BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Baffert Confident in 'Lucky's New Rider

Baffert confirmed 25-year-old Martin Garcia will ride Lookin At Lucky in the Preakness. It will be the first Preakness ride for Garcia, who will replace Garrett Gomez after Lookin At Lucky endured a series of troubled trips.

Gomez on Dublin for Preakness; Off 'Lucky'

Baffert says Lookin At Lucky "52%" likely to run in the Preakness (gr. I).

Doubles Partner Dazzles in American Turf Win

WinStar Farm's Doubles Partner rebounded from an eighth-place finish in the March 27 Lane's End Stakes (gr. II), posting an authoritative win in the American Turf (gr. II) on the Kentucky Oaks day undercard.

KY Derby Interview: Garrett Gomez

Lenny Shulman interviews jockey Garrett Gomez, who will ride Kentucky Derby favorite Lookin At Lucky in the run for the roses. Presented by Taylor Made Stallions.

Watch Video

Musketier Shows No Rust in Elkhorn Victory

Eight-year-old Musketier showed no signs of rust coming back from a more than six-month layoff, as he took over approaching the stretch and bounded home for a win in the Elkhorn Stakes (gr. IIT) on closing day at Keeneland.

Haka Holds On In Doubledogdare

Claiborne Farm's homebred Haka wore down pacesetter Funny Moon in the stretch and held on for a one-length victory in the $100,000 Doubledogdare (gr. III), as trainer Christophe Clement ran one-two in Keeneland's feature.

Franny Freud Overpowers Beaumont Rivals

Looking every bit the 1-2 favorite she was, Franny Freud cruised to a front-running 4 3/4-length win in the $150,000 Beaumont Stakes (gr. II) for her first graded stakes win April 7 at Keeneland.

Espinoza Gets 3-Day Ban; Gomez Keeps 'Lucky'

Jockey Victor Espinoza has received a three-day suspension for his riding in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) April 3, while Garrett Gomez was fined $750 for punching Espinoza afterward.

Potrero Grande: Gomez Redeemed With Ventana

Favored Ventana, ridden by a riled up Garrett Gomez, outfought Gotta Go Win in deep stretch to post an exciting nose victory in the $150,000 Potrero Grande Handicap (gr. II) at Santa Anita April 3.

Kinsale King Reclaims Golden Shaheen for U.S.

Kinsale King, smartly ridden by Garrett Gomez, reclaimed the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I) for America when he held off the fast-closing favorite Rocket Man at Meydan March 27.

Lookin At Lucky Starts Year With Rebel Nod

Favored Lookin at Lucky, trying blinkers and dirt for the first time in his 2010 debut, won the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park when his late bid produced a neck victory over the stubborn Noble's Promise.

Courageous Cat, Wasted Tears Win Gulf Stakes

Courageous Cat, last seen finishing a close second to champion Goldikova in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT), stalked the early pace before taking the lead in midstretch and then held off a challenge to win the Canadian Turf.

Cup-Bound Richard's Kid All Heart in 'Antonio

Richard's Kid is Dubai-bound after winning the $150,000 San Antonio Handicap (gr. II) at Santa Anita Feb. 7 in his first start for new owner Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed al Maktoum's Zabeel Racing International.

Loup Breton Leaves San Marcos Pack Behind

Blocked in traffic mid-stretch, odds-on favorite Loup Breton altered course to the outside and burst home to overtake High Court Drama in the final strides to win the $150,000 San Marcos Stakes (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita.

Conveyance Showcases Talent in San Rafael Win

Conveyance turned back a bid from Cardiff Giant in upper stretch and went on to post a 1 3/4-length victory in the $150,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 16 at Santa Anita.

Lookin at Lucky Works in Blinkers

Wearing blinkers for the first time, Lookin At Lucky worked four furlongs on Pro-Ride at Santa Anita Jan. 9 in preparation for his 3-year-old debut, probably in the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) on March 13.

Girl Power: Females Rule 2009 Earnings List

For the first time, female Thoroughbreds occupy the top two spots on the list of leading North American earners in 2009, according to final statistics released today by Equibase Company.

Gomez Wins Money Title in Final Race

It came down to the last race of the year at Santa Anita, but Garrett Gomez notched his fourth straight national purse earnings title on Dec. 31.

