Opportunity knocks for nine fillies in Starlet
The absence of star 2-year-old Songbird from racing in December leaves Saturday's $300,000 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos without a clear favorite among nine entrants.
Steve AndersenDec 10, 2015
The absence of star 2-year-old Songbird from racing in December leaves Saturday's $300,000 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos without a clear favorite among nine entrants.
The $50,000 Casey Memorial, a seven-furlong race for West Virginia-bred 2-year-old fillies, has drawn a full field of 10, plus two also-eligibles.
Trainer Joan Scott and jockey Ronnie Allen Jr. could be the stars of the show Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs with formidable contenders in a pair of one-mile turf allowances that serve as the highlights of the 10-race card.
Once maligned as subpar and ordinary, the 3-year-olds of 2014 have turned out to be a better and deeper group than anyone expected.
I'm going with Tower of Texas, who projects to pull a good trip in Saturday's El Prado Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
String King has ruled the Louisiana-bred turf division with consistent excellence since 2011, and trainer-owner-breeder Charles Smith said the gelding appears eager to continue his reign.
One was the champion 2-year-old gelding of 2014, a year in which he won two seven-figure futurities at Los Alamitos. The other was the champion 3-year-old of 2014, a year in which he won a record four derbies at the same track. Heza Dasha Fire and Moonist were outstanding in 2014. They have been equally as brilliant this year, leading to their first meeting in Saturday's $600,000 Champion of Champions for Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos.
Gelo Hall, who spent almost his entire life in one capacity or another at the racetracks of Maryland, died Thursday morning at age 88.
Having finished fifth to likely Horse of the Year Wiggle It Jiggleit in his last two starts, Rodeo Romeo returns to the Meadowlands to face considerably weaker company. The 3-year-old by Rocknroll Hanover started his racing career at the Meadowlands early this year and figures to be favored in Saturday’s third race, an event for non-winners of 2 races or $20,000 lifetime.
Bob Pandolfo's Sharp Horses and Track Trends for December 3 to 6, 2015.