Barn Notes

By Jennifer Hoyt —- Young Guns Make Big Splash Opening Weekend Twenty-somethings have made a huge splash in the rider standings through the first week of racing at Oaklawn. Newcomers C.J. McMahon and David Cabrera – both represented by agent Joe Santos – are among a...

By Jennifer Hoyt —- Mourinho Give Baffert First Smarty Jones Victory Bob Baffert called Mourinho a fast horse leading up to his two-turn debut in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds Monday at Oaklawn. The Hall of Fame trainer was right. Mourinho was sent...

By Mike Henry —- OLDSMAR, FL. – Occasionally, when time allows, trainer Kathleen O’Connell reflects on the swift passage of years since she arrived at Tampa Bay Downs (then Florida Downs) from Michigan in 1976 to gallop horses. She says it feels “unreal” that more than 40...

By Ryan Martin —- NEW ORLEANS (January 15, 2018) – The Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Black Gold – a unique bet that is only cashed out if there is one winner – was finally hit on Sunday afternoon’s card for $195,627.66 by one lucky player in Brazil. The...

By Mike Henry —- OLDSMAR, FL. – The Tampa Bay Downs stakes program shifts into high gear Saturday with the track’s annual Skyway Festival Day program, featuring a pair of 7-furlong races for 3-year-olds and a mile-and-a-sixteenth contest for older fillies and mares. At...

By Ed Golden —- WEST COAST (outside) Zoe Metz Photography • WEST COAST IN SHARP GATE DRILL FOR PEGASUS • BOLT D’ORO ON COURSE FOR SAN FELIPE STAKES • INSTA ERMA RATES TOP BILLING IN MEGAHERTZ • BENDABLE MAKES GRASS DEBUT IN LAS CIENEGAS • BARRETTS SALE WILL HELP SAN LUIS...