Mon, 03/01/2021 - 16:28

Crispin fined and suspended for riding horse at Laurel at wrong weight

Coady Photography
Alexander Crispin

Alexander Crispin, the Eclipse Award-winning apprentice rider for 2020, has been suspended for 30 days and fined $1,000 after he rode a horse with the wrong weight, Maryland racing officials confirmed on Monday.

Crispin, who rides at 108 pounds, according to the Laurel Park condition book, was issued the suspension at least a month after stewards disqualified Alpha Queue from a third-place finish in a Jan. 16 race at Laurel. The chart notes the horse “carried wrong weight” in a footnote. The suspension started on Monday.

Mon, 03/01/2021 - 14:51

Just Might sticking to turf - at least for now

Jan Brubaker/Hodges Photography
Just Might turns for home with the lead in the Colonel Power Stakes on Feb. 13. He went on to win and earn a Beyer Figure of 101.

After Just Might popped a career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure airing in the off-turf Colonel Power Stakes on Feb. 13 at Fair Grounds, trainer Michelle Lovell toyed with keeping the gelding in dirt races this spring. But since Fair Grounds has an open turf-sprint allowance race for older horses set for March 13, Just Might will be pointed to that race as a prep toward the Shakertown Stakes, an April turf sprint at Keeneland.

Mon, 03/01/2021 - 14:46

Proxy works well in blinkers for Louisiana Derby

Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography
Proxy wins an allowance race Dec. 19 at Fair Grounds. He went on to finish second in the Risen Star Stakes and runs back in the Louisiana Derby.

Mystic Guide’s romping victory Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn definitely was the high point of the week for trainer Mike Stidham’s stable, but Friday morning at Fair Grounds yielded an encouraging result, too.

Mon, 03/01/2021 - 14:26

Keeneland drawings will allow patrons to reserve tables and grandstand seats

Coady Photography

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky., will allow customers to enter drawings to purchase a limited number of tickets during its upcoming spring meet beginning on March 8 at its website, the track announced on Monday.

The drawings will enable winning customers to buy tables reserved for six in either the track’s Lexington/Kentucky room or Phoenix room, both on the fourth floor of the grandstand. Customers will also be able to buy up to six reserved seats in the grandstand.

Mon, 03/01/2021 - 13:30

Gulfstream Mile winner Fearless a prospect for Oaklawn Handicap

Coglianese Photo
Fearless reaparece con éxito en la Gulfstream Park Mile

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Fearless, a 5-year-old who scored a breakthrough victory in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Mile here Saturday, could make his next start in the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap on April 17, although that’s not yet written in stone, said Elliott Walden, president of WinStar Farm. WinStar owns Fearless with China Horse Club.

Mon, 03/01/2021 - 13:26

Prevalence recovered from illness and looking for a spot

Barbara D. Livingston
Prevalence was set to run this week at Gulfstream in an allowance or the Fountain of Youth, but he missed a few days of training with a fever and has had his next start pushed back.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Prevalence, the Godolphin homebred who was withheld from a race last week at Gulfstream, could make his second career start in the coming days following a quick recovery from a minor illness. Prevalence breezed a half-mile in 48.40 seconds Saturday at the Palm Meadows training center.

Trainer Brendan Walsh said before leaving Tuesday for California, where on Saturday he will run Maxfield in the Santa Anita Handicap, that he hopes to run Prevalence in a first-level allowance in time to make a Kentucky Derby points qualifier.

Mon, 03/01/2021 - 13:26

Canadian victory propels Venezuelan Hug into Old Forester Turf Classic

Coglianese Photos
Venezuelan Hug (right) wins the Grade 3 Canadian Turf on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Danny Gargan was very confident Venezuelan Hug would handle the jump from Florida-bred company into a graded race. Now he’s hoping the gray colt will be equally successful going from a Grade 3 into one of the most visible Grade 1 turf races in America.

Mon, 03/01/2021 - 13:06

O'Neill hoping to have five runners on Dubai World Cup card

Benoit Photo
Wildman Jack, winner of the Jan. 23 Palos Verdes, has been invited to the Al Quoz Sprint.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Led by multiple stakes winner Wildman Jack, trainer Doug O’Neill could have five starters on the Dubai World Cup program on March 27 at Meydan Racecourse.

Wildman Jack, who won the Grade 3 Palos Verdes Stakes at six furlongs by 4 1/4 lengths on Jan. 23 at Santa Anita, has been invited to the Group 1 Golden Shaheen at six furlongs on dirt. Fernando Jara has been booked to ride Wildman Jack, O’Neill said.

In 2020, Wildman Jack won the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Sprint at six furlongs on turf at Meydan when O’Neill had a small stable there for a few months.

Mon, 03/01/2021 - 12:56

Rock Your World to switch surfaces for Santa Anita Derby

Benoit Photo
Rock Your World is 2 for 2 on turf, including the Pasadena Stakes on Saturday. He will now be pointed to the Santa Anita Derby.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Rock Your World, unbeaten in two starts on turf, may switch surfaces for a pivotal race in early spring.

A day after Rock Your World won his stakes debut in Saturday’s $100,000 Pasadena Stakes for 3-year-olds, trainer John Sadler said the expensive colt is a candidate for the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles on the main track on April 3. The Santa Anita Derby is the final major West Coast prep for the Triple Crown.

Mon, 03/01/2021 - 12:06

Senor Buscador injured, will miss Rebel Stakes

Dustin Orona Photography
Senor Buscador made an eye-catching move from last to win the Springboard Mile by 5 3/4 lengths, earning a 93 Beyer Speed Figure.

Senor Buscador, who won the Springboard Mile and was fifth most recently in the Risen Star Stakes, emerged from a recent workout in preparation for the March 13 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn with what appears to be a minor injury and will be given time to recuperate, trainer Todd Fincher said Monday from Sam Houston, where Senor Buscador has been training.

Fincher said the issue is with Senor Buscador’s right front leg.