Tue, 03/20/2012 - 07:57

Churchill Downs brings back DreamBet promotion for Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Churchill Downs and its broadcasting partners have announced the renewal of the popular Kentucky Derby DreamBet, which wound up being worth $900,000 to its first contestant two years ago.

Mon, 03/19/2012 - 16:28

Aqueduct: Dominguez hopes to return in a couple of weeks after suffering separated collarbone

Barbara D. Livingston
Ramon Dominguez rode 98 winners at the spring-summer Belmont meet, breaking Angel Cordero Jr.'s record of 92 that dated to 1982.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – An optimistic Ramon Dominguez said Monday he is hoping to miss only a couple of weeks of riding, despite suffering a separation of his collarbone in a spill at Aqueduct on Sunday.

Dominguez met with a specialist Monday in Long Island who sounded optimistic about an expedited return to the saddle.

Mon, 03/19/2012 - 14:41

Kentucky Derby trail: Baffert sending Castaway to Sunland Derby

Oaklawn Park/Coady Photography
Castaway, with Rafael Bejarano riding, wins his division of the Southwest.

Bob Baffert is heading south by Southwest. Fresh off a victory by Secret Circle in the Rebel Stakes on Saturday at Oaklawn Park, Baffert will send Castaway to Sunland Park on Sunday for the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby.

Mon, 03/19/2012 - 13:28

Gulfstream Park: Union Rags, El Padrino top prospective field of seven for Florida Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Union Rags is being pointed to the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 31.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A field of at least seven 3-year-olds now seems definite for the $1 million Florida Derby on March 31, led by division leader Union Rags and El Padrino. Other confirmed starters include Take Charge Indy, Neck ’n Neck, News Pending, Reveron, and Fort Loudon.

Mon, 03/19/2012 - 12:36

Kentucky Derby 2012: Under the Radar - Lucky Chappy

Barbara D. Livingston
Lucky Chappy will make his next start in the UAE Derby at Meydan in Dubai.

Lucky Chappy will add to his gaudy number of frequent-flier miles when he starts in the Group 2, $2 million UAE Derby at 1 3/16 miles over the Tapeta surface at Meydan on March 31. An Irish-bred colt raced by the Animal Kingdom connections of Team Valor International and trainer Graham Motion, Lucky Chappy began his career in Italy, competed on both coasts in his four-race North American campaign, and, if all goes right in Dubai, will return to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May for a run in the Kentucky Derby.

Sun, 03/18/2012 - 13:21

Oaklawn Park: Secret Circle will return to go for sweep in Arkansas Derby

Oaklawn Park/Coady Photography
Secret Circle is being pointed to the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby following his victory in Saturday's Grade 2 Rebel at Oaklawn Park.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Secret Circle will attempt to complete a sweep of Oaklawn Park’s series for 3-year-olds next month, when he runs in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby. He is being pointed to the April 14 race, trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday, one day after the horse took the Grade 2, $500,000 Rebel at Oaklawn. Earlier in the meet, Secret Circle captured the second and faster division of the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest Stakes.

Sun, 03/18/2012 - 10:25

Hansen returns to work tab with easy half-mile breeze

Churchill Downs
Hansen worked a half-mile in 50.40 seconds at Churchill Downs Trackside on Sunday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Juvenile champion Hansen breezed an easy half-mile in 50.40 seconds at Churchill Downs Trackside on Sunday in preparation for the Grade 1 Wood Memorial on April 7 at Aqueduct. The work marked his first breeze since taking the March. 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.

With exercise rider Joel Barrientos aboard, Hansen breezed comfortably while never being asked for speed over a fast but drying-out racetrack. He went evenly, with Daily Racing Form timing him galloping out five furlongs in 1:06.20.

Sat, 03/17/2012 - 19:05

Oaklawn Park: Secret Circle holds off fast-closing Optimizer in Rebel

Coady Photography/Oaklawn Park
Secret Circle looked home free in midstretch of the Rebel but had to dig in to hold off Optimizer.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Secret Circle handled the latest distance test in his escalating career Saturday at Oaklawn Park, when he beat a fast-closing Optimizer by three-quarters of a length in the Grade 2, $500,000 Rebel Stakes. In the process, Secret Circle gave his trainer, Bob Baffert, his third consecutive Rebel win in a streak that started with Lookin At Lucky in 2010 and continued with the The Factor in 2011.

Sat, 03/17/2012 - 14:45

Aqueduct: Street Life may try Wood Memorial next

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Street Life gets up to win the Broad Brush under an alert ride by Junior Alvarado.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Street Life likely earned himself a spot in the $1 million Wood Memorial by overcoming a slow pace to run down pacesetting Copy My Swagger to win Saturday’s $75,000 Broad Brush Stakes by one-half length at Aqueduct.

The win was the second straight for Street Life, a son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, after he finished eighth in his debut at Gulfstream on Jan. 5.

Under Junior Alvarado, Street Life raced in fourth position about 3 1/2 lengths off the pace of Copy My Swagger, who ran a half-mile uncontested in 48.76 seconds.

Sat, 03/17/2012 - 12:43

Sunland Park Derby to be drawn Wednesday

The field for the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby will be drawn on Wednesday. The mile and an eighth stakes will be run on Sunday, March 25, as part of a program of seven stakes worth a collective $1.6 million. Other top races on the richest card of the meet will include the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks that is expected to draw the undefeated Princess Arabella for trainer Bob Baffert.