Wed, 04/07/2021 - 19:16

Opening of 2021 Woodbine meet delayed due to stay-at-home order

By Ron Gierkink
Michael Burns
No turf races are scheduled for the next condition book, which begins on Nov. 13.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The 2021 Woodbine meet has been postponed from its scheduled April 17 opening due to a province-wide four-week stay-at-home order declared by the Ontario government that goes into effect Thursday. A provincial State of Emergency was initiated because of a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases with variants during the third wave of the pandemic.

Woodbine Entertainment hopes to start the meet after the stay-at-home order is scheduled to be lifted on May 6.

Wed, 04/07/2021 - 14:40

Pletcher's Kentucky Derby quartet meeting up at Churchill Downs

By David Grening
Barbara D. Livingston
Bourbonic (left) and Dynamic One finish one-two in the Wood Memorial. Both are trained by Todd Pletcher, who is sending them to Churchill Downs on Sunday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Bourbonic and Dynamic One, the one-two finishers in last Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial, will ship to Churchill Downs on Sunday to prepare for the May 1 Kentucky Derby, Todd Pletcher, who trains both 3-year-olds, said Wednesday.

:: Bet horse racing on DRF Bets. Double Your First Deposit Up to $250. Join Now.

Wed, 04/07/2021 - 14:36

Graded stakes winner Sunny Ridge takes new job as stable pony

By David Grening
Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Sunny Ridge won seven stakes, including the Grade 3 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park (above).

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – When Mr. Buff went to work Tuesday morning at Belmont Park, he was accompanied by trainer John Kimmel’s new stable pony Sunny Ridge.

Sunny Ridge, a New Jersey-bred gelding by Holy Bull, won seven stakes, including a pair Grade 3’s, when running for trainer Jason Servis. After Servis was indicted 13 months ago for allegedly giving horses misbranded medications, Sunny Ridge was ultimately transferred to Kimmel by owner-breeder Dennis Drazin.

Wed, 04/07/2021 - 14:36

Decorated Invader returns to action in Danger's Hour

By David Grening
Barbara D. Livingston
Decorated Invader came up a little short and finished a close fifth in the 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Derby. Freshened by Christophe Clement, he returns Sunday in the one-mile Hill Prince.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Saturday’s $100,000 Danger’s Hour Stakes at Aqueduct is the first turf stakes to be run this year on the New York Racing Association circuit.

The Danger’s Hour, carded at a mile, came up a bit salty. The race will mark the 4-year-old debut of Decorated Invader, a four-time stakes winner who in his last start finished fifth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar last Nov. 27.

Also in the field are Analyze It, a multiple graded stakes winner; Hieronymus, a multiple listed stakes winner; and Rinaldi, a multiple New York-bred stakes winner.

Wed, 04/07/2021 - 14:17

Hoyt named director of racing at Oaklawn Park

By Mary Rampellini

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jennifer Hoyt, the longtime media relations manager for Oaklawn Park, has been promoted to director of racing for the track, Oaklawn announced Wednesday.

Hoyt has been the media relations manager for the past 10 years and will continue to serve in that role during live race meets at Oaklawn. In her director of racing role, she will be “responsible for the promotion, planning, and success of Oaklawn's live racing product.” 

Hoyt is looking forward to the new opportunity at Oaklawn. 

Wed, 04/07/2021 - 13:46

Idol held out of Oaklawn Handicap to await Hollywood Gold Cup

By Steve Andersen
Emily Shields
Idol wins the Santa Anita Handicap on March 6. He isn't scheduled to run again until the Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita on May 31.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Idol, the winner of the Santa Anita Handicap on March 6, will not be sent to Oaklawn Park as planned for next Saturday’s Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap, trainer Richard Baltas said.

Idol will run in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita on May 31.

:: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Santa Anita Clocker Report

Wed, 04/07/2021 - 13:36

Roman Centurian to take some more time, skip Arkansas Derby

By Steve Andersen

Roman Centurian, a late scratch from the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, was not entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park after trainer Simon Callaghan said he was unsatisfied with the colt’s progress earlier this week.

:: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Santa Anita Clocker Report

Callaghan expressed similar thoughts prior to the Santa Anita Derby.

Wed, 04/07/2021 - 13:36

Rispoli, Rock Your World headed to Churchill Downs on business

By Steve Andersen
Emily Shields
Umberto Rispoli will ride Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World in the Kentucky Derby.

Last November, a few days before the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, jockey Umberto Rispoli drove to Louisville, Ky., to get a first-hand look of racing at Churchill Downs. Rispoli did not have a mount, but wanted to visit the historic track.

In a few weeks, Rispoli will return to Churchill Downs with a much greater purpose. On May 1, he is scheduled to ride the undefeated Rock Your World in the Kentucky Derby and the top turf horse Smooth Like Strait in the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic.

Wed, 04/07/2021 - 13:01

Street Lute to skip Primonetta Stakes

By Dan Illman
Jerry Dzierwinski/Maryland Jockey Club
Trainer John Robb is skipping the Primonetta Stakes with Maryland-bred champion Street Lute, who will run next at the Preakness meet at Pimlico.

Trainer John Robb’s Street Lute is getting some time off. Last year’s Maryland-bred juvenile filly champion has won 7 of 9 lifetime starts without ever finishing out of the money.

Street Lute is nominated to the $100,000 Primonetta Stakes against older fillies and mares on April 24 but won’t compete.

“I backed off her a little bit,” Robb said. “I’m not going to run her until Preakness weekend.”

Subscribe to Track Notes