IT’S ME MOM’S RECORD-BREAKING EFFORT HIGHLIGHTS THRILL-PACKED FLORIDA CUP

Margo Flynn
Calder Race Course

OLDSMAR, Fla. – The 10th annual Florida Cup at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday produced enough thrills to satisfy any fan of Thoroughbred racing. The action built to a crescendo that reached its apex when popular 4-year-old filly It’s Me Mom, bred and owned by Jean and Thomas Bosch of Holiday, Fla., won the $75,000 Hilton Garden Inn Sprint against males and set a track…

Mike Gathagan
Vice President-Communications
Maryland Jockey Club

LAUREL, MD. – PTK LLC’s Softly Lit and Embracing Hearts finished first and second respectively in the 82nd running of the Selima Stakes for 2-year old fillies at Laurel Park.

The $75,000 Selima, Laurel’s oldest stakes race, was the feature attraction as the track celebrated its centennial. Laurel Park debuted on October 2, 1911 under the auspices of the Laurel Four Corners County Fair and quickly became an autumn fixture on…

(Edited NYRA/Saratoga Race Course report)

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jim Dandy winner and Travers contender Stay Thirsty, five furlongs in 1:01.73 breezing over Saratoga main track with jockey Javier Castellano aboard (fractions were 12.87, 24.66, 36.84, and 1:01.73. He went in company with Grade 3 winner Super Espresso)

Todd Pletcher, trainer of Jim Dandy winner and Travers contender Stay Thirsty on his Sunday workout at Saratoga:

Archarcharch and Comma to the Top both suffered injuries in the race, but neither is life threatening. Comma to the Top chip his left from ankle and Archarcharch fractured his left front leg.

Below are what the trainer had to say after the race.

KENTUCKY DERBY 137 LOSING TRAINER QUOTES

STEVE ASMUSSEN (Nehro, second) – “The little horse just ran unbelievable. I’m very proud of him. Congratulations to the winner, but, for Mr. Zayat and his family, I sure would’ve…

IF KENTUCKY DERBY 137 WERE HELD TODAY

Darren Rogers
Senior Director, Communications & Media Services
Churchill Downs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Moments after champion Uncle Mo suffered a shocking first defeat in Saturday’s Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial (Grade I) at Aqueduct, track announcer Tom Durkin boldly declared, “The Kentucky Derby is up for grabs!”

Dan Silver
NYRA

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced that season passes, valid for admission to Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course, went on sale Wednesday, April 13. Admission to Aqueduct Racetrack is free.

Customers can purchase combined season passes for Belmont Park and Saratoga for $150 (Clubhouse) or $75 (Grandstand), with available senior rates of $75 and $35, respectively. Saratoga-only season passes can be purchased for $75 (Clubhouse) or $35 (Grandstand). 

Daily…

Ed Gray
Gulfstream Park

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Centennial Farms has had its share of bad luck in Gulfstream Park’s premier races for 3-year-olds over the years, but its principles will send Arch Traveler to post in Sunday’s Florida Derby (G1) with nothing but high hopes.

Established in 1982, the Boston-based ownership group was built for the long haul and is not so easily discouraged by a few unfortunate twists of fate – which is not to understate the…

Two Stakes Added to Schedule, Other Stakes Bumped

Jennifer Hoyt
Oaklawn Park
 
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Positive business trends, highlighted by large 20,000 plus crowds most Saturdays, have led Oaklawn Park to announce its third purse increase of the meet effective Thursday, March 17.
 
Claiming races will be increased by $300 and all other overnight purses will be increased by $1,000. Oaklawn Park began…

(Edited Oaklawn Park and Gulfstream Park reports)

Gem Stables’ Grade 1-winner J P’s Gusto posted a good-looking breeze on a windy Saturday morning at Oaklawn Park as he prepares for the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) March 19.

Under Oaklawn’s leading jockey Cliff Berry, the 3-year-old son of Successful Appeal logged six furlongs in 1:13 3/5 over a track that was drying quickly from overnight rains. It was his first breeze since finishing a troubled second in the $250,000 Southwest Stakes…

After a good score with Soldat in the Fountain of Youth on Feb. 26 at Gulfstream Park, the next 3-year-old race to be featured in this column will be the Grade 3 Gotham on March 5 at Aqueduct.

Ron Correll