Mon, 02/08/2021 - 13:16

Mischevious Alex still on track for Gulfstream Park Sprint

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos
Mischevious Alex has made one start for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., a 3 3/4-length allowance win with a 103 Beyer Figure.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The much-needed rain that fell here Saturday afternoon and again Monday morning put a bit of a crimp in Saffie Joseph Jr.’s training plans for Mischevious Alex, although it will not keep the horse from his scheduled start here Saturday in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint.

Mon, 02/08/2021 - 12:40

Walsh pondering what's next for impressive debut winner Prevalence

Barbara D. Livingston
Prevalence earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure while winning his career debut by 8 1/2 lengths.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Brendan Walsh said he hopes to come to a decision soon on a next start for the exciting Godolphin prospect Prevalence, who breezed an easy half-mile in 51.40 seconds early Saturday at the Palm Meadows training center in his first work since a flashy debut last month.

Mon, 02/08/2021 - 12:40

Romans has no excuse for Smiley Sobotka's Sam Davis performance

Barbara D. Livingston
Smiley Sobotka was finished early in the Sam F. Davis Stakes and finished ninth.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Smiley Sobotka was the biggest disappointment among the favorites in the Sam F. Davis on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs when fading to finish ninth, beaten 22 3/4 lengths, as the 6-1 third choice. The colt was making his first start since finishing second to the well-regarded Keepmeinmind in the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs in late November.

Mon, 02/08/2021 - 12:36

Maker to switch Fire At Will to dirt in Fountain of Youth

Barbara D. Livingston
Fire At Will wins the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at 30-1. In his lone dirt start, he won the off-the-turf With Anticipation.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – After lengthy consideration as to whether to give Fire At Will a shot on the Kentucky Derby trail, trainer Mike Maker has decided to switch the winner of the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf off the grass and run him in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.

Maker said Fire At Will “went super” when breezing five furlongs early Saturday in 1:01.60 over a fast Gulfstream main track.

“It looked like he handled it well,” said Maker.

Mon, 02/08/2021 - 11:26

Mott will try to keep Candy Man Rocket, Nova Rags apart

SV Photo
Candy Man Rocket paid $8.20 with the triumph in the Sam F. Davis Stake at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said he is inclined to keep Candy Man Rocket and Nova Rags separated as they proceed down the Kentucky Derby trail after the colts finished one-two Saturday in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs.

Mott told Tampa publicity Sunday he is likely to run one of his Sam Davis runners back in the March 6 Tampa Bay Derby, the annual marquee race at the Oldsmar, Fla., track, while diverting the other to a different spot.

Mon, 02/08/2021 - 09:10

Santa Anita, Del Mar team on $1 million Wild West Bonus

Emily Shields
Combatant returned $21.20 for his win Saturday in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Santa Anita and Del Mar have teamed to link their three leading annual Grade 1 dirt races at 1 1/4 miles in a series that will pay a $1 million bonus to the owner of a horse that wins the Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita, and Pacific Classic at Del Mar in the same year.

The series, known as the Wild West Bonus, begins with the $400,000 Big Cap on March 6, followed by the $300,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on May 31, and the $750,000 Pacific Classic on Aug. 21.

Sun, 02/07/2021 - 17:01

Razorback Handicap should be hot racing on cold weekend

Debra A. Roma
Monomoy Girl

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The Oaklawn meet kicks into high gear this holiday weekend, with the running of the Grade 3, $600,000 Razorback Handicap on Saturday and the anticipated appearance of champions Monomoy Girl and Essential Quality in Monday stakes.

Monomoy Girl is scheduled to launch her season in the Grade 3, $250,000 Bayakoa, while stablemate Essential Quality will hunt Kentucky Derby points in the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest. Those stakes, along with the Razorback, are the first graded offerings of the meet at Oaklawn.

Sun, 02/07/2021 - 16:47

Hit the Road pointing to Frank Kilroe Mile next

Benoit photo
Hit the Road returned $8.20 with the victory in the Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.

The morning after Hit the Road won Saturday’s Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita, trainer Dan Blacker had yet to study the race replay.

“My phone has been blowing up,” Blacker said Sunday. “I haven’t had a chance.

“That’s one of the best parts of the Thoroughbred community. It’s a big family. It’s nice to hear from my friends from around the world.”

In his first start since July, Hit the Road cruised to an impressive win in the $100,500 Thunder Road at a mile on turf, drawing clear by 3 3/4 lengths in the final furlong.

Sun, 02/07/2021 - 16:32

Charlatan ready to go for $20 million Saudi Cup

Benoit Photo
Charlatan, winning the Dec. 26 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita, has the $20 million Saudi Cup in his sights.

Charlatan, the winner of the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, will be flown to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 20. Charlatan will depart two days after a seven-furlong workout that left trainer Bob Baffert enthusiastic about the colt’s chance in the world’s richest race.

On Sunday at Santa Anita, Charlatan was timed in 1:24.60, the only horse to work at the extended distance.

“He looked incredible,” Baffert said. “I put a serious drill into him. He worked really well.

Sun, 02/07/2021 - 15:40

Will's Secret mapping path to Kentucky Oaks

Coady Photography
Will's Secret paid $18 with the victory in the Martha Washington Stakes on Saturday at Oaklawn.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Arkansas-based owner Willis Horton and trainer Dallas Stewart won Oaklawn Park’s first Kentucky Oaks points race last month with Will’s Secret.

They intend on hunting Kentucky Derby points here next Monday.

“We’re looking at the Southwest with Last Samurai,” Stewart said Friday.

The Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest on Feb. 15 doles out Kentucky Derby eligibility points to its first four finishers on a scale of 10-4-2-1.