Only four other distaffers will line up against reigning Horse of the Year Havre de Grace on Saturday in Fair Grounds' $150,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/noladies12.html">New Orleans Ladies</a> going 1 1/16 miles. The Larry Jones trainee will break from post 2 with regular rider Ramon Dominguez in the saddle.
A nuclear scan has pinpointed the start of a stress fracture in Animal Kingdom's hind end that will not require surgery.
The perfect Kentucky Derby appetizer returns May 3 as Churchill Downs stages its third annual Taste of Derby -- a celebration of cuisine and racing on the eve of the Kentucky Oaks. Taste of Derby attendees will mingle with horse racing and Hollywood celebrities and savor exquisite cuisine and delectable wines from racing destinations across the country as nationally-renowned chefs serve samples of their regional specialties.
<i><b><font face="Arial" size="4">AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK </font> </b></i>
The Blood-Horse's annual review of North American purses from the pages of the March 10, 2012, edition.
Betfair US and Hollywood Park on Tuesday announced the completion of a ground-breaking agreement intended to transform the customer experience for racing fans at the historic venue, online and on television. Under the terms of the five-year deal, the venue will be renamed "Betfair Hollywood Park" in the first naming rights agreement ever for a horseracing venue in the United States.
Gulfstream Park will host the 14th running of the Claiming Crown on the opening day of its 2012-13 meet on December 1. The 2012 event will see a significant increase in purses to $850,000 for seven races with the individual race purses ranging from $100,000 to $200,000. In addition to the six Claiming Crown races conducted at the 2011 event, the Tiara for fillies and mares on the turf will return this year.
Gulfstream Park will offer fans a week of activities and attractions leading up to the $1 million Florida Derby on Saturday, March 31, including a concert by a mystery Grammy-winning country artist as well as golf and poker tournaments, a cocktail party with jockeys serving drinks, and the official Florida Derby cocktail party with live and silent auctions.
<i><b><font face="Arial" size="4">SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK </font> </b></i>
Dennis J. Manning's first-time starter Crafty Unicorn stayed close to the early pace of the 23rd running of the $100,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/obs12race4.pdf">OBS Championship Stakes</a>, contested Monday at the Ocala Training Center in Florida. Crafty Unicorn fought to the lead along the inside in the stretch and beat Burn the Mortgage by 1 3/4 lengths, with Moon Traveler checking in third.
Reigning Horse of the Year Havre de Grace put in her last workout in advance of Saturday's $150,000 New Orleans Ladies this morning at Fair Grounds, breezing five furlongs in :59 3/5 with regular exercise rider Jen Brasser aboard. The five-year-old mare worked in company with an unraced three-year-old filly, Just Jan, who went the same distance in 1:00 under Rosie Napravnik while breezing to the inside of Havre de Grace.
Bob Baffert's highly-regarded Fed Biz has been ruled out of Kentucky Derby consideration, the Hall of Fame trainer revealed to <i>Daily Racing Form</i> Monday.
Champion Animal Kingdom will miss his intended start in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup on March 31 after developing lameness in his left hind leg over the weekend at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida.
Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) on Monday reported business results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2011.
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced Monday that an updated set of racetrack safety and integrity standards has been circulated to members of the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance, and that it is now available for public comment. After finalization, the compliance standards will serve as the basis for future racetrack Alliance accreditation, including the re-accreditation of tracks previously accredited by the Alliance. The Alliance, formed in October 2008 with the goal of establishing national uniform standards in the areas of safety and integrity, includes 55 racetracks in North America and every major national horsemen's organization. Twenty-two racetracks have been accredited to date by Alliance safety teams.
Pinnacle Racing and Bill Kaplan's five-year-old mare Musical Romance closed out an Eclipse Award campaign in 2011 winning the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Churchill Downs on November 4, but her 2012 season debut did not go well when she finished fourth in the Florida Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint at Gulfstream Park on January 28.
Friday's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/gpalw3-16-12.htm">3RD</a> race at Gulfstream Park looms as a battle of the unbeatens, as Gemologist and Currency Swap are set to kick off their sophomore campaigns in this one-mile allowance.
There's a buzz back at the barn of Jinks Fires this spring a year after the magical run by Archarcharch that culminated in a victory in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby for his longtime clients Bob and Val Yagos. This time another set of longtime owners are eagerly hoping Kid Sidney can make up for lost time and get into the Grade 2, $500,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park on Saturday.
George and Mary Clare Schmitt's Izzy Rules lived up to her name, and her 6-5 favoritism, in Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/lasflores12.pdf">Las Flores Stakes</a> at Santa Anita Park. Grabbing command soon after the start, the Jeff Bonde trainee led all the way home to finish the 6 1/2-furlong, fast track event in 1:14 2/5. The five-year-old daughter of Peace Rules paid $4.60, $3.20 and $2.80 to her faithful supporters.
