Mervin Muniz 'Cap is Optimizer's to Lose

Optimizer has been a different horse since he moved to the grass, and streaks into the March 30 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds with two graded stakes scores under his girth.

Optimizer Handles Soft Fair Grounds 'Cap Lawn

Optimizer hopped at the break of the $150,000 Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. IIIT) but drew clear in the end, earning his second straight victory over the turf at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 23.

Old-Timers Flat Out, Pool Play Clash in Donn

Grade I winners, at ages 8 and 9, respectively, face talented field at Gulfstream.

Optimizer Wins E.R. Bradley for Red-Hot Lukas

Optimizer went wire-to-wire in the $125,000 Col. E.R. Bradley Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Jan. 26 for red-hot Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who has won three stakes races in eight days.

Sprint Stakes Part of Sunshine Millions Card

Grade I winner Emma's Encore gets her 4-year-old season started in the $150,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint, one of two sprint stakes on the special program for state-breds Jan. 19 at Gulfstream Park.

Comebacking Citrus Kid Holds Off El Padrino

Citrus Kid, making his first start since September of 2011, held off 3-year-old El Padrino in a comeback race for both Dec. 19 at Gulfstream Park.

Filly Mystic Love Beats Boys in Dania Beach

An inside trip and a good kick at the head of the lane made all the difference for 2-year-old filly Mystic Love, who beat the boys at odds of 16-1 Dec. 15 in the $100,000 Dania Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park.

Harlan's Holiday Stakes Attracts Top Runners

The $100,000 Harlan's Holiday Stakes may be ungraded, but the Dec. 16 renewal at Gulfstream Park still drew a strong collection of top contenders.

Tate's Landing Faces Tall Dania Beach Test

Tate's Landing, impressive 3 1/4-length winner of the $100,000 Laurel Futurity Oct. 27, will face a bigger test in a deeper field for the $100,000 Dania Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park Dec. 15.

Ramsey Runners Dominate Claiming Crown

Parent's Honor capped a big day for Ken and Sarah Ramsey at Gulfstream Park Dec. 1, taking the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel at odds of 16-1 to give the owners their fourth winner on the card.

Hollinger Takes Class Drop in Tropical Turf

Hollinger will find an opportune spot in the $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Calder Race Course & Casino, in spite of hauling high weight on the Florida oval's closing day.

Boisterous One to Beat in River City

Boisterous, winner of the Red Smith Handicap and Knickerbocker in his previous two starts, carries top weight of 124 pounds against 11 rivals in the $100,000 River City Handicap (gr. IIIT) Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs.

Nominees for Clark, Other Stakes Released

Nominations for five graded stakes events to be run closing week at Churchill Downs were released Nov. 10. Headlining 158 runners are Clark contenders Shackleford, Game on Dude, Pool Play, Take Charge Indy, and Coil.

Take Charge Indy's Return Highlights Fayette

Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Take Charge Indy, out of action since the spring due to an ankle injury, makes his return in the $150,000 Fayette Stakes (gr. II), the closing day feature of the Keeneland fall meet Oct. 27.

Quick Wit Prevails in Off-Turf Hall of Fame

Considering his last attempt over a sloppy track, Quick Wit was far from a lock to win an off-the-turf edition of the $200,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes, but the 10-1 shot prevailed Aug. 10 at Saratoga.

Big Reward - by Evan Hammonds

Evansville, Ind., native lights up the Churchill Downs meeting with Guys Reward

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Guys Reward Sparkles in Soggy Firecracker Win

Guys Reward, stalking three wide into the stretch on a soggy Churchill Downs turf course, drew clear approaching the furlong pole to win the closing night Firecracker Handicap (gr. IIT) by two lengths July 1.

Turallure Towers Over Firecracker Field

Four D Stable's homebred Turallure seeks his first win of 2012 in the $150,000 Firecracker Handicap (gr. IIT) July 1 at Churchill Downs, taking on five other older turf contenders as the 122-pound highweight.

Haskell Targeted as Dullahan Returns to Work

Dullahan and Shackleford were among the stars from trainer Dale Romans' barn that posted published workouts at Churchill Downs June 23.

Wise Dan Sets Track Mark in Ben Ali Romp

Wise Dan, a grade I winner in his final start of 2011, picked up right where he left off in his first race of the year, romping by 10 1/2 lengths while setting a Keeneland Polytrack record in the $150,000 Ben Ali Stakes.

Casino Host Hits Muniz Memorial Jackpot

Casino Host, with a well-timed ride by John Velazquez, closed with determination on the outside to post a half-length win in the $400,000 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap (gr. IIT) at Fair Grounds April 1.

Smart Bid Seeks Mervin Muniz Memorial Repeat

Smart Bid, who has claimed both of his graded stakes wins over the Fair Grounds turf course, will try to defend his Mervin H. Muniz Memorial Handicap (gr. IIT) title against nine others in the $400,000 turf race on April 1

Smart Bid Runs Down Mr. Vegas in FG Handicap

Classy 6-year-old Smart Bid nailed pacesetter Mr. Vegas on the wire to score as the favorite in the $122,500 Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. IIIT) Feb. 25.

Bradley Handicap: Mr. Vegas Cashes In

Mr. Vegas set a comfortable pace and had enough left in the stretch to defeat Dubious Miss in the $100,000 Colonel E. R. Bradley Handicap (gr. IIIT) Jan. 21 at Fair Grounds.

Dubious Miss Seeks Breakthrough in 'Bradley

Eight-year-old gelding Dubious Miss has been close to winning graded stakes numerous times on Fair Grounds' turf course, and he will be given another shot Jan. 21 when he takes on seven in the Col. E. R. Bradley Handicap.