Hallowed Dreams silenced her doubters again Saturday by winning the $75,000 Pan Zareta Handicap by 2 1/2 lengths at Fair Grounds. Now a 10-time stakes winner and victorious in all but one of her 20 career starts, Hallowed Dreams turned back her strongest opposition yet.
Golden Ballet continued her dominance of Southern California's 3-year-old filly division Saturday with a 2 1/2-length victory over Two Item Limit in the $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita Park. Ridden by Chris McCarron at high weight of 122 pounds, Golden Ballet ran one mile in 1:36.89 on a fast main track and returned $2.80, $2.60 and $2.10. It was the fourth straight victory for Golden Ballet –- all in stakes races –- and her first win in a grade I event. Jenine Sahadi trains the winner for Team Valor and Heiligbrodt Racing Stables.
Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens was released from the hospital on Friday and made his first appearance at his barn at Gulfstream on Saturday morning. Driven to the racetrack by his wife Elisabeth, Jerkens didn't get out of the car but did talk to his employees. Jerkens had been hospitalized since Dec. 23 when, complaining of severe stomach pains, he was rushed into the hospital and diagnosed with acute pancreatitis.
Patrons at Gulfstream Park can watch and bet on races from tracks as far away as Cessnock in Australia, but are unable to do the same on Tampa Bay Downs due to the lack of a simulcasting agreement between the tracks. "It just seems like it isn't the highest priority to them," said Gulfstream president Scott Savin, who indicated that the conflict was not over money, "They have just delayed it continually for no good reason I can understand."
A P Valentine, winner of the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) last fall, had his first test for speed at Hialeah Saturday, blazing 5 furlongs in a bullet :59 flat.
A P Valentine, winner of the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) last fall, had his first test for speed at Hialeah Saturday, blazing 5 furlongs in a bullet :59 flat.
Magna Entertainment, which operates seven Thoroughbred tracks, reported Friday that its losses for the fourth quarter will exceed previous estimates. Rather than the previously estimated $0.04 to $0.05 per share loss, Magna said the revised estimate is a $0.11 to $0.12 per share loss for the fourth quarter and income of approximately $0.01 per share for the year.
Wild And Wise wore down Swordfish in the final furlong and edged clear for a half-length victory Friday in the $96,750 Sham Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita Park.
