Cancellation of Breeders' Cup prep continues disappointing trend

Wed Jul 22 2015Vance Hanson

With the Breeders' Cup on a one-year hiatus from Southern California, the stakes offerings at Santa Anita's fall meeting, which runs from September 26 through November 1, reportedly have been pared back. Daily Racing Form noted Tuesday that one ...
SoCal Horse Racing Legend: J. Paco Gonzalez

Wed Jul 22 2015D.S. Williamson

Some might consider 1997 a watershed year for horse racing. The reason is because that was the year that Bob Baffert, American Pharoah's trainer, burst onto the scene with a horse named Silver Charm. Silver Charm came achingly close to winning the Tr ...
Eastern shore well represented at Meadowlands

Wed Jul 22 2015Ted Black

But last Saturday night in the Meadowlands Pace final, Wiggle It Jiggleit notched his third straight win against Wakizashi Hanover, who settled for third after a demanding first over journey, as the son of Mr Wiggles posted his 14th win in 15 star ...
Lake Placid, Schuylerville headline Saratoga opener

Tue Jul 21 2015Vance Hanson

The most prestigious meeting in American racing, the 40-day stand at Saratoga, kicks off Friday with a 10-race program, which includes two graded stakes. Saratoga's prestige is matched by its popularity with horseplayers, who bet an average of mor ...
War Emblem to have new home at Old Friends

Tue Jul 21 2015Vance Hanson

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Kentucky, announced Tuesday that 2002 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1) winner War Emblem would be joining the farm's roster in September. The 16-year-old stallion is being dona ...
Stakes pointers in weekday Del Mar turf races

Mon Jul 20 2015Kellie Reilly

A few Del Mar turf races this week figure to yield contenders for stakes later in the meet. Wednesday's 3RD race , a five-furlong turf scramble, is a logical prep for the August 19 Green Flash. Multiple Grade 3 winner Marchman , unraced since ...

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Prize hopes to regain Winning thread in Wickerr

Mon Jul 20 2015Kellie Reilly

Argentine champion Winning Prize looked like the next big thing on the Southern California turf mile scene when turning the Arcadia (G2)/Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) double in the spring of 2014. Unfortunately, he hasn't visited the winner's circle si ...
Competitive Edge confirmed for Haskell

Mon Jul 20 2015Kellie Reilly

Competitive Edge romped in last summer's Hopeful (G1) just two days before American Pharoah burst onto the scene in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), but the two have never met on the track -- until now.  Initially among the possibles for the August 2 ...
Sky Kingdom hoping third time's the charm in Cougar II

Mon Jul 20 2015Vance Hanson

If there's a horse who should appreciate Del Mar's return to a dirt surface, it might by Sky Kingdom . The Bob Baffert-trained son of Empire Maker will attempt for a third time to win the $100,000 Cougar II H. (G3) on Friday. The beaten favorit ...
Golden Horn among 11 remaining in King George

Mon Jul 20 2015Vance Hanson

The undefeated Golden Horn is the marquee name among 11 horses remaining for Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. (G1) at Ascot. The three-year-old colt, trained by John Gosden, will be seeking a rare triple in the 1 1/2-mile weight-for ...
San Clemente form underlines Lady Eli's stature

Mon Jul 20 2015Kellie Reilly

Star turf filly Lady Eli, who is currently waging war on laminitis , received another compliment in absentia on Sunday -- the top two from the San Clemente (G2), Prize Exhibit and Sunset Glow, were among those she defeated handily in last fall's Br ...
Prize Exhibit sails past Sunset Glow in San Clemente

Mon Jul 20 2015Jen Caldwell

DP Racing’s Prize Exhibit easily ran down 8-5 favorite Sunset Glow in Sunday’s San Clemente H. (G2) at Del Mar to earn her second straight graded victory. Jockey Santiago Gonzalez took a firm hold on Prize Exhibit and settled her in the back of ...
Pretty N Cool stamps herself as a two-year-old to follow at Del Mar

Mon Jul 20 2015Kellie Reilly

Bet down to even-money favoritism off a strong work pattern, Pretty N Cool justified bettors' confidence with a 4 1/2-length debut victory at Del Mar on Sunday. The Bob Baffert pupil is nominated to the September 5 Del Mar Debutante (G1), a realist ...