Hernandez Reaches 1,000th Victory Milestone
Jockey Colby Hernandez reached his 1,000th career victory March 8 when guiding Stephanies Wildcat to a narrow triumph in the fifth race at Delta Downs Racetrack and Casino.
Southwest Region
News and features for Southwestern farm owners, racehorse owners, and breeders
First Northern Winner for Southwestern Heat
By winning a quarter-mile race at Sunland Park March 1, Zuellas Heat became the first 2-year-old winner of 2014 and first Northern Hemisphere winner for freshman sire Southwestern Heat, a son of 2001 champion filly Xtra Heat.
Shippers Head Wide-Open Honeybee
The major prep for the grade II Fantasy Stakes April 5 drew mostly up-and-coming locally based fillies, but it is the two shippers -- Please Explainand Taris -- who may be the most intriguing.
Double Irish Standing at McDowell Farm
Double Irish, an unraced 4-year-old son of Tapit, is standing the 2014 season at Mary and Bill McDowell's McDowell Farm near Sparkman, Ark.
Renovated Lone Star Park Set to Open April 10
Multimillion-dollar renovations currently under way are expected to be complete when Lone Star Park kicks off its 18th season April 10.
Oaklawn Cancels Sunday Card After Fourth Race
Deteriorating weather conditions forced Oaklawn Park to cancel after the fourth race March 2.
Tapiture Gets Back to Work at Oaklawn Park
Southwest Stakes (gr. III) winner Tapiture got back to serious work the morning of March 2 at Oaklawn Park as he prepares to make his next stop along the Triple Crown trail in the $600,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II).
Red Rifle Sets Track Mark in Maxxam Gold Cup
Red Rifle delivered a track-record performance at Sam Houston Race Park in handily winning the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup for his first stakes triumph on the night of March 1.
Sunbean Shines in Star Guitar
Brittlyn Stable's Sunbean proved worthy of the fans who backed him down to 3-10 favoritism by drawing off late to an easy 2 3/4-length victory March 1 in the $60,000 Star Guitar Stakes at Fair Grounds.
Paolucci Moves Ria Antonia to Baffert
Trainer Jeremiah Englehart and owner Ron Paolucci have parted ways over Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) winner Ria Antonia. The filly will be sent to Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.
Evangeline Downs Unveils 2014 Stakes Lineup
The $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint, a newly-created event for 3-year-olds and up at a distance of five furlongs to be run June 21, is the centerpiece of the 2014 Evangeline Downs stakes schedule released Feb. 26.
Southwest Regional: Comfortable Shave
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Intense Holiday, Albano Take Aim on La. Derby
Intense Holiday emerged from his scintillating nose victory in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 22 in good order and is expected to continue on to the $1 million Louisiana Derby (gr. II) March 29.
Texas Owner Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Dies
Clarence Scharbauer Jr., a patriarch in Texas racing whose family campaigned 1987 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Alysheba, died Feb. 21 at the age of 88.
Intense Holiday Charges to Risen Star Victory
Starlight Racing's Intense Holiday finally got his graded score, and did so with a thrilling late run in the Feb. 22 Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Bradester Digs Deep for First Stakes Tally
Bradester collared pacesetter Grand Contender mid-stretch and proved best in the drive for the wire to register his first stakes win in the $150,000 Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) Feb. 22 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Potomac River Grinds Out Fair Grounds Win
Potomac River unleashed a torrid outside rally down the Fair Grounds stretch and struck for a thrilling nose decision over Skyring in the $150,000 Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. IIIT) on turf Feb. 22.
Untapable Cruises in Rachel Alexandra
Add another to the list of impressive Tapit homebreds campaigned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and trained by Steve Asmussen this season; Untapable won the Feb. 22 Rachel Alexandra (gr. III) by 9 1/2 lengths.
New Mexico Approves Uniform Medication Rules
According to the Albuquerque Journal, New Mexico is the most recent state to have its racing commission approve uniform medication rules.
Ria Antonia's Connections Seek Respect
What makes a man take a longshot gamble, and how often can he expect to be on the winning end? In a restaurant on Bourbon Street, Ron Paolucci contemplated this question. "That's how you hit the home runs," he said.
Oaklawn Touts Meet's Second Purse Increase
After a picture-perfect Presidents' Day weekend, Oaklawn Park has announced it will increase purses for the second time this meet.
Vicar's in Trouble in Tough for Risen Star
Vicar's in Trouble, dominant 6 3/4-length hero of the Jan. 18 LeComte Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, drew a tough outside post in an overflow field entered for the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 22.
Emmett Park Moves into Risen Star Field
Gore Range Stable's Emmett Park has joined the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (gr. II) field at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots as he drew in off the also-eligible list following the scratch of Bond Holder.
Fair Grounds Cuts Overnight Purses 10%
Overnight purses at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots have been reduced 10% for the rest of the current race meet, track officials said Feb. 20.
Evangeline Downs Adds $300,000 Turf Sprint
Evangeline Downs Racetrack, Casino & Hotel and Boyd Gaming Feb. 19 announced the creation of one of the richest turf sprint stakes in the U.S.: the $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint to be run June 21.
