Grade I winner Zagora, second in last year's Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) to Denomination in a tight finish, will attempt to turn the tables in 2012 when the two mares meet again in the grass event at Tampa Bay Downs.
Mucho Macho Man breaks from the rail against a small field that includes Jackson Bend and defending champion Tackleberry in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) March 10.
Needy racetrack workers in New England will soon get a leg up from a locally-based charitable organization that has selected the region's backstretch assistance program for an award that comes with a sizable gift.
Carmel Heitzmann, once a flight attendant for Emirates Airlines but in more recent times the stable foreman for her trainer-husband Eric Heitzmann at Fair Grounds, successfully completed a journey on foot around the Crescent City last Sunday by finishing the New Orleans Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in four hours and 32 minutes.
Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap lost an expected top contender when Grade 1 winner Boys at Tosconova was not entered, but the one-turn mile event still features a dynamite field of six that includes Jackson Bend and Mucho Macho Man.
A field of 10 sophomores has been entered to go 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 2, $300,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, and trainer Bob Baffert holds a powerful hand in the form of Liaison and Bodemeister.
Ever So Lucky and Motor City established themselves as three-year-olds to watch at Churchill Downs last fall and both will launch their highly-anticipated sophomore campaigns Saturday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park. A total of 10 runners are entered, but the seven-furlong test will be lacking Thunder Moccasin, a good-looking winner of the Grade 2 Hutcheson Stakes on February 11.
Though it experienced two substantial losses in the past few days, Santa Anita's field for the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) March 10 could still be the most competitive of the young 2012 Triple Crown season.
KENTUCKY DERBY REPORT
Undefeated Agave Kiss, freshened after winning the Ruthless Stakes in January, will be heavily favored to win her graded stakes debut in the $150,000 Cicada (gr. III) March 10 at Aqueduct.
A clear second to subsequent Grade 2 Risen Star winner El Padrino in a January 29 allowance at Gulfstream Park, Take Charge Indy could also make a successful jump into the winner's circle against graded company when he takes on 11 rivals in Saturday's Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby.
Three of the top four finishers of last month's Sam Davis are back for the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II), but it's a Todd Pletcher trained horse--go figure--making his stakes debut who will likely be favored.
If Jonathan Sheppard could ever get Ever So Lucky started, he might find out if the colt is a legitimate Kentucky Derby (gr. I) contender. Hopefully, he will finally get a chance March 10 in the $150,000 Swale (gr. III).
Sand Cove, the 2010 Canadian champion older male, died Feb. 13 from complications from laminitis.
Steve and Lenny interview Dr. Kendall Hansen, owner/breeder for Hansen, examine how last year's Kentucky Derby contenders are doing this year and revisit the Stone Age. watch video
Grade I winners Courageous Cat and Twirling Candy, who are standing their first year at stud at William S. Farish's Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky., have gotten their first mares in foals.
Entries were unveiled Wednesday for the opening two classics of the 2012 European flat season, the Group 1 Two Thousand Guineas and Group 1 One Thousand Guineas, both of which take place on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket during the first weekend in May.
Churchill Downs Racetrack announced that Stand Up To Cancer ("SU2C") will be the beneficiary of a fund-raising effort conducted as part of the 138th running of the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) on Friday, May 4.
Steve and Lenny interview Dr Kendall Hansen, owner/breeder of Hansen, examine how last year's Kentucky Derby contenders are doing this year, and revisit the Stone Age. Sponsored by Darby Dan Farm.
The Indiana Horse Racing Commission has issued lengthy suspensions to two Quarter Horse trainers under the state's out-of-competition testing rules.
The Dubai Super Saturday card from Meydan Racecourse will be the first "Big Event" seminar offered as part of "Night School," the racing industry's national online fan education program.
Eclipse champion and Kentucky Derby contender Hansen will school in the paddock at Turfway Park on Friday evening between the 6TH and 7TH races, according to the colt's breeder and majority owner, Dr. Kendall Hansen.
Dick Powell gives his selections for the March 10 Super Saturday program at the Dubai Carnival, which includes the Jebel Hatta (UAE-IT) and the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (UAE-I), and the Dubai City of Gold (UAE-IIT).
Eclipse Award champion and recent Gotham (gr. III) winner Hansen will school in the paddock at Turfway Park March 9 between the sixth and seventh races,
After a near-death experience last year, horsewoman Carmel Heitzman decided to run the Mardi Gras Marathon and raised more than $8,500 for Remember Me Rescue. read blog
The Indiana Horse Racing Commission has initiated an administrative action against trainer Tom Amoss that could result in a 60-day suspension and $5,000 fine.
Larry Collmus, NBC's voice of the Triple Crown as well the regular announcer at Gulfstream and Monmouth Park, will be the voice of the $1 million Charles Town Classic (gr. II) April 14.
A field of 14 will go to the post in the $400,000 Al Maktoum Challenge-Round 3 Sponsored by Emirates (UAE-I), one of two newlyelevated group I races that anchor a superb seven-race card at Meydan Racecourse March 10.
Review how Hansen cruised to victory in the Gotham Stakes. view slideshow
SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK
There are upsides and downsides to administering dexamethasone, just as there are with most drugs. For instance, dexamethasone is a potent anti-inflammatory but can cause life-threatening laminitis in some cases. And while dexamethasone can be used successfully to treat mating-induced inflammation of the uterus (endometritis), some veterinarians believe i...
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