Bradley Thoroughbreds, Steve Laymon and Jerry & Ronald Frankel's Dayatthespa was all out to hold a closing Regalo Mia in Sunday's Grade 3, $150,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/herecomesthebride12.pdf"> Herecomesthebride Stakes</a> at Gulfstream Park. With Javier Castellano aboard, the Chad Brown-trained daughter of City Zip was a neck clear on the wire while finishing the nine-furlong, firm turf affair in 1:47 1/5.
"We talked about it before the race," Motion said, "and decided the logical spot for him, if he did well today, would be to go to the Blue Grass, and see where we go from there."
When Richard, Bertram and Elaine Klein's Miz Ida powered home with a late-running three-quarter-length victory in Saturday's $75,000 Allen LaCombe Memorial at Fair Grounds, winning trainer Steve Margolis was quick to bring attention to the filly's namesake.
Santa Anita will present its fifth annual "Santa Anita Uncorked" wine and culinary festival on March 25. The event will be staged in the track's paddock gardens area beginning at noon (PDT) and will feature a wide array of boutique and hand-picked wine selections, cuisine sampling from 14 popular local restaurants, a paddock art show and a full day of exciting Thoroughbred racing.
Mucho Macho Man grazed on a small patch of grass on the Gulfstream Park backstretch Sunday, stopping on occasion to bask in the morning sun and calmly survey his surroundings outside Barn 4.
Mucho Macho Man continued to establish himself as a serious player in the older horse division Saturday, posting a convincing victory in the Grade 2, $300,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/gphcp12.pdf">Gulfstream Park Handicap</a>. A smart winner of the 1 1/8-mile Sunshine Millions Classic January 28, the leggy bay colt cut back powerfully to a one-turn mile while extending his win streak to three. Ramon Dominguez was up for trainer Kathy Ritvo.
Anita Cauley's homebred On Fire Baby was sent off the 2-5 favorite in Saturday's Grade 3, $125,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/honeybee12.pdf">Honeybee Stakes</a> at Oaklawn Park, but the gray miss had to work for the win as 3-1 second choice Amie's Dini refused to yield in the lane. It was only nearing the wire that On Fire Baby managed to pull away, posting a two-length victory under jockey Joe Johnson to return $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10 to her backers.
The San Felipe was widely viewed as the deepest Derby prep race so far this season. Despite the withdrawal of Out of Bounds, who is sidelined by a fractured ankle, and Fed Biz, who had a minor hiccup but is still on the trail, the 1 1/16-mile test lured a terrific group of classic hopefuls.
Pin Oak Stable's homebred Alternation continued his progression toward the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap with a wire-to-wire score in Saturday's Grade 3, $125,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/razorback12.pdf">Razorback Handicap</a> at Oaklawn Park.
Prospective made his move to the lead on the far turn, was headed in midstretch by a surging Golden Ticket, then came back again to prevail in Saturday's Grade 2, $350,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/tbderby12.pdf">Tampa Bay Derby</a>. Winner of the Grade 3 Grey Stakes at two and second in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes in his previous start, the Mark Casse-trained colt likely guaranteed himself a spot in the Kentucky Derby field by increasing his graded earnings to $365,452.
Gold Mark Farm's Grade 2 Nashua Stakes winner Vexor makes his three-year-old debut in the $50,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/obssprintc&g12.html">OBS Sprint Stakes</a> as OBS holds its 23rd annual Day of Champions race card on Monday.
Mikhail Glinka foreshadowed what Master of Hounds would accomplish two races later in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta. Interestingly, both had been stablemates under the tutelage of Aidan O'Brien, and neither had managed to win since the summer of 2010. Mikhail Glinka last visited the winner's circle after a photo-finish score in the Group 3 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot.
Shivananda Parbhoo's Trinniberg is a colt to be reckoned with in the major three-year-old sprints later this year after an impressive 2012 debut in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/swale12.pdf">Swale</a> at Gulfstream Park. Making his first start since November and racing without blinkers for the first time, the son of Teuflesberg assumed command at the start, led by a length through splits of :22 3/5 and :45, and exploded through the stretch to win by six lengths under Willie Martinez. Final time for seven furlongs over a fast track was a sharp 1:21 3/5. Trinniberg, sent off at 7-1, returned $17.20, $9.60 and $6.40.
Ahmed Ajtebi picked up the mount as Godolphin's other associated riders piloted more accomplished entrants. Frankie Dettori, who had ridden Capponi in all three of his starts this season, got off to partner Prince Bishop for Saeed bin Suroor, who also sent out Mendip with Kieren Fallon. Al Zarooni saddled two other contenders -- Monterosso, piloted by Mickael Barzalona, and Biondetti, who drew in from the also-eligible list with Silvestre de Sousa. But none of them threatened Capponi.
