ARCADIA, Calif. – The 4-year-old colt Express Train has shown rapid improvement at a key time this winter.
After finishing second to Charlatan in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds on Dec. 26, Express Train won his 2021 debut, and the first stakes of his career, in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita.
An apparent outbreak of COVID-19 has led to temporary changes in the stewards’ stand at Tampa.
As of last week, the stewards in place were Samantha Randazzo, Jack Houghton, and Pat Bovenzi. Longtime association stewards Dennis Lima and Eddie Cantlon are on temporary leave, although Tampa officials, citing privacy laws, were unable to confirm whether or not that’s because of COVID-19, as several sources have divulged. There is no timetable for their return.
A wide-open field is expected when entries are taken Wednesday for the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes, with Boca Boy, Smiley Sobotka, and Known Agenda among the 3-year-olds set to clash Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla.
The Sam Davis is one of two designated preps for the May 1 Kentucky Derby this weekend, along with the Withers on Saturday at Aqueduct. Points for both races will be awarded on a 10-4-2-1 scale.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jockey Edgard Zayas, in the midst of far and away the best Gulfstream Park Championship meet of his career, added four more wins to his total Sunday, including a pure hat trick with Aycapote, El Pillo, and Summer Kid in races 7 through 9. Zayas, who started the big day guiding Reinagol to victory in the fifth race, now has 50 tallies for the session putting him fourth in the standings behind Irad Ortiz Jr., who posted a three-bagger Sunday.
Big names post drills
Sam Houston Race Park handled more than $5.3 million on its 10-race Houston Racing Festival program Sunday, which was an all-time handle record for the track that opened in 1994.
The program featured six stakes, including the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic won by Letruska.
Sam Houston’s previous record handle of $5,083.692 was set on the Great State Challenge card on Dec. 7, 2002. Last year, handle on the Houston Racing Festival card was $3.2 million.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Getridofwhatailesu could be headed to graded stakes company after nailing down her first career stakes victory in the $150,000 Pippin last month at Oaklawn Park. Trainer Brad Cox said the mare is a candidate for the track’s Grade 2, $350,000 Azeri over 1 1/16 miles on March 13.
“She obviously likes Oaklawn,” Cox said.
The Pippin was Getridofwhatailesu’s third win over the local strip from four starts at Oaklawn. Last year, she won two allowance races in Hot Springs.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher hopes the Nov. 8 maiden race at Aqueduct can produce a few more stakes winners this coming weekend.
Pletcher finished first and third in that race with Known Agenda and Overtook, respectively. The runner-up from that race, Greatest Honour, not only came back to win his maiden but also took Saturday’s Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Thankful, winner of the Ladies Handicap on Jan. 17, will likely make her next start in the $125,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational going a one-turn mile here at Aqueduct on March 6, trainer Todd Pletcher said.
While Pletcher said he would prefer to keep Thankful racing around two turns - the Ladies was run at 1 1/8 miles around two turns - he said the only immediate option to do that would be to take her to Laurel for the Nellie Morse Stakes on Feb. 13. Maryland restrictions require shippers to be on the grounds three days before they race.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Abel Cedillo had a fine January with his 3-year-old mounts at Santa Anita, winning a maiden special weight race with The Great One on Jan. 23 and Saturday’s Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes with Medina Spirit.
A more difficult day could be looming in coming weeks.
The Great One, trained by Doug O’Neill, and Medina Spirit, trained by Bob Baffert, are on the same career path – bound for the Triple Crown races. Cedillo could eventually have to choose which colt to ride should the pair appear in the same race.
Max Player got the invitation his connections desired and will make his next start Feb. 20 in the $20 million Saudi Cup, trainer Steve Asmussen said Sunday.
Max Player will travel Feb. 8 along with stablemate Cowan, who will start in the Saudi Derby on the Saudi Cup undercard. Both horses, if they do well in Saudi Arabia, could go on to Dubai for races there on the Dubai World Cup card March 27.
