Mon, 09/07/2020 - 13:56

Five Star General invades for Longacres Mile

Four-Footed Fotos
Five Star General (No. 8) wins the 2019 Grade 3 British Columbia Derby by a nose over Explode.

Hastings-based Glen Todd is invading Emerald Downs on Thursday with some serious ammo for the Grade 3, $100,000 Longacres Mile and $40,000 Emerald Distaff Handicap.

Last Thursday, Todd captured the Washington Oaks with Princess of Cairo, who upset heavily favored Daffodil Sweet in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies.

Princess of Cairo was the second choice in the Oaks. Five Star General is the 9-2 morning-line second choice behind Anothertwistafate in the Mile. The Todd-trained He’s the Reason is next in line at 5-1.

Mon, 09/07/2020 - 13:40

Large field possible for Preakness

Debra A. Roma
Authentic holds off Tiz the Law to win the 146th Kentucky Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In the aftermath of another eventful Kentucky Derby, a large field is taking shape for the final leg of the 2020 Triple Crown, the Oct. 3 Preakness at Pimlico.

Authentic, winner of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, is foremost on a list of at least 15 3-year-olds deemed anywhere from definite to possible to contest the $1 million race at the historic Baltimore track. The connections of the Derby runner-up, Tiz the Law, are mulling whether to run in the Preakness or wait instead for the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland.

Mon, 09/07/2020 - 11:26

Kentucky Derby: John Velazquez wins his third, agent Ron Anderson his fifth

Barbara D. Livingston
John Velazquez had previously won the 2011 Derby on Animal Kingdom and the 2017 edition aboard Always Dreaming.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Authentic was the third Derby winner for Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez and his first with Ron Anderson as his agent. Velazquez, who previously won with Animal Kingdom (2011) and Always Dreaming (2017), donated a portion of his earnings to fellow rider Vinnie Bednar, who suffered lower-limb paralysis in an Aug. 22 spill at Los Alamitos.

The Derby was the 200th career Grade 1 victory for Velazquez, making him just the third jockey to reach that milestone, following Jerry Bailey and Mike Smith.

Mon, 09/07/2020 - 11:20

Art Collector resumes training, being pointed to Preakness

Coady Photography
Art Collector resumed training on Saturday. He will likely breeze this weekend at the Skylight training center.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Art Collector, the standout colt who was declared from consideration for the Kentucky Derby with a minor setback four days before the race was held Saturday at Churchill Downs, already has resumed serious training and is being pointed to the Oct. 3 Preakness at Pimlico, according to trainer Tommy Drury.

Drury said Monday from his primary base at the Skylight training center just east of Louisville that Art Collector resumed galloping Saturday after being cleared to resume training.

Mon, 09/07/2020 - 11:10

Kentucky Derby: Black Lives Matter protests a somber backdrop to Authentic's victory

Barbara D. Livingston
A plane with a banner reading "Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor" flew over Churchill Downs just prior to the Kentucky Derby.

LOUISVILLE, KY. – Even though Churchill Downs on Saturday was closed to spectators and all but a select few as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the calls for racial justice that have gripped Louisville for more than three months were visible before, during, and after the Kentucky Derby.

Sun, 09/06/2020 - 18:03

Civil Union rewards McGaughey's strategy in Glens Falls

Ronnie Betor
Civil Union got a 94 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the Glens Falls on Saturday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Shug McGaughey said to himself he wasn’t going to make the same mistake here this summer with Civil Union that he did several years ago with Apple Betty, running her back too soon in the Grade 3 Waya following her victory in the River Memories just four weeks earlier at Belmont Park. 

Sun, 09/06/2020 - 16:46

Belmont jockey protocols change slightly from Saratoga's

Jockeys based out of town will not be permitted to ride at the Belmont Park fall meet while New York-based riders will be allowed to leave and return provided they produce two negative COVID-19 tests in a five-day period, according to protocols announced Sunday by the New York Racing Association.

The Belmont Park fall meet will consist of 27 racing days from Sept. 18 through Nov. 1.

Sun, 09/06/2020 - 16:30

Frank's Rockette possible for Miss Preakness or Raven Run next

Ronnie Betor
Frank's Rockette notched a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure in the Prioress on Saturday.

Frank’s Rockette made it two consecutive stakes victories versus 3-year-old filly sprinters with a sharp 2 1/2-length score in Saturday’s Grade 2 Prioress at Saratoga.

She beat the same two horses - Reagan’s Edge and Center Aisle - that she defeated by a much narrower margin in the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes at Belmont Park on July 4.

Sun, 09/06/2020 - 16:19

Mystic Guide not definite for Preakness

Ronnie Betor
Trainer Mike Stidham said Mystic Guide is possible, but not definite, to race in the Preakness next.

Mystic Guide came out of his half-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 2 Jim Dandy a little tired but otherwise in good shape, trainer Mike Stidham said Sunday. While Stidham said he will strongly consider the $1 million Preakness on Oct. 3 for Mystic Guide’s next start, he stopped short of committing the colt to the race.

“If the race makes sense we’ll go there,” Stidham said Sunday afternoon. “It’s not a must-run-in race, it’s a race we'll look at and if the race make sense for the horse we’ll do it.”

Sun, 09/06/2020 - 16:01

Global Campaign targets Breeders' Cup Classic

Ronnie Betor
Global Campaign notched a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure with the Woodward victory.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - When Kevin Plank earlier this year began the process of winding down his holdings in Thoroughbred racing, one horse he wanted to retain an interest in was Global Campaign.

So even though he sold a piece of the son of Curlin to WinStar Farm earlier this year, Plank’s Sagamore Farm kept a 50-percent interest in the horse’s racing career and a third interest in his future as a stallion.