Lookin At Lucky Collects in CashCall Futurity

Heavy favorite Lookin At Lucky wrapped up divisional honors as the nation's top 2-year-old after his convincing win in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity (gr. I) at Hollywood Park Dec. 19.

Santa Anita George Woolf Finalists Announced

Santa Anita Park announced Dec. 9 a list of five finalists for the 61st annual Santa Anita George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, with the winner to be announced in January.

Yokoyama Wins Hanshin Jockey Event; Borel 6th

Japan's Norihiro Yokoyama captured the two-day World Super Jockeys Series at Hanshin Racecourse Dec. 6, comfortably defeating Hong Kong's Douglas Whyte and Ryan Moore of Great Britain. Americans Calvin Borel and Garrett Gomez finished sixth and 14th, respectively, in the 15-rider field.

Ventura Fulfills Frankel's Wish in Matriarch

For the second day in a row, the barn of the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel scored a grade I victory on the Hollywood Park turf. On Nov. 28 Ventura captured the $300,000 Matriarch in a stakes record time by 1 3/4 lengths.

Gomez 'Sore' After Spill, Off Mounts Sunday

X-rays taken of jockey Garrett Gomez's elbow and shoulder were negative following his fall in the ninth race at Hollywood Park Nov. 21.

Gomez 3-1 Choice to Get Most BC Victories

Garrett Gomez is the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the new Breeders' Cup Jockey Bet Nov. 6-7 at Santa Anita Park. The line was set based on mounts the jockeys have in the 14 World Championships events.

Gomez Guides April Pride to First Graded Win

April Pride overcame her outside post and some heavy traffic in the homestretch to post an impressive upset win in Oak Tree's $100,000 Harold C. Ramser Sr. Handicap (gr. IIIT), her American graded stakes debut for trainer James Cassidy Saturday on the Santa Anita grass.

Champs Elysees Goes Out On Top at Woodbine

Favored Champs Elysees, in likely the final race of his career, went out on top with a come-from-behind victory in the $1,927,556 Pattison Canadian International (Can-IT) at Woodbine Oct. 17.

Godolphin's Gayego Gallops in Ancient Title

Godolphin's good fortune leading up to the Breeders' Cup continued at Santa Anita Oct. 11 when 6-5 choice Gayego stormed down the center of the track to register a one-length win in Oak Tree's $300,000 Ancient Title Stakes (gr. I).

Cowboy Cal Corrals Breeders' Cup Mile Slot

Versatile Cowboy Cal went gate to wire to win the $150,000 Oak Tree Mile Handicap (gr. IIT) on the Santa Anita turf course Oct. 10, and earned the right to advance to the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) next month.

Lookin at Lucky Notches Norfolk; BC in Sight

Undefeated Lookin At Lucky handled his first try at two turns successfully in the $300,000 Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 4, allowing Bob Baffert to look forward to the Nov. 7 Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.

Gomez Sweeps Kentucky Cup Undercard

With champion jockey Garrett Gomez aboard, Indescribable moved into contention approaching the final turn, put the challenge to pacesetter Whirlie Bertie, and drew off in mid-stretch to win the Kentucky Cup Distaff (gr. III) by 3-1/2 lengths.

Lady's First: Ventura Wins the Woodbine Mile

Ventura became the first female to win the Woodbine Mile (Can-IT) in 13 years when she swept past the field on the outside to post a one-length victory Sept. 20.

Lookin At Lucky Quick Learner in DM Futurity

Even-money choice Lookin at Lucky remained unbeaten in three starts and gave trainer Bob Baffert his ninth win in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) in the past 14 years Sept. 7 at the seaside track.

Internallyflawless Looks Perfect in DM Oaks

Internallyflawless, making her second start of the year for trainer Bob Baffert, took the lead into the stretch and held off challenges from heavy favorite Well Monied and outsider Nan to win the $350,000 Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT) on turf Aug. 22.

'Jockeys' Second Season Promises More Depth

Whether it's the Osbournes or the Jon-Kate Eight, Americans love watching the real-life tension of personal relationships played out on their television screens. For jockeys Mike Smith and Chantal Sutherland, whose romantic affair was a primary focus during the first season of "Jockeys," it was enough to give them second thoughts about their involvement in the documentary series.

