Welcome to 2024 and hopes are high for every equine face in barns throughout the country and those stabled this winter in the south. Oh, and Happy Birthday to all Thoroughbreds!
Canadian horsepeople went out of 2023 with some good results and one barn has started the new year with a win.
NORM MCKNIGHT is off to a fast start at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he has been racing for several winters. On New Year’s Day, McKnight sent out Bruno Schickedanz’s Kentucky-bred MAXIMUS MAGIC (Maximus Mischief) to win a maiden $50,000 race at one mile by 10 lengths in 1:38.73 with a 79 Beyer Speed Figure according to Daily Racing Form.
The colt was claimed by Schickedanz first time out for $25,000 from the Mark Casse barn. The colt was second that day and then third and fourth in maiden allowance races at Woodbine.
On the same day, McKnight saddled Wings From Above to be second at 8-to-1. On Dec. 30, McKnight and Schickedanz combined to win with 6-to-1 shot THREEFIFTYSEVEN, an Ontario-bred by Run Away and Hide – Dixie Sandals who won a $30,000 claiming race by a neck. The five-year-old was bred by Barbara Minshall and Bruce Lunsford.
Owner and trainer MIKE DEPAULO made a shrewd claim before he left Woodbine with NATURAL STAR, who won an optional claiming race ($25,000) at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 29. The Florida-bred by The Big Beats had been claimed for $25,000 from a third-place finish at Woodbine in his previous race.
Trainer MIKE WRIGHT has a first, second and third from his first three starters at his winter hangout of Tampa Bay Downs. Last week he won with CANNON’S ROAR, owned by Taking Risks Stable. Cannon’s Roar is a 9-year-old (now 10) who won a starter handicap at 16-to-1.
STEVEN CHIRCOP had a winner last week at Laurel Park with MO TOUGH and a third with LADY BEW in the Carousel Stakes for JDLP Holdings.
ISMAEL MOSQUIERA guided 15-to-1 shot HEARTFULLOFSTARS to an upset win at Santa Anita on Sunday, Dec. 31. Mosquiera, who rides at Fort Erie, Ajax Downs and Woodbine in Ontario, is trying his business in California this winter.
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