Santa Anita
2nd-SA, $61K, Msw, 2yo, 5f, 3:30 p.m. When the hammer fell at OBS back in March, MUTH (Good Magic) was not only the session topper, but the 2-year-old tied the sale record with a final price of $2 million. Purchased by Amr Zedan and trained by Bob Baffert, the bay colt breezed during the under tack show by going 1/8 in :9 3/5. Muth debuts for these connections from the outside post with Juan Hernandez aboard. TJCIS PPS 1st-BEL, $90K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5f, 1:05 p.m. On Belmont's Sunday card,...
6th-ELP, $120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 4:14 p.m. An $800,000 yearling purchase out of Keeneland September, LADY MOSCATO (Quality Road) makes her afternoon debut for owner BC Stables and Hall of Fame trainer D Wayne Lukas. Out of a stakes-placed dam, she is a full-sister to GI La Troienne S. winner Salty, herself a $3 million dollar broodmare prospect out of the 2018 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Luis Saez gets the mount. Opposing her is Beautiful Dancer (Gun Runner), the first foal to make the races out of GI Del...
Both 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Lion (Justify), winner of the GI Woody Stephens S. and National Treasure (Quality Road), the GI Preakness winner who faded to sixth after setting the pace in the GI Belmont S., were back at Santa Anita and doing well after competing on last Saturday's Belmont Stakes card at Belmont Park according to trainer Bob Baffert. Prospective next starts have not been named for either runner.
A recent PET scan at Santa Anita revealed an "area of concern" in the left front fetlock of graded-stakes winner Straight No Chaser (Speightster), trainer Dan Blacker said Thursday. The 4-year-old colt will be sent to the farm for a 90-day break. He was last seen at Pimlico for the GIII Maryland Sprint on the Preakness S. undercard May 20 where he won by an impressive 7 1/2 lengths. Straight No Chaser had not worked since the Maryland Sprint. Blacker said the 4-year-old Speightster colt recently underwent a medical examination...
The "Quick Fix" of Synthetics is Not the Answer Horse racing has been down the path of synthetics before at Santa Anita, Del Mar, Keeneland, etc. Much time was lost, approximately a decade ago, with a focus on changing surfaces as a panacea for horse racing breakdowns. We now know there are other causes for horse breakdowns that are more prevailing. The greatest single cause of racing deaths has to do with pre-existing conditions of the horse, and only in particular instances is the surface itself the primary reason for...
It was hard not to love the performance Selenaia (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) posted in the GIII Honeymoon S. at Santa Anita last weekend. One man who loved it more than most was Derek Iceton of Tara Stud in County Meath. Iceton bought the dam [Dettoria (GB) (Declaration Of War)] of the Grade I-bound performer for just 12,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in 2018. Dettoria is still based at Tara Stud and has a Space Blues (Ire) colt at foot. She is happily reported to be back...
The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training--once an afterthought, but now a destination in its own right--begins its three-day run Tuesday in Ocala with bidding slated to get underway at 10 a.m. The June sale brings the curtain down on the OBS juvenile sales season, which featured a co-record sale topper in March and records for gross and average in April. "The sales calendar has migrated later [in the year], so I think there is still a demand for 2-year-olds out there for sure," OBS Director...
As a result of failing a breathalyzer test March 31 before the first race at Santa Anita, Kent Desormeaux will now be subjected to a breathalyzer test before every race day and every time he rides a horse in a morning exercise or work, according to a stewards' ruling posted Friday on the California Horse Racing Board's website. A complaint posted on the site April 8 read, "On 3/31/2023, Jockey Kent Desormeaux failed an alcohol breathalyzer test administered by CHRB Investigators at Santa Anita Park prior to riding in the...
The Breeders' Cup has unveiled a multi-month celebration of the 40th running of the championship event which will culminate with its weekend festival of racing at Santa Anita Nov. 3 and 4. The "It Runs Deep" campaign highlights 39 years of international competition and resulting champions via innovative fan and participant engagement opportunities across multiple platforms and on-site at Santa Anita. "We very much look forward to unveiling this extensive celebration of our 40th running," said Justin McDonald, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Breeders' Cup Limited. "From...
Pin Oak Stud's Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) checked stakes winner off his list with an off-the-pace victory in the Affirmed S. at The Great Race Place late on Sunday afternoon. After a sparkling 5 3/4 length debut win Jan. 29 at Santa Anita, the bay colt was second in the GII San Felipe S. to Practical Move (Practical Joke) before he was sidelined with a slightly-elevated fever before the GI Santa Anita Derby. Off at odds of 1-2 here, Geaux Rocket Ride was determined to live up to...
4th-Santa Anita, $62,000, Msw, 6-4, 3, 4,/5yo, f/m, 6f, 1:11.29, ft, 3/4 length. HALOSNHEAVEN (f, 3, Curlin--Indian Blessing {Ch. 2-year-old Filly, Ch. Female Sprinter, MGISW-USA, G1SP-UAE, $2,995,420}, by Indian Charlie) shrugged off nearly 10 months on the bench to post a sharp even-money maiden victory at Santa Anita. The Earnhardt homebred wasn't overly quick out of the gate, but was quick to establish position, angling up to third on the outside by the :22.31 first quarter mark. Halosnheaven challenged for the lead while three across at the :44.95 half-mile, swapped...
Window Shopping (American Pharoah) pounced on long-time leader Ancient Peace (War Front) with a furlong to run in Saturday's GII Summertime Oaks and edged away late to a first win at the graded stakes level. Beaten for speed, the $700,000 Keeneland September purchase settled between rivals just behind the pace which was set inside by GI Kentucky Oaks third The Alys Look (Connect) with outside pressure from Ancient Peace. The well-backed second favorite, The Alys Look began to back out of it with three-eighths of a mile to race, leaving...