Deputy Commander Euthanized
Deputy Commander, the 1997 Travers Stakes (gr. I) winner, was euthanized Oct. 7 at Donald and Karen Cohen's Ballena Vista Farm near Ramona, Calif.
Deputy Commander, the 1997 Travers Stakes (gr. I) winner, was euthanized Oct. 7 at Donald and Karen Cohen's Ballena Vista Farm near Ramona, Calif.
With the end of the Churchill Downs spring meet July 5, Delaware Park is expecting an influx of Kentucky horsemen who are seeking more opportunities than will be available at Ellis Park.
Multiple graded stakes winner Monterey Jazz eclipsed a 15-year-old Hollywood Park turf mark when he clocked a mile in 1:32.59 while winning a $58,400 allowance race by 3 3/4 lengths May 24.
Though he's on a 12-race losing streak, Awesome Gem is the 5-2 favorite in the $150,000 Berkeley Stakes (gr. III) at Golden Gate Fields on Memorial Day.
El Gato Malo makes his third start since winning last year's Lone Star Derby (gr. III) in the $150,000 San Fernando Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 17. The beaten favorite in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) is part of a wide open field of a dozen 4-year-olds in the 1 1/16-mile test over the Pro-Ride racing surface.
El Gato Malo and Monterey Jazz, both sidelined since stakes victories in Texas this spring, are on the comeback trail, according to trainer Craig Dollase.
There's always plenty of hay around the backstretch of any track, so it was a little surprising when we saw a bale arriving special delivery.
Southern California invader Monterey Jazz led the $300,000 Texas Mile (gr. III) procession nearly every step of the way to register an eight-length laugher over five overmatched foes at Lone Star Park April 26.
The upstart California-bred colt Bob Black Jack, second in the April 5 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) is headed to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) for his next start so long as he has the graded earnings to make the 20-horse field.
Colonel John was all set to run for the roses the morning after his late-running victory in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), but the trainer for the runner-up, the persevering Bob Black Jack, plans to weigh his options.
El Gato Malo and Georgie Boy turned in bullet moves March 29 at Hollywood Park in their final major works for next week's Santa Anita Derby (gr. I).
Craig Dollase thinks grade III winner El Gato Malo will be even tougher in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) on April 5 thanks to his recent defeat.
Odds-on choice El Gato Malo fell from the ranks of the unbeaten when Colonel John held the closer off in the final furlong to win the $200,000 Sham Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita March 1.
West Point Thoroughbreds' El Gato Malo puts his unbeaten record on the line against Colonel John and five others in the $200,000 Sham Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita March 1. Another entrant, Coast Guard, will be scratched due to a minor ankle injury.
Three top contenders from the West Point Thoroughbreds string prepared for starts in graded stakes while breezing for their respective trainers Feb. 21. Led by 4-year-old Awesome Gem, the worktab also included potential Derby contenders El Gato Malo and Saratoga Russell.
Undefeated Triple Crown contender El Gato Malo worked six furlongs at Hollywood Park Feb. 15 in a bullet 1:11 4/5, while across town at Santa Anita, Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) winner Crown of Thorns turned in a leisurely drill. The pair is headed for a showdown in the 1 1/8-mile Sham Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita on March 1.
2006 Eclipse Award Champion Dreaming of Anna will make her 4-year-old debut Feb. 16, when a field of 11 older fillies and mares takes to the turf in the $150,000 Endeavour Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay Downs.
Inside Information features Lava Man, trainer Wally Dollase and private clockers.
Monterey Jazz made the transition from graded turf winner to Cushion Track with aplomb, going gate to wire to sneak away with the $300,000 Strub (gr. II) at Santa Anita Feb. 2.
Odds-on choice Crested, dropping out of grade I company for trainer Wally Dollase, swept to victory in the Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Handicap on the grass at Phoenix's Turf Paradise Jan. 5.
West Point Thoroughbreds appears to have a good one in the 2-year-old El Gato Malo, who stormed to victory over his Golden Gate Fields' rivals in the $75,000 Gold Rush in just his second start Dec. 15.
Wilko, the 2004 Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner, and grade I winner Cash Included have been retired from racing.
Dancing Edie has but one way to go, so unless something goes amiss, trainer Craig Dollase expects her to be leading the field as she defends her crown in the $400,000 John C. Mabee Handicap (gr. IT) for fillies and mares on the Del Mar turf Aug. 4.
Itsallgreektome is euthanized at age 20. He was a multiple grade I winner on turf who finished second in two Breeders' Cup races.
Cash Included and Romance Is Diane, both grade I winners as 2-year-olds, are among the leading contenders in the $250,000 Las Virgenes (gr. I) for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita Saturday.
Upsetter Awesome Gem unleashed a terrific stretch drive to snatch victory from Midnight Lute in the final strides of the $200,000 San Fernando (gr. II) at Santa Anita Park Saturday.
