The Cary Grant Stakes, run for California-bred sprinters each November at Del Mar, has been renamed The Chosen Vron Stakes, the track announced on Wednesday.
The Chosen Vron, a two-time Grade 1 winner and the California-bred Horse of the Year in 2023 and 2024, was retired in March after winning 19 of 24 starts and earning $1,709,678. The Chosen Vron, a 7-year-old gelding, raced for the partnership of John Sondereker, Robert Fetkin, Richard Thornburgh, and trainer Eric Kruljac.
A weekend workout by Dr. Venkman will determine whether the 5-year-old gelding will race before the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
Trainer Mark Glatt said on Wednesday that Dr. Venkman may start in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs on Sept. 28. Dr. Venkman earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile with a win in his last race, the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 23. The BC Sprint at six furlongs is another option, Glatt said.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Leah Gyarmati thought about walking away. But the allure of the racetrack and the continued desire to make her mentor – the late Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens – proud wouldn’t let her.
Thus, more than 19 months after voluntarily surrendering her New York trainer’s license, Gyarmati is back training. When she saddles Winegold in Friday’s second race at Aqueduct, a $50,000 maiden-claiming race on the turf, Gyarmati will be starting her first horse since Feb. 11, 2024, and resuming her 25-year training career.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Rebel’s Romance, the two-time Breeders’ Cup Turf winner, and El Cordobes, winner of the Grade 1 Sword Dancer last month at Saratoga, were scheduled to arrive in New York on Thursday and both will make their next starts in the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct on Sept. 27.
Total handle at the recently concluded Monmouth Park meet in Oceanport, N.J., fell 16.1 percent as the track struggled to fill races during a crowded summer calendar, according to an analysis conducted by Daily Racing Form.
Total handle dropped $44.2 million, from $212.7 million during a 50-day meet last year to $178.5 million during a 49-day meet this year, according to the analysis. Despite racing only one less day, Monmouth carded 34 less races this year and average handle per race dropped 9.8 percent.
He’s Just Lucky is developing into a Louisiana-bred of significance. He won the Louisiana Cup Sprint last month at Louisiana Downs with a meet-high Beyer Speed Figure of 103 and will likely move to two turns for his next start, according to trainer Allen Landry.
Landry said He’s Just Lucky is a candidate for the $100,000 Gold Cup on Oct. 11 at Delta Downs. The seven-furlong race will be run around two turns on the six-furlong oval and it is restricted to horses bred in Louisiana.
The connections of Chunk of Gold decided Monday morning that the West Virginia Derby winner will make his next start in the $300,000 Bourbon Flight on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Chunk of Gold also was entered in the $250,000 St. Louis Derby that runs Friday at Fairmount Park. Chunk of Gold, who is based at Turfway Park, drew post 11 for the St. Louis Derby and is the 3-2 favorite on the morning line.
“We’re going to go to the race at Churchill, the Bourbon Flight,” said Ethan West, who trains Chunk of Gold for Terry L. Stephens.
The September and November meets at Churchill Downs have become hotbeds for showcasing later-developing 2-year-olds who want to run longer distances. Juveniles who ran at Churchill Downs last September include this year’s Kentucky Oaks winner Good Cheer; Grade 1 winners La Cara, Sandman, and World Beater; and Magnitude and Owen Almighty, both graded stakes winners this year.
Spice Runner has been a promising but immature colt this season. Both aspects of his personality were seen in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Spice Runner wandered about in the stretch when urged by jockey Jose Ortiz, with trainer Steve Asmussen noting the colt didn’t appreciate the whip. However, Spice Runner then zeroed in on Comport out in front of him and bore down with focus in the final yards to get up by a head at the wire. He earned a 76 Beyer Speed Figure.
