Horse Racing News

A licensing committee of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Jan. 28 approved the license request of Scott Blasi, Steve Asmussen's assistant trainer who last year was at the center of allegations from an animal rights group.

The 2013 Xpressbet Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Secret Circle makes his seasonal debut in the $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes from Santa Anita Park Jan. 31.

Kaigun, one of the most honest and classy grass horses in training last year, makes his first start since November when he takes on eight opponents in the $200,000 Arcadia Stakes Jan. 31 at Santa Anita Park.

Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence's Leave the Light On, winner of last fall's Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack, has been forced off the Kentucky Derby trail after suffering an ankle injury.

Multiple Grade 1 winner Palace Malice threw a shoe while galloping Jan. 28 and sustained a minor bruise to his left front foot, causing a slight delay in his training regimen in Aiken, S.C.

Her bid to upset champion Take Charge Brandi in the Starlet falling just short last time out, the Bob Baffert-trained Maybellene appears to be the one to beat in the $300,000 Las Virgenes Stakes Jan. 31 at Santa Anita Park.

It may be Super Bowl Sunday but the eyes of the racing world will be on Texas Red as the overwhelming Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner returns to Santa Anita Park in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes Feb. 1.

Texas jockey Roman Chapa is facing felony criminal charges related to race-fixing following allegations that he carried an electrical shock device in a winning race at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 17 in Houston.

Racing secretary Pat Pope had some work to do hustling starters for the $100,000 Martha Washington Stakes coming up Jan. 31.

Suzanne Stables' Barbados, winner of the grade III Hutcheson Stakes and Spectacular Bid Stakes at Gulfstream Park this year, will undergo surgery next week to remove a small bone chip in his left knee, said trainer Michael Tomlinson.