In the early going, Master of Hounds was tracked by Secrecy, Pisco Sour and Derbaas, and City Style was also well placed in fifth. The same could not be said of several major contenders, including Master of Hounds' stablemates, River Jetez and Mutahadee. Christophe Soumillon, who got off Master of Hounds to ride Mutahadee, anchored him near the tail of the field. River Jetez was almost as far back. Defending Jebel Hatta champion Wigmore Hall was likewise in a poor position, and reigning Duty Free hero Presvis lagged in last after his habitual slow start.
Zagora was given a textbook ride by regular pilot Javier Castellano. The odds-on choice was reserved in sixth early, six lengths off the pace established by 96-1 longshot Megaspiel through fractions of :23 2/5 and :47 1/5. Unbridled Humor stalked in second, followed by Sea Level Drive and Federation. Zagora commenced her move entering the far turn, cutting her deficit to just 2 1/2 lengths when the leader reached six furlongs in 1:11 2/5.
Despite an initial early challenge in Saturday's Grade 3, $147,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/cicada12.pdf">Cicada Stakes</a>, Agave Kiss easily ran away with the six-furlong contest to move her career record to a perfect four-for-four under jockey Ryan Curatolo. The Rudy Rodriguez trainee was made the 1-4 prohibitive favorite by the betting public and delivered when crossing under the wire three lengths the best.
Preakness winner Shackleford will be among the star studded cast of horses lining up for the Grade 1, $400,000 Carter on Wood Memorial Day at Aqueduct on April 7.
Take Charge Indy, the 3-1 second choice on the morning line for Saturday's Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby, will be scratched from the race and point instead to the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 31. Trainer Pat Byrne confirmed the change in plans to <i>Daily Racing Form</i> on Friday.
When the devastating news came out that jockey E.J. "Tee Joe" Perrodin was diagnosed with brain cancer just days after retiring from the saddle -- and that Fair Grounds would be hosting a charitable crawfish boil on March 20 to benefit the popular rider's family -- one of the first people to volunteer his services at the upcoming event was Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg, who will be returning to New Orleans that afternoon as an auctioneer.
There will be no change in the price of general admission tickets for the 138th runnings of Churchill Downs' Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks if tickets are purchased online and in advance of those events, but the ticket price will be higher for walk-up purchases at admission gates on those respective days.
With a stable full of Kentucky Derby contenders, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is juggling talented three-year-olds every weekend, but he's counting on the strong performances by Secret Circle and Castaway in their split divisions of the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes to help him decide to whether to send them both back for the Grade 2, $500,000 Rebel at Oaklawn Park March 17.
The Jockey Club Foundation, a charitable trust that assists needy individuals throughout the Thoroughbred racing industry, has been renamed <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tjcfoundation.org">The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation</a>, effective immediately.
Live racing will return to Monmouth Park on May 12, it was announced Thursday by the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NJTHA). With a lease from the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority (NJSEA) to the NJTHA expected in early May, the latter will take the operational helm at the historic racetrack for this year's 67th season of racing.
The good fortune continues at Oaklawn with racing and Instant Racing/gaming both seeing double-digit increases in February and as a result, the Hot Springs, Arkansas, track is announcing the third purse increase of the meet effective with Friday's nine-race card. In addition, the purses for the four remaining Arkansas-bred stakes -- the Rainbow, the Rainbow Miss and both divisions of the Arkansas Breeders' -- will be increased from $50,000 to $60,000.
Superstar Zenyatta produced her first foal, a bay colt by Bernardini, Thursday evening at Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Kentucky. Owners Jerry and Ann Moss were on hand to witness the foaling at approximately 10:10 p.m. (EST).
<i><b><font face="Arial" size="4">HANDICAPPING INSIGHTS</font></b></i>
The Saratoga Springs community will celebrate its legendary relationship with Thoroughbreds at the inaugural Steeplechase Festival at Saratoga, a day of racing and spirited activities set for September 15. Proceeds from the first annual Steeplechase Festival at Saratoga will benefit both local and equine charities.
A strong mix of accomplished stars headed by major stakes performers Grace Hall and On Fire Baby and exciting newcomers led by the Bob Baffert-trained trio of Eden's Moon, Princess Arabella and Mamma Kimbo comprise the list of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/2012oaksnoms.pdf">94 three-year-old fillies nominated</a> to compete in the 138th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Kentucky Oaks on May 4 at Churchill Downs.
On Fire Baby will return to the distaff ranks on Saturday when she faces seven rivals in Oaklawn Park's Grade 3, $125,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/honeybee12.html"> Honeybee Stakes</a> going 1 1/16 miles. The dual Grade 2 heroine, who is nominated to both the Triple Crown races and Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, could use the race as a springboard to either the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby against the boys or stay with the fillies in the Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes.
