ANGELA RENEE/ESKENFORMONEY – The two Longines Kentucky Oaks-bound fillies out of the Todd Pletcher barn were up and at them early Thursday morning at Churchill Downs, heading out at 6 a.m. for gallops under the lights at the big Louisville oval.
Tag: racing
JOCKEY QUOTES
MARTIN GARCIA, DORTMUND, WINNER: “This is my first win in the Santa Anita Derby. There are a lot of ‘firsts’ with him for me. He was really comfortable. The main thing for me today was to break well and put him in a good position.
“Even though he’s won all his races, he’s still learning. He can play around a bit but when someone comes to him, or I ask him to go, he becomes push-button and he just takes off.
“I never had the chance to ride American Pharoah except in his first time out. But American Pharoah just drags me in the morning; wherever you want to go, however far you want to go, he drags you there. Dortmund, just gallops along, but he isn’t aggressive about it. They’re different in that way but they’re both very good horses.”
RAFAEL BEJARANO, ONE LUCKY DANE, SECOND: “I had a good trip. No excuse. I put him right behind with the speed, but the winner was just the best. He was much the best. My horse was still running to the end. My horse ran really good, really good. He surprised me today. He made a good move at the end.
(The best thing about his performance?): “This will help a lot in the (Kentucky) Derby. I think this horse can run all day. He’s still learning. He’s a big horse, good-sized for two turns. I think this race will be a lot of help.”
LEXINGTON, KY (April 4, 2015) – WinStar Farm and Stonestreet Stables’ Carpe Diem took command in upper stretch and cruised to a three-length victory over Danzig Moon in the 91st running of the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) before a crowd of 26,357 on Saturday.
Carpe Diem became the third horse to complete a sweep of the Breeders’ Futurity as a 2-year-old and the following spring’s Blue Grass, joining Round Table (1956-1957) and Dullahan
College Scholarship Day along with special Military Day guests and the inaugural Kids Club Day highlight special events for all ages
LEXINGTON, KY (April 2, 2015) – A special Military Day, the inaugural Kids Club Day and the return of other exciting special events highlight a fun-filled calendar during Keeneland’s 15-day Spring Meet, April 3-24.
The Spring Meet opens with the popular College Scholarship Day that draws thousands of students to Keeneland for scholarship and other giveaways. The Maker’s Mark Commemorative Bottle signing, Horses and Hope Pink Day, Jockey Autograph Signing, It’s my Derby and a variety of trunk shows add something for everyone to the calendar. The meet concludes with the Dixiana Presents Concert on the Lawn featuring country music artist Sundy Best after the final race on Friday, April 24.
LEXINGTON, KY (March 31, 2015) – WinStar Farm and Stonestreet Stables’ Carpe Diem, runaway winner of last fall’s Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) here and a leading candidate for the 141st Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), has been installed as the even-money favorite in a field of eight entered Tuesday for Saturday’s 91st running of the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1).
The 1 1/8-mile Toyota Blue Grass serves as a major steppingstone for the $2 million Kentucky Derby and will be run on Keeneland’s new dirt track, the first time over such a surface since 2006.
The race offers 170 points toward qualification to this year’s Derby with 100 points going to the winner, a total that would ensure a spot in the Churchill Downs starting gate in a field limited to the top 20 point earners.
A total of 19 horses that ran in the Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland went on to win the Kentucky Derby, with the most recent being StreetSense in 2007.
Access to the Infield at a Value Rate
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, March 30, 2015 – For the second consecutive year, the Iroquois Steeplechase is selling Tailgating Singles, or individual tickets, to the infield at the May 9 sporting event. New last year, Tailgating Singles offer individuals the opportunity to attend the races and enjoy all that the infield has to offer, as well as the Iroquois Shoppes, Family Area and some of Nashville’s tastiest food trucks. In past years, race goers have had to purchase an entire tailgating spot, which start at $600 and include eight armbands, to have access to the infield.
ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 12, 2015)—Wasted At Midnight, sent from the rail under Martin Garcia, proved ultra game in taking Thursday’s $60,000 allowance feature at Santa Anita, as she prevailed by a nose while covering six furlongs in 1:09.43.
ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 8, 2015)—Idle one day shy of a year, trainer Doug O’Neill’s Birdlover broke sharply from her outside post under Elvis Trujillo and registered an impressive gate to
wire win in Sunday’s $75,000 Wishing Well Stakes for older fillies and mares at 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course. A 5-year-old English-bred mare, Birdlover prevailed by a half length and got the distance in 1:13.22.
LAUREL, MD. 01-22-15—Stakes restricted to 3-year-old sprinters make Saturday’s program twice as appealing, starting with the 7-furlong $100,000 Frank Whitely, Jr. Stakes, followed two races later by the 6-furlong $100,000 Marshua Stakes.
ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 19, 2015)—Fresh off his most prestigious career win and in search of his fifth consecutive victory, trainer Blaine Wright’s Alert Bay heads a field of 12 older horses bred or sired in California in Saturday’s $250,000 California Cup Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles on turf.