Fri, 10/30/2020 - 13:46

Krone teaming up with jockey Ferrin Peterson at Aqueduct

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Seven-pound apprentice Ferrin Peterson won four races at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Julie Krone, who enjoyed much success on the New York Racing Association circuit in her Hall of Fame riding career, was on the Belmont backstretch Thursday morning in a new role. Krone is the agent for jockey Ferrin Peterson, who after a successful summer riding at Monmouth Park, will join the NYRA colony Friday when racing begins at Aqueduct.

Fri, 10/30/2020 - 13:40

New York Gaming Commission to hold hearings next week on Linda Rice allegations

Barbara D. Livingston
Linda Rice's hearing will now begin March 24.

ELMONT, N.Y. – After several delays over the last 11 months, the New York Gaming Commission is scheduled to hold hearings Tuesday and Wednesday to determine whether to take action against trainer Linda Rice for alleged improper acts over a four-year period.

Fri, 10/30/2020 - 12:26

Attachment Rate back in win column, may try the Clark

Coady Photography
Following his Thursday victory, Attachment Rate may be headed to the Clark.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Attachment Rate earned an 82 Beyer Speed Figure in a 6 1/4-length victory as the 1-2 favorite in a first-level allowance Thursday over the Churchill slop.

After winning a Gulfstream Park maiden race in mid-February, Attachment Rate had fared respectably without winning in six straight stakes, getting his career-best Beyer (95) in a runner-up finish in the Aug. 9 Ellis Park Derby. He then was 14th of 15 in the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby prior to trying the allowance ranks for the first time Thursday.

Fri, 10/30/2020 - 12:06

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners loaded for this year's Breeders' Cup

Tom Keyser
Aron Wellman (left) of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners leads Danza into the winner’s circle after the 2013 Arkansas Derby.

Blame the enthusiasm of youth, but Aron Wellman hoped to conquer American racing when he launched Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners in 2011.

“Naively and ambitiously, we wanted to build the stable to have runners in every division of the Breeders’ Cup,” Wellman recalled with a laugh Thursday.

Fri, 10/30/2020 - 12:06

Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: Sconsin gives Foley and longtime owners a second chance

Debra A. Roma
Sconsin rallied from far back to win the Eight Belles. She will face older rivals in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Greg Foley and his clients of some 25 years have gone down this road once before – although it’s been a while.

Foley and the partners in the Wisconsin-based Lloyd Madison Farms were represented in the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Lone Star Park when Champali finished seventh, beaten just 3 1/2 lengths.

“It was a fun time,” Foley recalled this week at his home track of Churchill Downs. “It was exciting, having all the owners there and all that.”

Thu, 10/29/2020 - 15:47

New safety and integrity policies include revised medication and whip rules

Coady Photography
Lasix will not be permitted in Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks prep races at the 2021 Oaklawn meet.

Oaklawn Park on Thursday announced a number of proposed racing integrity policies it hopes to have in place when the meet opens Jan. 22, including prohibiting the use of the diuretic Lasix in qualifying-points races for the Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks and the integration of safety riding crops.

Some of the policies are subject to regulatory approval, with passage expected in advance of the meet. The season is set to feature record purses. It runs through May 1.

Thu, 10/29/2020 - 14:56

Happy Saver heads to farm with a spring return the plan

Barbara D. Livingston
Happy Saver ends his season with a victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Happy Saver, the undefeated winner of the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, was sent to the Kentucky farm of owners Alain and Gerard Wertheimer in Lexington, Ky. on Wednesday and will a get two-month freshening before returning for a 4-year-old campaign.

:: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Belmont Clocker Report

Thu, 10/29/2020 - 14:50

Mutasaabeq among trio of Pletcher workers for Breeders' Cup

Coady Photography
Mutasaabeq wins the Bourbon Stakes on Oct. 4 at Keeneland. He worked a half-mile over the Belmont training track on Thursday for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 6.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher was able to get workouts into three of his Breeders’ Cup contenders Thursday morning over the training track before the heavy rain came down.

Mutasaabeq, preparing for the $1 million Juvenile Turf, worked a half-mile in 49.58 seconds in company with the debut-winning 2-year-old filly Malathaat. Mutasaabeq, on the outside, went his opening quarter in 24.83, got his second quarter in 24.75 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.19, six furlongs in 1:14.80, and seven-eighths in 1:28.26.

Thu, 10/29/2020 - 14:46

Breeders' Cup Juvenile: Rombauer works five furlongs

Emily Shields
Rombauer finished second in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes.

Rombauer, a game second in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes on Sept. 26 at Santa Anita, worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 on Thursday at Santa Anita in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 6 at Keeneland.

Rombauer, ridden by exercise rider Osman Cedeno, worked in company with a stablemate and was clear of the competition in the latter portion of the workout, trainer Michael McCarthy said.

“He kind of got a little lost when he left his company a little bit,” McCarthy said. “We need to keep his mind on business.”

Thu, 10/29/2020 - 14:46

Sharing will try older in Matriarch

Emily Shields
Sharing has won two of her three starts this year, including the Grade 2 Edgewood last time out.

Sharing, winner of the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita and three other stakes, is expected to have her debut against older fillies and mares in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at a mile on turf Nov. 29 at Del Mar.

Trainer Graham Motion said Wednesday that Sharing will be one of several stakes-caliber runners he plans to send to Del Mar for the final days of the track’s autumn meeting, which begins Saturday.