Racing News

With the eventful stretch run of the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap still fresh in his mind, trainer Marcus Vitali is hopeful that his handicap star Valid will rebound from that near disaster when he goes to post as the heavy favorite in Saturday's Grade 3 Skip Away at Gulfstream Park.

Valid was making what many, including his trainer, thought was a winning move in midstretch of the Gulfstream Park Handicap when he was bumped solidly by the pacesetting Anchor Down, nearly losing his rider, Nik Juarez. Valid recovered from the collision to finish fourth, beaten 3-3/4 lengths by the winner, Blofeld, one of four horses including Anchor Down whom trainer Todd Pletcher ran in the race.

Al Shaqab Racing's grade I winner Mshawish, who returns to the U.S. March 31 on the same flight as Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) winner California Chrome   and Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I) runner-up X Y Jet, will get a freshening at Belmont Park with trainer Todd Pletcher before turning to a summer campaign.

Bradley Weisbord, U.S. racing manager for Al Shaqab, said the 6-year-old Medaglia d'Oro  runner exited a sixth-place finish in the World Cup—his first trip going 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) since 2013—in good order.

Not that plans were ever set in stone, but what owner James McIngvale characterized as some heel bruising has champion sprinter Runhappy targeting the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) for his first race of 2016.

McIngvale said a heel bruise has slightly slowed Runhappy, as the 4-year-old son of Super Saver   prepares for his 2016 seasonal debut and first start since closing 2015 with victories in the TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) at Keeneland and the Malibu Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.

Trainers walk fine lines in preparing still-maturing 3-year-olds for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Some prominent industry figures question whether the Mohaymen andNyquist camps are in danger of crossing those lines by pitting their undefeated colts against each other in the Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (gr. I) April 2 at Gulfstream Park.

"If they are not quite fit and they really run to their maximum, that can be a drainer," said Billy Turner, trainer of 1977 Triple Crown champion Seattle Slew, adding, "If they make this a match race, it wouldn't be good for either of them."

Doug O'Neill, who trains 6-for-6 Nyquist, a

Harness racing driver Wally Hennessey, of Charlottetown reached the 9,000 win mark on Tuesday night.

He reached that lofty goal after winning a harness race at Pompano Park in Florida reported HarnessLink, a harness racing magazine.

Another harness racing magazine, Standardbred Canada, reported Hennessey won a natural "grand slam" the night before, winning four races to bring his total wins to 8,996.

The Meadowlands is pleased to announce that the inaugural edition of the track’s newest stake will be titled “The Mack Lobell Elitlopp Playoff” celebrating the memory of that great trotter. The purse is estimated to be $150,000.

Dubai World Cup (UAE) runner-upMubtaahij, who already made one trip to the U.S. to run a credible fourth in the 2015 Belmont Stakes presented by Draftkings (gr. I), will be transfered to the care of trainer Kiaran McLaughlin for a stateside campaign for the remainder of 2016.

Trainer Mike de Kock told South Africa'sSporting Post that 4-year-old Mubtaahij will head to New York, while 3-year-oldVale Dori, fourth in the March 26 UAE Derby (UAE-II) on the World Cup undercard, will be sent to Bob Baffert in California. Both are owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.

Trainer Doug O'Neill still has a chance to make the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) with Gomo, but there is little margin for error for the 3-year-old daughter ofUncle Mo   in the April 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. II).

Unraced since her Oct. 2 Darley Alcibiades (gr. I) victory going 1 1/16 miles over a sloppy track at Keeneland, in which she earned a berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), Gomo missed the Breeders' Cup with an ankle chip and will get a late start to her sophomore season in the 1 1/16-mile Gulfstream Parktest.

Airoforce has been assigned post 10 as the 3-1 morning-line favorite Saturday in a full field for the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

Fourteen 3-year-olds are entered in the $500,000 Spiral, which is run at 1-1/8 miles on Polytrack, although only 12 can start. Besides Airoforce, trained by Mark Casse, other notable Spiral entries include Jensen for Larry Jones, Kasseopia for Graham Motion, Ralis for Doug O'Neill, Azar for Todd Pletcher, and a foursome for Mike Maker, all as separate wagering interests.

Grand Tito and Kaigun, the one-two finishers from the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida here on March 5, head the field for Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Pan American at 1-1/2 miles on turf.

Meanwhile, Twilight Eclipse, who won this race in 2013 and set a world record for the distance, was entered for the main track only. Trainer Tom Albertrani said he didn't feel Twilight Eclipse handled the Gulfstream turf course when finishing seventh in the Mac Diarmida.

Golden Gate Fields will offer increased purses, free shipping to and from Santa Anita Park, and guaranteed late Pick 4 pools during its inaugural three-week Turf Festival.
 
Golden Gate will be the only track in California with turf racing from April 14 through May 1, as Santa Anita installs a new grass course. During that time an extra $125,000 will allocated to turf races.

The $150,000 Skip Away Stakes (gr. III) on the April 2 Florida Derby (gr. I) undercard at Gulfstream Park drew six talented older horses who will go 1 1/8 miles over the main track.

The Skip Away, named for the 10-time grade I winner and three-time Eclipse Award winner, is the fifth race on the stakes-loaded card.

The upcoming weekend of live racing at The Meadowlands boasts a dozen interesting contests each day and a myriad of promotions and attractions.

On Friday night (April 1) the 2015 Dan Patch Older Trotter of the Year and Meadowlands all-time track record holder JL Cruze will make his seasonal debut in the second race, a $25,000 Open Handicap Trot.

Steve and Patricia Cross, trainer and owner of Diamonds Revenge, have been waiting for their 14-year-old pacer to win one final time before retiring him to a new career.

Nutmegs Yankee was overlooked at the betting windows but she rewarded those faithful followers by posting a 1-1/4 length victory over Missevil in Buffalo Raceway's $10,000 Open Pace for the ladies on Wednesday night (March 30).

Claimed three times in 2015, Guns Loaded looks to continue his steady path of improvement on the Santa Anita Parkhillside turf course April 2 in the $100,000 San Simeon Stakes (gr. IIIT).

The 5-year-old gelded son of D'wildcat—owned by Westside Rentals.com, Neil Haymes, Leo Rodriguez, and Steve Rothblum—has thrived since he moved to the grass for trainer Doug O'Neill late in 2015. He's won two of three starts down the hill since, including a standout score last time out in the Joe Hernandez Stakes Feb. 28, his first stakes victory. He also earned an off-the-turf allowance victory at the 6 1/2-furlong distance Feb. 20 and he's the only horse of the eight entered to carry in a win streak.

Hall of Fame rider Calvin Borel has informed his agent, Larry Melancon, that he has retired, Melancon said Wednesday. Borel is currently based at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Daily Racing Form has put in a request for comment from Borel through Melancon.

Borel, 49, did not work at least one of his top local mounts Wednesday, the 3-year-old stakes-winning filly Cosmic Evolution. Borel has regularly worked Cosmic Evolution, who breezed five furlongs Wednesday in preparation for the Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy on April 9 at Oaklawn.