Bond Holder Out of Risen Star With Injury
Reddam Racing's Bond Holder, winner of the FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I), has been scratched out of the Feb. 22 Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) after suffering an injury en route to Fair Grounds Race Course.
Ria Antonia Set for Rachel Alexandra Return
Adjudged Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) winner Ria Antonia will make her season debut against the likes of Streaming and Untapable Feb. 22 in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds.
Daddy Nose Best Enters Fair Grounds on Roll
Multiple grade III winner Daddy Nose Best will try for a third straight stakes win on the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots turf and sixth victory in seven starts in the Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. IIIT) Feb. 22.
Fasig-Tipton Texas Sale Catalog Now Online
Fasig-Tipton has cataloged 135 entries for its Texas 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age sale to be held April 1 at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie.
Tapiture Strides on in Southwest
Ron Winchell's homebred Tapiture made his season debut a stirring one Feb. 17 when he galloped to a 4 1/4-length victory over Strong Mandate in the $300,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park.
Don't Tell Sophia Rolls to Bayakoa Repeat
Don't Tell Sophia wasn't in a hurry leaving the gate, but she quickly got herself into gear and easily drew off to win her second straight $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes Feb. 16 at Oaklawn Park.
Rough Debut for Rachel's Sis at Fair Grounds
Samantha Nicole, a full sister to 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, had an adventurous career debut, but managed to run on for second in a maiden special weight test for 3-year-old fillies Feb. 16 at Fair Grounds.
Don't Tell Sophia Set to Defend Bayakoa Title
Don't Tell Sophia has her eye on a repeat victory in Oaklawn Park's Bayakoa Stakes Feb. 16, a month after winning the Pippin Stakes at the Arkansas track in consecutive years.
Full Sister to Rachel Alexandra Set for Debut
Stonestreet Stable's Samantha Nicole, a full sister to 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, is set to make her career debut Feb. 16 in the fourth race at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Strong Mandate Back to Action in Southwest
Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) winner Strong Mandate returns to action for the first time since the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) in the $300,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 17 at Oaklawn Park.
Rebranded Evangeline Sale Set for March 9
Having recently completed its first season under the leadership of new owner Boyd Gaming, Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino will conduct its annual 2-year-old-in-training sale March 9.
Tapiture, Walt Work Between Races at Oaklawn
Trainers Steve Asmussen and Chris Hartman slipped in a pair of final workouts for their Southwest Stakes (gr. III) hopefuls between the first and second races on the program at Oaklawn Park Feb. 13.
Palace Malice to Gulfstream Park Handicap
Last year's Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Palace Malice will launch his 2014 campaign in the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) March 8 at Gulfstream Park, according to Dogwood Stable president Cot Campbell.
Vicar's in Trouble Breezes for Risen Star
Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) winner Vicar's in Trouble breezed five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 the morning of Feb. 9 at Fair Grounds in preparation for the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) on Louisiana Derby Preview Day Feb. 22.
Ria Antonia Works, Aimed for Rachel Alexandra
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) winner Ria Antonia appears headed for a start in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds Feb. 22 rather than facing males in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II).
Turfway Park, Oaklawn Cancel Racing Sunday
Turfway Park in Kentucky and Oaklawn Park in Arkansas have canceled live racing for Sun., Feb. 9, due to effects from inclement weather.
Oaklawn, Penn National Cancel Saturday Cards
Oaklawn Park has canceled its Saturday card for Feb. 8, the third straight day racing at the Arkansas oval has been halted due to winter weather, while Penn National also called off racing.
Oaklawn Hikes Overnight, Two Stakes Purses
Citing robust January business, Oaklawn Racing and Gaming announced it will increase all overnight purses by as much as $2,000 per race starting with the Saturday, Feb. 8 card.
Oaklawn Park, Penn National Cancel Friday
With temperatures remaining below freezing for second straight day, Oaklawn Park has been forced to cancel its Friday Feb. 7 card.
Oaklawn, Penn, Charles Town Cancel Feb. 6
Oaklawn has canceled its Thursday, Feb. 6 card because of below freezing temperatures. Severe winter weather conditions have also forced the cancellation of live racing at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.
Cactus Ridge to Stand in Oklahoma
Former Central Kentucky stallion Cactus Ridge will stand the 2014 season at Royal Vista Ranches in Wayne, Okla., for a fee of $5,000 with special consideration to Quarter Horse mares.
Minnesota to Hold Unwanted Horse Summit
An investigation by the University of Minnesota into reasons, costs, and solutions for the increase into unwanted horses in the upper Midwest and Texas will be discussed at a summit March 8 at Leatherdale Equine Center.
First Foal for Texas Stallion Crossbow
The first reported foal for Texas stallion Crossbow was born Jan. 9 at owner Robert Grunnah's farm in Wills Point, Texas.
2013 New Mexico Champions Announced
The New Mexico Horse Breeders' Association honored its 2013 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse champions Jan. 30 during the Zia Awards Banquet at the Marriott Uptown Hotel in Albuquerque.
Weather Puts Damper on Plans for Ria Antonia
As of Jan. 30, Ron Paolucci, owner of Loooch Racing and manager of Ria Antonia's career along with trainer Jeremiah Englehart, was uncertain exactly what the future is for the 3-year-old Rockport Harbor filly.
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