Sat, 08/08/2020 - 11:22

Two riders get three-day suspensions after rare double DQ

DEL MAR, Calif. -- A rare double disqualification in race 7 at Del Mar on Friday resulted in three-day careless-riding suspensions for two jockeys, Brice Blanc and Tiago Pereira, whose horses were taken down in that grass race.

Del Mar’s stewards on Saturday ruled that both Blanc and Pereira would sit out Aug. 15, 16, and 21 for their actions.

Blanc was aboard Goodtingscominpink, who finished second but was moved back to third after coming out and slamming into Zucchera as both narrowly fell short of catching the victorious Solitaire.

Sat, 08/08/2020 - 11:13

My Girl Red points to Del Mar Debutante

Benoit Photo
My Girl Red, with Flavien Prat up, wins the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes by 4 3/4 lengths.

DEL MAR, Calif. – My Girl Red assumed pro-tem leadership of Del Mar’s 2-year-old filly division with her 4 3/4-length victory on Friday in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes, and she will seek to solidify that position in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 6.

My Girl Red is from the first crop of Texas Red, the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner. She was bred by Erich Brehm, who was a co-owner of Texas Red, and is trained by Keith Desormeaux, who trained Texas Red.

Fri, 08/07/2020 - 17:20

Five riders suspended for careless riding, all appeal and are granted stays

Barbara D. Livingston
Irad Ortiz Jr. plans to resume riding on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The New York stewards on Friday released rulings against five jockeys for seven careless riding infractions at Belmont Park and Saratoga.

All five riders have appealed their suspensions, stays have been granted, and all may continue to ride until hearings are held.

Fri, 08/07/2020 - 15:46

Vekoma may work next weekend after missing time with bruised foot

Barbara D. Livingston
Vekoma is still possible for the Aug. 29 Forego Stakes at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer George Weaver is hoping to get dual Grade 1 winner Vekoma back on the work tab next weekend after he missed some time with a bruised foot.

The Blood-Horse first reported Vekoma’s issue on Thursday.

Vekoma, who won the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap and Grade 1 Carter at the Belmont spring meet, is targeting the Grade 1 Forego here Aug. 29.

“Still looking to make the Forego if everything goes well,” Weaver said Friday. “If I can get two or three works in him we’ll be fine to run. We’ll take it day by day.”

Fri, 08/07/2020 - 15:46

Spice Is Nice breezes for next week's Alabama Stakes

Lauren King/Coglianese Photos
Spice Is Nice wins a January maiden race at Gulfstream. She should appreciate the 1 1/4 miles of the Alabama.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Spice Is Nice, recent winner of a first-level allowance at Belmont Park, worked five furlongs in 1:01.70 over Saratoga’s main track in preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Alabama Stakes.

Spice is Nice worked outside of One Eyed Jack, a 4-year-old gelding, and got her final quarter in 24.83 seconds while galloping out six furlongs in 1:15.09 and seven furlongs in 1:28.55.

Fri, 08/07/2020 - 15:40

Dr Post works half-mile in company with Basin

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos
Dr Post is being considered for several stakes on Sept. 5, including the Kentucky Derby.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Dr Post, runner-up in the Belmont Stakes and third in the Haskell Invitational, worked a half-mile in 50.69 seconds on Friday morning over Saratoga’s main track.

Dr Post, who worked in company with 2019 Grade 1 Hopeful winner Basin – recently transferred to trainer Todd Pletcher – is preparing for a race on Sept. 5, Pletcher said. It could be the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs or the Jim Dandy at Saratoga or the Federico Tesio at Laurel Park, the latter a Win and You’re In race for the Preakness on Oct. 3 at Pimlico.

Fri, 08/07/2020 - 15:30

Santa Anita autumn meet to feature Breeders' Cup stakes preps

Benoit Photo
Sherwood Chillingworth was a top executive with the Oak Tree Racing Association.

Santa Anita will run a six-week autumn meeting from Sept. 19 to Oct. 25 that will include 18 days of racing and important prep races on the first two weekends for the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland.

Santa Anita was awarded autumn racing dates for a season that could have started as early as Sept. 11, but track officials have opted for a brief gap following closing day of the Del Mar summer meeting on Sept. 7.

Fri, 08/07/2020 - 14:36

Ruling makes Bob and Jackie eligible to run in Del Mar Mile

Benoit Photo
Bob and Jackie, with Heriberto Figueroa riding, runs down Kiwi's Dream to win Saturday’s $71,500 Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar.

The California Horse Racing Board recently issued a stay to a July 12 ruling that banned owner Ahmed Zayat from running horses in the state for failing to fulfill a $600 obligation to the owner of a horse van company.

Fri, 08/07/2020 - 14:36

Donna Veloce still on schedule for Kentucky Oaks

Emily Shields
Despite not having raced since March, Donna Veloce may run in the Sept. 4 Kentucky Oaks.

Donna Veloce, a stakes winner in March in her only start this year and the runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last November, worked five furlongs in 1:00 on Friday at Del Mar for a scheduled start in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on Sept. 4.

“She’s making some really good progress from week to week,” trainer Simon Callaghan said. “We definitely asked her for little bit more this morning. She looked good doing it.”

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Fri, 08/07/2020 - 14:30

Kanderel's luck turning around just in time for La Jolla Handicap

Vassar Photography
Kanderel holds off Ajourneytofreedom to win the Alcatraz.

Wide trips and trouble at the start of his races plagued Kanderel last fall and winter. The 3-year-old colt is having much better journeys in his races this summer.

After winning the Alcatraz Stakes at a mile on turf on June 13 at Golden Gate Fields, Kanderel closed from 10th of 12 to finish a game second in the Oceanside Stakes on June 10 at Del Mar.

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