NL Article

Hall of Famer Lava Man, who underwent a colic-related procedure to repair a colon displacement on July 31, has returned to trainer Doug O’Neill’s stable at Del Mar, according to drf.com. The 17-year-old gelding had previously been acting as a stable pony for O’Neill. “He’s just chillin’,” O’Neill said. “He looks phenomenal. He’s on a different […]

My phone started blowing up Sunday afternoon, shortly after the fourth race at Gulfstream Park was run. There were calls, emails, text messages and Twitter comments imploring me to watch jockey Tony Maragh on a horse named Musical Heart. The 3-year-old gelding by Maclean’s Music, owned by Joseph Bucci and trained by Aubrey Maragh, finished […]

Trainer Mark Casse reported Monday morning that Saratoga Race Course’s current meet leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. will have the mount aboard Gary Barber’s Wonder Gadot, set to become the first filly since 1979 to contest the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on Saturday. Ortiz was previously committed to ride Hofburg in the Mid-Summer […]

In 2006, Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza won seven of ten races in a single day at Del Mar. On Sunday, Drayden Van Dyke – Eclipse Award-winning apprentice of 2014 – equaled that record, winning with seven of his eight mounts on a 10-race card, including the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile aboard the […]

Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza suffered a fracture to his C-3 vertebrae in late July at Del Mar, when Bobby Abu Dhabi suffered what was apparently a fatal heart attack during a morning workout. Espinoza spoke to the Los Angeles Times about his recovery; currently, the 46-year-old jockey requires a 24-hour caregiver to aid him […]

Hofburg, winner of the Curlin on July 27, is out of Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers after spiking a fever, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said Sunday morning at Saratoga Race Course. Hofburg, owned by Juddmonte Farms, appeared to be rounding into top form following a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes and a convincing […]

Hronis Racing’s Accelerate became just the third horse to win the Santa Anita Handicap, Gold Cup and Pacific Classic in the same year on Saturday, romping by a record 12 1/2 lengths in the $1 million Del Mar feature. Ridden by Joel Rosario for his fourth win on the card, the 5-year-old son of Lookin […]

Gainesway Stable, Harold Lerner, Andrew Rosen, Nehoc Racing and Magdalena Racing’s Eskimo Kisses provided bettors with a 9-1 surprise in Saturday’s Grade 1 Alabama Stakes, sneaking up the rail and kicking clear in the lane to win by 6 1/2 lengths. Jockey Jose Ortiz, who won last year’s Alabama aboard Elate, followed the instructions of […]

Don Alberto Stable’s Unique Bella has officially been retired, according to the farm’s Twitter account. The 4-year-old daughter of Tapit suffered a sesamoid fracture during a workout on Saturday morning at Del Mar. “The doctors have confirmed that once she is stabilized, she will be taken to our farm to continue her recovery,” the Tweet […]

The unstoppable Winx was dominant once again in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (formerly Warwick Stakes) at Royal Randwick, exploding down the stretch to win by a geared-down two lengths. The 7-year-old mare has now won 26 consecutive races, besting the record of champion Black Caviar, and she has won a world-record 19 Group 1 […]