Sun, 08/23/2020 - 17:48

Shirl's Speight has solid work for Derby

Michael Burns
Shirl's Speight wins the Marine Stakes at Woodbine. Despite not having any Kentucky Derby qualifying points, he is assured a spot in the starting gate.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — There’s a lot of “speight” in trainer Roger Attfield’s barn, but in a good way.

The unbeaten Kentucky Derby prospect, Shirl’s Speight, recorded his second fast work over the dirt training track at Woodbine last Friday. He went an old-school mile in 1:39.20 in company with five others, starting off slowly under jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson and then finishing well under a drive.

“He came out of the work really, really well,” Attfield said. “It didn’t quite go the way I wanted it to. Right now, we’re still on the Derby thing.”

Sun, 08/23/2020 - 17:10

Instilled Regard likely out of fall races

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Instilled Regard makes a late charge to take the Manhattan Stakes.

Instilled Regard, winner of the Grade 1 Manhattan on July 4, is out of training and unlikely to make the major races in the male turf division this fall, trainer Chad Brown said Sunday.

“He had a problem out of the Manhattan. It’s minor, but he did have to be stopped on,” Brown said. “The timing is terrible given his age [5-years-old] and the time of the year.”

Brown said he would have to discuss options for Instilled Regard with owner Larry Best.

In addition to the Manhattan, Instilled Regard also won the Grade 2 Ft. Marcy earlier this year at Belmont Park.

Sun, 08/23/2020 - 17:02

Halladay could run in Shadwell Turf Mile before BC

Barbara D. Livingston
Halladay, right, earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure for his win in the Fourstardave.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Halladay exited his victory in Saturday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Fourstardave Handicap in good order and will be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Nov. 7.

The only thing trainer Todd Pletcher has to decide is when, or if, to run him before then.

The Fourstardave was Halladay’s 11th race in 14 months, so it would seem that one more race before the Breeders’ Cup is likely. The most logical spot for that race is the Grade 1, $750,000 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 3, five weeks before the Breeders’ Cup.

Sun, 08/23/2020 - 16:42

Big Score pointing to Tapit Stakes, Yakteen says

Emily Shields
Big Score is using Saturday's Wickerr Stakes as a prep for the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 23.

Big Score, who won an upper-level turf allowance Friday at Del Mar that had the feel of a listed stakes, is being pointed to the $300,000 Tapit Stakes at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 9, trainer Tim Yakteen said Sunday morning.

Big Score, 6, won the 1 1/16-mile allowance while rallying from fourth in the five-horse field under Flavien Prat. It was only his second start of the year following a nine-month layoff. The Tapit, at a mile and 70 yards on turf, has conditions suited to order for Big Score, as it is for horses who have not won a stakes in 2020.

Sun, 08/23/2020 - 16:29

Princess Noor possible for Del Mar Debutante

The highly regarded Princess Noor could be wheeled back in 15 days for the Grade 1, $250,000 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 6 after breezing home a comfortable winner in her debut Saturday, trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday morning.

Princess Noor won the 5 1/2-furlong race by 2 1/2 lengths while looking as if she was out for a morning breeze under jockey Victor Espinoza.

Sun, 08/23/2020 - 16:24

McKinzie points to Alysheba Stakes on Sept. 4

Benoit Photo
McKinzie will target the seven-furlong Pat O'Brien Stakes on Aug. 29. His longterm goal remains the Breeders' Cup Classic.

McKinzie will make his first start in two months when he competes on Sept. 4 at Churchill Downs in the Grade 2, $400,000 Alysheba Stakes, the race trainer Bob Baffert said was next after a strong work Sunday at Del Mar.

McKinzie, with exercise rider Juan Ochoa up, was timed officially in 1:12.60, the fastest time of seven at the distance. But he continued with an extensive gallop-out, with Baffert getting him finishing up a mile in 1:37.80.

“He went great,” Baffert said.

Sun, 08/23/2020 - 16:15

Baffert says Thousand Words 'real strong' in five-furlong drill

Benoit photo
Thousand Words, right, got a 104 Beyer Speed Figure for his triumph in the Shared Belief.

DEL MAR, Calif. – After going off form earlier this year, Thousand Words seemed invigorated once relocating here to Del Mar, where he trained sharply heading into the Shared Belief, in which he scored a 9-1 upset over Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A. P.

Sun, 08/23/2020 - 15:57

Red King may race again before Breeders' Cup Turf

Benoit photo
Red King holds off United to win the Del Mar Handicap on Saturday at Del Mar.

Without spectators at Del Mar this summer and only a few owners in the stands, the stretch run of races has been eerily quiet compared to a typical year. Quiet, that is, until Red King turned for home in Saturday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap.

Members of the Little Red Feather Racing partnership that co-owns Red King were in attendance and were rowdy in voice-rooting as their gelding held off a late threat from favored United to win his second consecutive stakes.

“That was really amazing,” said Billy Koch, the managing partner of Little Red Feather. “He’s so genuine.”

Sun, 08/23/2020 - 15:09

Baffert mulls next step for Maximum Security en route to BC Classic

Benoit photo
Maximum Security's next step to the Breeders' Cup Classic could be the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont or the Awesome Again at Santa Anita, trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday.

DEL MAR, Calif. – In the few months he’s had Maximum Security, trainer Bob Baffert has learned that he takes aggressive training. That was evident in the way he was prepared for the Pacific Classic, which he won Saturday at Del Mar, and likely will impact how he’s managed in coming months en route to his next major goal, the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Sun, 08/23/2020 - 13:59

Tiz the Law looks eager in five-furlong Derby work

Barbara D. Livingston
Tiz the Law works in the early morning darkness at Saratoga on Sunday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Barclay Tagg is not babying Tiz the Law into the Kentucky Derby.

Fifteen days after Tiz the Law won the Runhappy Travers emphatically and 13 days before he runs in the Derby as the favorite on Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs, Tagg sent Tiz the Law out early Sunday morning for a rigorous five-furlong workout that he completed in 59.47 seconds, according to Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch’s watch, over Saratoga’s main track.