Horse Racing News

Trainer Todd Pletcher will send out Divine Oath, a close-up third in the Twilight Derby at Santa Anita Park, in the $100,000 W. L. McKnight Handicap Dec. 27 at Gulfstream Park.

Fresh off of a victory in last month's Kenny Noe Jr. Stakes, Speechify will be the one to beat in the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes Dec. 27 from Gulfstream Park.

The biggest draw on the opening day card is champion Shared Belief, who will make his final start as a sophomore in the Grade 1, $300,000 Malibu.

The Malibu shares the card with another Grade 1 in the $300,000 La Brea, which attracted 10 three-year-old fillies going seven furlongs, including Grade 2 Raven Run romper Taris.

Odds-on choice Dortmund remained unbeaten by a slim margin as he nipped Firing Line and Mr. Z by a head in a nail-biting finish to the first-ever $500,000 Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 20 at the Orange County, Calif. track.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who won the Hollywood/CashCall Futurity a record six times at Hollywood Park, has an excellent chance to add to that total with the undefeated Dortmund in the $500,000 Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 20.

Breeders' Cup Classic winner Bayern, a leading contender for Horse of the Year and male 3-year-old honors for 2014, worked four furlongs on the Santa Anita Park the morning of Dec. 19 in a bullet :46 1/5 seconds.

California Chrome drilled a handy half mile in 49 seconds flat at Los Alamitos Race Course Dec. 19 as he prepares for his 2015 debut in the $500,000 San Antonio Stakes. Meanwhile, trainer Art Sherman weighed in the Horse of the Year balloting.

New York trainer David Cannizzo has been suspended 45 days and fined $6,000 by the New York State Gaming Commission after three horses he trains tested positive for a painkiller marketed under the name Darvon.

Favored Take Charge Brandi registered her second Grade 1 win of the year and third graded victory in a row when she captured the $350,000 Starlet Stakes for 2-year-old fillies by a neck Dec. 13 at Los Alamitos Race Course.