The heavy responsibility for deciding who gets an Eclipse Award falls upon the shoulders of 282 voters who received e-ballots this week. As one of them, I clicked the appropriate prompts and discovered, much to my delight, that a wave of memories welled up, not unlike Proust's involuntary flood of remembrances unlocked by the nibble of a madeleine cookie dipped in tea.
Fish Trappe Road will point to the Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 16 at Fair Grounds and Jet Black Magic, the winner of the Delta Princess in her most recent start, will point to the Jan. 16 Silverbulletday Stakes. Both horses are trained by Bret Calhoun.
The filly Lovable Lyss probably ran her way into the Silverbulletday Stakes on Jan. 16 with her performance winning for the first time going two turns Thursday at Fair Grounds.
Carlos Marquez Jr. considered retiring, weary of the injuries a man will incur in 30 years of riding racehorses. But with 2,800 wins to his credit, and with a competitive fire that still burns, the 48-year-old Marquez has made his way to Turfway Park for the winter for the first time.
It has happened quickly for apprentice rider Erica Murray. Last winter, she was exercising horses in New Orleans, still learning the ropes of the racetrack. A month into the 2015-2016 Fair Grounds meet, Murray is a top 10 rider.
Garnet Barnsdale's analysis of the Monday 12/21 card at Woodbine Harness.
After dominating Pennsylvania-bred competition under the lights at Penn National, Behrnik's Bank will attempt to shine under the spotlight of New York when she heads Sunday's $150,000 Fifth Avenue Division of the New York Stallion Stakes for juvenile fillies at Aqueduct.
Wyatt must contend with nine rivals and the highest weight assignment on Sunday when he attempts to win his fifth consecutive race in the $85,000 Johnie L. Jamison Handicap at Sunland Park. The 6 1/2-furlong race is one of two stakes on the card. My Dandy Girl will be cutting back to one turn while seeking to win her fourth straight race in the $85,000 New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap.
The U.S. Senate on Friday passed a tax bill containing a provision allowing horse owners to use a three-year depreciation schedule for racehorses as part of a comprehensive tax bill that is now being sent to President Barack Obama for his signature.
Just Kidding drew the rail in a second-level optional $62,500 claimer at a mile in Sunday's eighth race at Los Alamitos. The race could serve as a prep for stakes in early 2016.
