Wed, 06/09/2021 - 14:30

Russell's meet can get a whole lot better with win in Dancin Renee Stakes

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Fierce Lady wins a New York-bred allowance at Belmont on May 14. She'll try to give trainer Brittany Russell her second win of the meet in the Dancin Renee on Saturday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Her first foray into New York racing is still in its infancy, but trainer Brittany Russell is satisfied with how things have gone this spring at Belmont Park.

Russell, whose main string is based in Maryland, has about 10 head in New York and has a win, two seconds, and three thirds from eight starters at the Belmont spring/summer meet. She came excruciatingly close to her second win on Sunday when her front-running Defy Expectations was run down late by Jill’s a Hot Mess in a $30,000 claiming race.

Wed, 06/09/2021 - 13:46

Green Flash Handicap to be Breeders' Cup tryout for Gregorian Chant

Benoit Photo
Gregorian Chant (left) wins the San Simeon at Santa Anita on March 13. He ran seventh in the Grade 1 Jaipur at Belmont on Saturday and won't run again until the Green Flash at Del Mar on Aug. 22.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Gregorian Chant, a two-time stakes winner who finished seventh in his Grade 1 debut in the $400,000 Jaipur Stakes at Belmont Park last Saturday, will not race again until the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar on Aug. 22.

The $100,000 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf will largely determine Gregorian Chant’s autumn campaign.

“It will be a nice trial race to see if the distance suits him for a possible Breeders’ Cup run,” trainer Phil D’Amato said.

Wed, 06/09/2021 - 13:46

Whatmakessammyrun likely to step out of comfort zone and run in Oceanside

Benoit Photo
Whatmakessammyrun used a late run to win the Desert Code Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Whatmakessammyrun used a late-running style to comfortably win the Desert Code Stakes for 3-year-olds at six furlongs on turf at Santa Anita on Sunday. Whatmakessammyrun will start at longer distances at Del Mar before an expected return to a turf sprint at Kentucky Downs in September.

Trainer Mark Glatt said on Wednesday that Whatmakesammyrun is likely to start in the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes at a mile on turf for 3-year-olds at Del Mar on July 16, the track’s opening day.

Wed, 06/09/2021 - 13:06

Pacific Gale might come down for Princess Rooney

Derbe Glass/Coglianese Photos
Pacific Gale wins the Inside Information at 16-1 at Gulfstream in January. She has been based since spring at Belmont Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Pacific Gale was the queen of the filly and mare sprint set here this past winter. So it only stands to reason that her trainer, John Kimmel, is strongly considering shipping her back to South Florida for the richest and most important race in that division here this season, the $350,000 Princess Rooney on July 3.

The Grade 2 Princess Rooney is a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, and the only Breeders’ Cup Challenge race on the local stakes schedule.

Wed, 06/09/2021 - 10:56

Vazquez doubles up in graded stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Jockey Ramon Vazquez celebrates atop Lone Rock after winning the Grade 2 Brooklyn Stakes at Belmont Park.

Jockey Ramon Vazquez pulled a graded stakes double last week, when he won the Grade 2 Brooklyn on the Belmont Stakes undercard in New York just five days after winning Lone Star Park’s richest race, the Grade 3, $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile.

“It was incredible,” Vazquez said.

Vazquez is based at Lone Star, in Texas, and guided Mo Mosa to a 3 1/2-length win in the Sexton Mile for Perry and Denise Martin and trainer Mike Maker.

“I was really confident in Mo Mosa because I know he loved the sloppy track,” Vazquez said. “The last quarter, he responded.”

Wed, 06/09/2021 - 10:56

Juliet Foxtrot big favorite in Mint Julep Stakes

Coady Photography
Juliet Foxtrot, front-running winner of the Jenny Wiley at Keeneland, is scheduled to start in Saturday night's Mint Julep.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Off a victory in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland in April, Juliet Foxtrot figures as a heavy favorite in the Grade 3 Mint Julep, a 1 1/16-mile turf race that anchors an 11-race Saturday night card at Churchill.

Trained by Brad Cox for Juddmonte Farms, Juliet Foxtrot will have leading jockey Tyler Gaffalione aboard when she faces 10 other fillies and mares in the Mint Julep. First post is 6 p.m. Eastern.

Wed, 06/09/2021 - 10:56

Zulu Alpha could make return in United Nations

Coady Photography
Zulu Alpha, a winner of more than $2.2 million, could make his 8-year-old debut in the United Nations at Monmouth Park on July 17.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Zulu Alpha, an Eclipse Award finalist among turf males last year, continues on a steady work pattern ahead of his 8-year-old debut. Unraced since September, the $2.26 million-earner could return in the Grade 1 United Nations on the July 17 Haskell undercard at Monmouth, according to owner Michael Hui.

Wed, 06/09/2021 - 10:50

After Derby try, Oliver plots next move for Hidden Stash

Emily Shields
Hidden Stash could run on the Stephen Foster undercard at Churchill on June 26 or in the Ohio Derby or Indiana Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Hidden Stash was never a factor when 14th in the Kentucky Derby, but that’s okay. A good time was had by all.

“We’d do it all over again,” said Brian Klatsky, who with Brendan O’Brien heads the Big Blue Nation Racing partnership that owns Hidden Stash. “It was a great experience.”

Wed, 06/09/2021 - 10:46

Connections weighing options for Warrior's Charge

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Warrior's Charge is being considered for the Cornhusker or Schaefer Memorial.

Warrior’s Charge has some stakes options in July following his troubled sixth-place finish in the Grade 3, $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile on May 31 at Lone Star Park.

Trainer Brad Cox said the horse will be considered for the Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker on July 2 at Prairie Meadows. Another option is the $85,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial on July 7 at Indiana Grand.

Warrior’s Charge is a multiple Grade 3 winner of nearly $900,000. The front-runner came in from Kentucky for the Sexton Mile. He was one of the top choices in the race, won by Mo Mosa.

Wed, 06/09/2021 - 10:46

Winning Romance getting some time off

Coady Photography
Winning Romance wins the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Soiree by 20 3/4 lengths.

Winning Romance, who was a 20 3/4-length winner of the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Soiree for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs, will be getting a little downtime in Kentucky, trainer Bret Calhoun said Tuesday.

“We’ll freshen her, give her about 30 days turn out, and point toward the Louisiana-bred races in the fall,” he said.