Lookin at Lucky Lives Up to Best Pal Billing

Favored Lookin at Lucky, in the familiar Mike Pegram silks for trainer Bob Baffert, jumped into graded company with a three-quarters of a length win in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) at Del Mar Aug. 9.

Del Mar 'House Rule' to Require Softer Whips

Jockeys at Del Mar will be using softer equine friendly riding crops in all races under a "house rule" that will take effect at the track on Aug. 12, the Jockeys' Guild announced.

Colonel John Wins Wickerr in Return

Colonel John, who had not raced since finishing fourth in the Malibu Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita late last December, exhibited no signs of rust as he scored an impressive victory July 31 in the $91,970 Wickerr Stakes at one mile over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course at Del Mar.

Advice to Ship for Hollywood's July 18 Swaps

Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) winner Advice will be shipped from Kentucky to California for the $300,000 Swaps Stakes (gr. II) at Hollywood Park July 18, according to the Inglewood track's racing office.

Black Mamba Recoils in Beverly Hills Handicap

Odds-on choice Black Mamba always seems to run her race, and in the $147,000 Beverly Hills Handicap (gr. IIT) at Hollywood Park June 28, the grinding effort was just good enough for the New Zealand-bred mare to make it consecutive wins in the 1 1/4-mile turf event.

Desormeaux Wins Pimlico's Jockey Challenge

Kent Desormeaux, one of Maryland's all-time leading riders and a two-time winner of the Preakness (gr. I), took home the $14,000 first prize in the inaugural Pimlico Jockey Challenge May 15.

Heart Ashley Holds On For Miss Preakness Win

Heart Ashley opened up on the turn for home, looked like she would coast to an easy win, and then had to hold off the late charge of Cinderella's Wish to win the $100,000 Adena Stallions Miss Preakness Stakes (gr. III) by a head May 15 at Pimlico Race Course.

Chamberlain Bridge Wins Aegon Turf Sprint

Favored Chamberlain Bridge, a former claimer that had lost two in a row, overcame a rough start and bounced back in the $112,800 Aegon Turf Sprint Stakes (gr. IIIT) May 1 at Churchill Downs. He charged down the stretch late and held off the rallying Cannonball by a neck.

Bejarano Steals Show in California Gold Rush

Compari posted a mild upset under Garrett Gomez in the $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes, but Rafael Bejarano stole the spotlight with a five-win afternoon on the 10th annual California Gold Rush program April 25 at Hollywood Park.

Gomez to Ride Pioneerof the Nile

In a decision they agonized over for weeks, jockey Garrett Gomez and agent Ron Anderson finally have decided to stick with Pioneerof the Nile as their Kentucky Derby (gr. I) mount.

Advice Pulls 15-1 Shocker in Lexington

Six weeks ago, WinStar Farm looked as though it would be without a starter in the upcoming Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Now, the powerful outfit could have three, the final potential starter coming thanks to a eye-catching, last-to-first victory by Advice in the $300,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) April 18 on the Keeneland Polytrack.

Stardom Bound Gets New Jockey for Oaks

Stardom Bound, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2008, will have a new jockey when she attempts to get back on the winning track in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) in Eclipse Award winner Garrett Gomez.

Pioneerof the Nile Busts Bullet Workout

Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Pioneerof the Nile had his final workout at Santa Anita on a blustery but sun-drenched morning April 15, busting four furlongs on the Pro-Ride racing surface in a bullet :46 1/5, the fastest of 39 drills at the distance.

Inaugural Jockey Challenge Scheduled

Eight of the nation's top jockeys, including Eclipse Award winners Kent Desormeaux, Edgar Prado, Garrett Gomez, and John Velazquez, will square off in the inaugural Jockey Challenge at Pimlico Race Course May 15, the day before the $1 million Preakness Stakes (gr. I).

Gomez After 'Anita Mark in Las Cienegas

Tuscan Evening, an impressive winner over Santa Anita's hillside turf course in both of her American starts, can provide jockey Garrett Gomez with a record-tying stakes mark at the meet April 12 if she can win the $100,000 Las Cienegas Handicap (gr. IIIT).

Pioneerof the Nile Rolls at Santa Anita

A lack of pace changed the game plan for odds-on choice Pioneerof the Nile, but jockey Garrett Gomez improvised, enabling the son of Empire Maker to hold off Chocolate Candy for a one-length win in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) on a picture-perfect day in Arcadia, Calif.