McCraken remains Perfect in Sam F. Davis

Tampa, FL

The 2017 Kentucky Derby has a new favorite and that's the three-year-old McCraken.

The son of Ghostzapper ran his unbeaten streak to four after pulling clear to a 1 1/2 length victory in the Sam F. Davis Stakes Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs.

Regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. guided the colt to another impressive win after saving ground throughout and striking the front for good.

McCraken was the Sam F. Davis favorite and all eyes are now on him as the Road to the Kentucky Derby continues. 

Tapwrit is also a horse to watch moving forward after showing late bid to finish second, while State of Honor stayed on in third after setting the opening fractions.

McCraken returned $5.00 to win and ran the 1 1/6 mile race is a quick time of 1:36.

Winning trainer Ian Wilkes said he wants to have "two more races" before the Kentucky Derby. 

Irish War Cry runs away in Holy Bull

Hallandale Beach, FL

Irish War Cry elevated his Kentucky Derby profile after he stole the show at Gulfstream Park in the Holy Bull Stakes on Saturday.

The three-year-old colt was guided to the front by jockey Joel Rosaro and never looked back, leaving the field of eight runners behind en route to a clear 3 3/4 length victory,

Trainer H. Graham Motion had his colt ready to fire in his big stakes debut, after two solid victories at Laurel Park, while the morning-line favorite Classic Empire didn't fire and finished third.

Classic Empire, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner, was sent off as the heavy race favorite, but didn't have a response when jockey Julien Leparoux asked him for run around the far turn. The BC champ started the race in a 5-wide spot early. but was able to get into a nice stalking slot for Leparoux before weakening. After the race trainer Mark Casse said he had no excuse in the loss.

Irish War Cry returned $10.80 for the win and finished the 1 1/16 mile race in a nice time of 1:42.

Gunnevera completed the Holy Bull exacta and was a well clear second place finisher. The three-year-old showed an impressive rally, even after taking up before the stretch run, and is one to keep tabs on moving forward.

Motion said the Fountain of Youth Stakes or the Florida Derby in April are both possibilities moving forward for Irish War Cry. 

Arrogate romps in Pegasus World Cup

Hallandale Beach, FL

The world's richest race crowned its first champion Saturday afternoon. 

Arrogate, freshened from a star performance in the Breeders' Cup Classic in November, once again stole the show away from Horse of the Year California Chrome.

The three-year-old colt dominated the 12-horse field, opening up down the stretch, to take the $12 race by a geared down 4 3/4 lengths under jockey Mike Smith for trainer Bob Baffert.

Arrogate sat close to quick opening fractions of :23, :46 and 1:09 for the 1 1/8 mile distance and still had a lot left in reserve striking the front around the far turn to never look back.

"He's got some turn of foot; he's got some stride," Smith said.

Chrome weakened to ninth after being floated out wide, breaking from post 12, while getting injured in the race. 

Trainer Art Sherman said the chestnut may have developed a chip in his right knee as he felt some heat on the front leg after the race. Monday, Taylor Made Farm said they were able to work on it and return Chrome home without a significant injury after looking at an X=Ray. 

Shaman Ghost closed impressively to finish a clear second and Neolithic rounded out the Pegasus trifecta after also being part of the quick pace.

Arrogate is by far the next super horse for Baffert and returned $3.80 for the win, running the 1 1/8 in a solid time of 1:47.

California Chrome has officially retired as a two-time Horse of the Year and the highest earning thoroughbred in North America to Taylor Made Farm.

Trainer Bob Baffert said Arrogate will a get a break after another peak performance, but is no doubt the No. 1 horse in the world at the moment. 

California Chrome set for final race

Hallandale Beach, FL

The leading money winner in North American history arrived at Gulfstream Park on Sunday and is getting ready for the $12 Peagasus World Cup. 

California Chrome has jogged around Gulfstream's track in preparation for his final race of his stellar career slated for Jan. 28.

The champ has never raced in Florida, but has had daily early morning gallops leading up to star-studded race. 

Alan Sherman, son of Chrome's trainer Art Sherman, said the champion has "looked good" getting acclimated to the new surroundings.

The all-time money earner will face a tough field in the Peagasus World Cup, the richest race in the world, as the field is expected to have the likes of Arrogate and Keen Ice.

Arrogate, trained by Bob Baffert, is the up-and-coming star and defeated Chrome back in November in the Breeder's Cup Classic. While Keen Ice picks his spots and defeated 2015 Horse of the Year American Pharoah in the Travers Stakes.

If California Chrome does make his final race a winning one his career earnings could go over $20 million. 

Sherman said he isn't worried "as long as Chrome's happy he is happy."

Del Mar Meet Ends, Signals End Of Summer

Del Mar, CA

The 39-day summer meet at Del Mar officially came to an end on Labor Day.

The top day of the season was August 20 when California Chrome stole the show in the $1M Pacific Classic en route to be being the unanimous choice for horse of the meeting.

Handle numbers came back as the best day ever registered according to track officials, with over $25 million reported from all sources.

Total handle for the meet was more than $465 million with 524,439 in attendance.

Flavien Prat tied with Rafael Bejarano for the jockey championship, as both finished with 38 victories.

Trainer Phil D'Amato grabbed his first Del Mar training title with 23 wins. Peter Miller finished in second with 21 victories.

Unfortunately, 17 equine fatalities were reported during the meet. With illness, accident, and irreparable musculoskeletal damage cited as the causes in both racing and training. 

Racing officials have said they are looking into ways of preventing such incidents in the future as they look forward to Del Mar's fall meet set to begin November 11.