Dancing Edie, winner of the 2006 John C. Mabee Handicap (gr. IT), is being given a break from racing and is unlikely to run until the 2007 Hollywood Park meeting, according to trainer Craig Dollase.
Veteran stakes performer Meteor Storm returns to Hollywood Park for the first time in three years on Saturday when he could become the oldest horse to win the prestigious Hollywood Turf Cup (gr. IT) since the great John Henry won the race in 1983 at the age of 8.
Right before the draw of the Breeders' Cup races takes place on the fourth floor of the clubhouse at Churchill Downs, Lisa Underwood surveys the scene. She's not eating breakfast from the buffet, but that's not to say she doesn't have a lot on her plate.
Cash Included, purchased privately by J. Paul Reddam after her maiden victory at Del Mar Sept. 2, left the 1-2 favorite Point Ashley in her wake to win the $247,000 Oak Leaf Breeders' Cup (gr. I) for 2-year-old fillies Saturday at Oak Tree's Santa Anita meeting.
Pacesetter Dancing Edie survived an inquiry to win the $400,000 John C. Mabee Handicap (gr. IT) for fillies and mares by a nose over Moscow Burning on the Del Mar turf Saturday.
Trainer Wally Dollase would just as soon forget Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (gr. I) candidate Bending Strings' last effort of Nov. 24, when she was ninth by 28 lengths in the Fall City Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs.
Wilko, seeking his first victory in 10 starts since winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) in a 28-1 upset in 2004, reunites with Garrett Gomez in Saturday's $1 million Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I).
Wilko, a 4-year-old who has been winless since upsetting Afleet Alex in the 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), is a surprise entrant in Santa Anita's $250,000 San Antonio Handicap (gr. II) on Sunday after also being named for Saturday's Strub Stakes (gr. II).
The grade I winner Meteor Storm, knocking on the door against top-caliber stakes company since March, gained his first victory of 2005 while fully extended in Saturday's $200,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap (gr. IIT) on the Calder Race Course turf.
Wilko, the 2004 Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner making his first start since the Preakness (gr. I) May 21, finished a game third in a three-horse photo finish to Saturday's $60,800 Larkspur Stakes for 3-year-olds at Golden Gate Fields.
Wilko, the 2004 Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner, makes his first start in nearly seven months Saturday when he faces six 3-year-old rivals in the $50,000 Larkspur Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.
Stalking favorite Bending Strings disposed of Prospective Saint in upper stretch and won the $169,350 Chilukki Stakes (gr. II) for fillies and mares as she pleased Sunday at Churchill Downs, snapping a nine-race losing streak in the process.
Wilko, upset winner of the 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) who has been out of action since the Triple Crown, breezed three furlongs Friday morning at Hollywood Park in :38 3/5 in his first step toward a return to the races in the Strub series.
Headed at the quarter pole, favored Stupendous Miss battled back along the inside to post a one-length victory over Humoristic in the $200,000 Mede Cahaba All Along Breeders' Cup (gr. IIIT) at stormy Colonial Downs Saturday.
Challenged from all sides in deep stretch, determined front-runner Two Trail Sioux refused to give way, holding on for a one-length win in the $330,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs Saturday.
Southern California-based conditioner Craig Dollase has been named trainer for West Point Thoroughbreds' West Coast operations.
Katdogawn, a mare that had lost 10 races in a row in spite of some top efforts against leading Southern California company, closed strongly under left-handed urging from Jerry Bailey to defeat 8-5 favorite Valentine Dancer in Monday's $200,000 WinStar Distaff Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the Lone Star Park turf.
Grade I stakes winners Meteor Storm, Sweet Return, and Perfect Drift head a field of ten accomplished turf runners entered for Saturday's $400,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) at Churchill Downs.
Frankie Dettori, who rode Wilko to a 28-1 upset in the 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Lone Star Park, will fly in from Europe and be aboard the colt once more in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) on April 9.
A. P. Adventure, a grade I winner for Robert and Beverly Lewis, has been retired from racing and is booked to Storm Cat.
Meteor Storm, winner of last year's Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) at Belmont Park but on the sidelines for the past eight months, could return for trainer Wally Dollase in Saturday's Frank E. Kilroe Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park.
A game second in last month's El Encino Stakes (gr. II), grade I winner A.P. Adventure tries to put an end to a year-long victory drought in Saturday's $200,000 La Canada Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Park.
Undefeated Declan's Moon, who returned from his smasher in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. II) to take last month's Hollywood Prevue (gr. III), is expected to be accorded favoritism among eight entrants in the $449,500 Hollywood Futurity (gr. I) Saturday.
After six weeks with Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Wilko in his Hollywood Park stable, trainer Craig Dollase says he understands why the chestnut colt is a grade I stakes winner.