Ivar back in training after two missed starts

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ivar, the Brazilian-bred turf standout, is back training after recovering from a minor hoof injury that forced him to miss a couple of recent Grade 1 turf races.

Trained by Paulo Lobo, Ivar was scratched from both the April 15 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland and the May 7 Turf Classic at Churchill while troubled by what Lobo described “as a sore heel on the inside of his left front hoof.”

Lobo said Sunday that Ivar is training daily again at his Thoroughbred training center base in Lexington, Ky., and will be pointed long-range to the Arlington Million, to be run at Churchill for the first time Aug. 13, ideally with a prep race in the interim. “Maybe a classified allowance if one will fill in maybe four weeks or so,” said Lobo, noting Ivar would have certain conditions because his most recent victory came in October 2020 in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile

Ivar, a 6-year-old horse owned by Bonne Chance Farm and Stud R D I, has not breezed since April 30. He has earned a tripledigit Beyer Speed Figure in six of his last seven races, the most recent being a 102 when third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar in November. His earnings from 11 overall starts, including three to start his career in Argentina, stand at $906,913.

Meanwhile, the Lobo-trained In Love will run next in either the Blame or Grade 3 Arlington Stakes, both set for June 4 at Churchill. In Love, also a 6-year-old Brazilian-bred, won the Grade 1 Keeneland Turf Mile last October. He has earned $755,950 for the same ownership.

Mandaloun eyes the Foster

Mandaloun, the 2021 Kentucky Derby winner via disqualification, is gearing up for a possible run in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster on July 2 at Churchill. The 4-year-old Juddmonte Farms homebred has breezed here the last two Sundays, the latest a half-mile work in 49.20 seconds, in his first drills since finishing ninth in the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 26.

“He got delayed coming back to Churchill from Saudi, so we just wanted to be easy on him for a little while and get him back going,” said trainer Brad Cox. “We’ll start to get more serious in the next few weeks.”

Hot Rod Charlie is among the other older horses already eyeing the 1 1/8-mile Foster, a Win and You’re In for the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland.

McPeek goes 3 for 3

One Saturday following a Kentucky Derby in which he sent out Smile Happy and Tiz the Bomb as the respective eighth- and ninth-place finishers, trainer Kenny McPeek enjoyed a perfect day by winning with all three of his starters.

McPeek won the Long Branch at Monmouth Park with his 3-year-old Dash Attack, then won with both starters on the Saturday night card at Churchill, Dunvegan Doll and Sonic City, both claimed out of their respective races as favorites.

“Good day at the office,” McPeek posted on Twitter. “Proud of the team.”

Gaffalione to the fore

Now that a handful of jockeys who took a whole lot of purse money out of here Derby week have gone home to New York, it’s Tyler Gaffalione back to faring best among the local colony.

Gaffalione, the perennial leading rider at the major Kentucky meets the past few years, has surged to the top of the spring-meet standings with 15 wins, including 11 during the first post-Derby week. Gaffalione capped the four-day week with four Sunday wins.

Gaffalione’s longtime agent, Matt Muzikar, also picked up the book of Ricardo Santana Jr. when the spring meet began April 30.

Up and down for Colebrook

Trainer Ben Colebrook experienced the highs and lows of racing last week at Churchill in a span of a little more than 48 hours. The Lexington, Ky.,based trainer sent out Jump Into the Fire for her fifth straight victory when the 4-year-old Runhappy filly easily won a Thursday starter allowance, but then Scales of Justice had to be euthanized after breaking down midway through the fifth race Saturday.

Scales of Justice, a 4-year-old Uncle Mo gelding, was owned by Andrew and William K. Warren Jr. He was produced by Balance, a multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire best known as a half-sister to the great Zenyatta.

Will Walden has first winner

Will Walden, the 31-year-old son of WinStar Farm president Elliott Walden, recorded his first win as a trainer when Dazzlingdominika, a 2-year-old Ghostzapper filly, dug in to win the second race last Thursday.

“Truly blessed to have this opportunity and looking forward to what the future holds,” said Walden, who has been refreshingly open about his troubles with substance abuse prior to getting clean nearly two years ago.