing day scheduled for Dec. 5.

Wed, 06/09/2021 - 15:51

Los Alamitos 1,000-yard series underway

Los Alamitos will run three 1,000-yard races worth $30,000 to $50,000 on Nov. 27 for Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds that earn points in 870- and 1,000-yard races during the track’s year-round evening meeting.

The 1,000-yard races are essentially run at 4 1/2 furlongs. The field for the $50,000 race will be determined by purse earnings in races at 870- and 1,000-yard distances from March 12 to Nov. 21.

Wed, 06/09/2021 - 15:06

Sharp debut winner Mainstay likely headed to Saratoga

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Mainstay won her debut by 7 3/4 lengths last Friday at Monmouth. Trainer Butch Reid is considering the Schuylerville at Saratoga for her next race.

The 2-year-old filly Mainstay won her career debut June 4 at Monmouth like a future stakes horse, and trainer Butch Reid said she could wind up in the Grade 3 Schuylerville on July 15 at Saratoga.

Racing over a sloppy track, Mainstay made the lead before the turn and drew smartly away, showing excellent speed, to post a 7 3/4-length victory in a five-furlong maiden race. She earned a 72 Beyer Speed Figure while winning without being asked.

“More than likely heads to Saratoga,” said Reid. “Probably the Schuylerville.”

Wed, 06/09/2021 - 15:06

Shuvee next up for Lady's Secret winner Altaf

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Altaf earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure winning the Lady's Secret. She will likely run next in the Shuvee at Saratoga.

Altaf got a career-best 94 Beyer Speed Figure winning the $100,000 Lady’s Secret Stake on June 6 at Monmouth by a comfortable 2 1/2 lengths. Now 3 for 3 in dirt races, Altaf aced her stakes and two-turn debut, and likely is headed next to the Grade 3 Shuvee over 1 1/8 miles on July 25 at Saratoga.

“She stepped up again, got it done around two turns, and hopefully we can keep her on a steady campaign now,” said trainer Chad Brown.

Wed, 06/09/2021 - 15:00

Pirate's Punch looking for a second Salvator Mile win

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Pirate’s Punch wins last September’s Salvator Mile. He makes his first start in seven months Saturday.

Pirate’s Punch won the Salvator Mile when the Monmouth fixture was contested last September, and he will try to win it again Saturday in his first race since November.

Pirate’s Punch exited a 12th-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile with a chipped knee that required surgical repair. Trainer Grant Forster took plenty of time bringing Pirate’s Punch back into racing shape and has deemed him ready for Saturday’s Grade 3 Salvator Mile.

Wed, 06/09/2021 - 14:56

Mandaloun all set for the Pegasus

Emily Shields
Mandaloun will make his first start since finishing second in the Kentucky Derby on Sunday in the Pegasus Stakes.

Brad Cox, still basking in the glow of winning his first Triple Crown race June 5, when Essential Quality captured the Belmont Stakes, has plenty more 3-year-old firepower in his stable. Fulsome, Warrant, and Gagetown all recently won stakes races in the Midwest, and on Thursday night, Cox will load Mandaloun on a van and send him from Churchill Downs to race Sunday at Monmouth in the Pegasus Stakes.

Wed, 06/09/2021 - 14:36

Charles Town Classic the goal for new millionaire Bankit

Barbara D. Livingston
Bankit wins the Commentator Stakes by 13 1/4 lengths at Belmont on May 31 to go over $1 million in earnings.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Bankit, the New York-bred who became a millionaire when he dominated the Commentator Stakes by 13 1/4 lengths here May 31, will be pointed to the $800,000 Charles Town Classic on Aug. 27, trainer Steve Asmussen said.

“That will most likely be one of his targets going forward for the rest of the year,” Asmussen said. “What a cool old horse he is, freakishly consistent his whole life. For him to be a millionaire is pretty cool.”