Big A

Jockey Manny Franco and trainer Linda Rice were the respective leaders of the jockey and trainer standings at the conclusion of this year's Aqueduct winter meet, and they repeated by topping the Aqueduct spring meet, which ran from Apr. 2-26. Franco, 31, earned 22 wins to land his fourth riding title at the Aqueduct spring meet, adding to wins in 2019 and 2023-24. The native of Carolina, Puerto Rico posted an overall record of 103-22-28-16, good for a win rate of 21.36% and in-the-money rate of 64.08% with $1,518,315 in...

LIGHTS OUT LENI (Speightstown) was well-backed by the betting public as the 6-5 favorite for her debut here. The filly meant business at the bell and proceeded to make every pole a winning one through the top of the lane. Making the most of her unveiling, the 3-year-old sailed home a no-doubt graduate for Al Gold. Directive (Gun Runner) was the runner-up. The winner's dam is responsible for 2-year-old colt Sultan of Swing (Justify) and a yearling filly by Yaupon. A half-sister to GI TVG Acorn Stake heroine Sweet Reason...

Big-figure debut winner Iron Honor (c, 3, Nyquist--Orencia, by Blame) fought past the Ohio-bred Crown the Buckeye (Yaupon) in the stretch to make it two-for-two in Saturday's GIII Gotham S. at Aqueduct, good for 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Right to Party (Constitution) was third. Favored at 4-5 off the strength of a 95 Beyer Speed Figure earned sprinting first out over two next-out winners at the Big A Dec. 13, Iron Honor battled with Crown the Buckeye through fractions of :23.09 and :46.30 in the...

IGNITER (c, 3, Volatile--Malibu Prayer {GISW, $618,026}, by Malibu Moon), after being featured in TDN's Second Chances series, broke his maiden by a length during the Belmont At The Big A meet in late September. The homebred was off for two months, then was entered in the GII Remsen Stakes at the Big A Dec. 6 where he posted a sixth-place finish behind GII Risen Star Stakes entrant Paladin (Gun Runner) and recent Sam F. Davis Stake hero Renegade (Into Mischief). Well-backed at a shade over even-money here, the colt...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has canceled Saturday's live racing program at Aqueduct Racetrack due to arctic temperatures and sub-zero wind chill values forecast to impact the metropolitan area throughout the day, the association said in a press release on Friday morning. Additionally, Laurel Park in Maryland has also canceled their 10-race Saturday card due to the expected frigid temperatures. As previously reported, NYRA has also shifted Sunday's live racing program to Wednesday due to a powerful winter storm expected to bring heavy snowfall to the region. Saturday's...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has canceled live racing at Aqueduct Racetrack on Sunday due to a winter storm impacting the New York City area, the track said in an early morning press release on Sunday. The message said that South Ozone Park remains under a winter weather advisory with forecasts calling for continued snow, low wind chill values and high winds. Aqueduct Racetrack will remain open for simulcasting, and online wagering is available via NYRABets.com. Live racing will resume following the holiday break on Friday, Dec. 26...

Just Beat the Odds (Munnings) was the shortest price on the tote in the now-renamed GIII Elite Power Stakes at the Big A on Saturday. The chalk did not disappoint his backers as he won his first stakes race for owner Donna Wright. An incredibly consistent performer dating back to his 3-year-old year, Just Beat the Odds has only finished off the board once over his 12-race career. Earlier this season after being gelded, the dark bay demolished an optional claiming field by six lengths in Ozone Park in early...

On the first day of scheduled racing at Aqueduct after the jockeys walked out Sunday after the first race, things returned to normal Thursday. The eight-race program was run without any interruptions as the dispute between NYRA and the local riding colony seemed to be on its way to being resolved. According to Kendrick Carmouche, the local representative for the Jockeys' Guild, the riders had several issues with NYRA. A breaking point occurred Sunday when the riders learned that NYRA Assistant Clerk of Scales Brian Pochman was told to go...

Trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. had the spot picked out immediately following Igniter (Volatile)'s impressive maiden win going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct Sept. 27. "Right away I said, 'Man, we got to sit on him and run him in the Remsen,'" Dutrow said. "'If he's looking for two turns, he's gonna be one of the ones.'" Igniter is one of 12 set for a fantastic renewal of the GII Remsen Stakes going 1 1/8 miles at the Big A Saturday. Drawn in post seven with Manny Franco in the irons,...

Jockeys' Guild President & CEO Terry Meyocks issued a statement Monday saying that NYRA and the Guild had made progress regarding the dispute that led to the jockeys walking out after the first race Sunday at Aqueduct. "NYRA and the Jockeys' Guild had a lengthy and productive meeting (Monday) to address the issues that led to the cancellation of live racing at Aqueduct Racetrack on Sunday," Meyocks said in a statement. "This was an unfortunate event that impacted the owners, trainers and bettors who support NYRA throughout the year. Today's...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has canceled live racing at Aqueduct Racetrack on Friday due to high winds forecast to impact the New York City metropolitan area, the organization said in a release that same morning. The National Weather Service has placed Southern Queens under a wind advisory beginning at 12 p.m. ET, with current forecasts calling for sustained high winds and gusts in excess of 45 mph. Two Listed $150,000 stakes originally scheduled for Friday--the Tempted and the Pumpkin Pie--have been rescheduled. The Tempted will now be...

5th-BAQ, 85k, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 3:05 p.m. ET Peter Brant homebred Blackfin (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), the first foal out of GI Breeders' Cup Mile heroine and champion turf female Uni (GB) (More Than Ready), debuts for Chad Brown. Brant's White Birch Farm went to $4.1 million to purchase Uni at the 2020 FTKNOV Sale. Listed at 7-2 on the morning-line, the 3-year-old filly will be ridden by Flavien Prat. Blackfin is bred on the same Kingman x More Than Ready cross as G1SW-Aus King Colorado (Aus). TJCIS PPS