Horse Racing News

Rachel Alexandra had her first workout since returning to Churchill Downs when she breezed five furlongs early Monday with regular exercise rider Dominic Terry aboard.

The Santa Anita stewards suspended jockey Victor Espinoza and fined jockey Garrett Gomez for their roles in an incident Saturday during the Santa Anita Derby and an altercation after the race.

Jockey Victor Espinoza received a three-day ban for his riding in the Santa Anita Derby, while Garrett Gomez was fined for punching Espinoza afterward.

Rail Trip, the winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup last July, is nearing a comeback at the upcoming Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting, and trainer Ron Ellis is raving about his condition.

Russell Baze rode six winners at Golden Gate Fields on Friday, including the feature race with Bold Chieftain. Four of his winners were for trainer Steve Sherman.

A handful of prospects for the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland had their final pre-race workouts at various venues Saturday, including a pair of Kentucky Derby hopefuls trained by Todd Pletcher.

Trainer Ken McPeek wanted a sharp work from Noble's Promise in his final prep for the Arkansas Derby and he got his wish on Saturday morning, when the horse breezed five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.80 at Oaklawn.

Trainer Rick Dutrow confirmed Saturday that he still plans to train Homeboykris into the Kentucky Derby instead of getting another prep into the colt.

Trainer Ian Wilkes has always been Warrior's Reward's biggest fan. Despite disappointing results in some big spots, Wilkes is not setting his sights any lower with Warrior's Reward, just shorter.

Ventana's consistency this year, and the absence of two key rivals, may give the 4-year-old colt his first stakes win in Saturday's $150,000 Potrero Grande Handicap at Santa Anita.