Only six horses were entered in Saturday’s $50,000 Milwaukee Avenue Handicap, a 1 1/16th-mile dirt race for Illinois-breds, but the morning-line favorite I Got It All is no cinch to stay the distance, while the morning-line second choice Luv Bandit probably isn’t quite the horse he was when he won this race in 2013, and despite the limited number of entrants, bettors might yet extract value from the race.
There could be $5 million or more on the line when Gulfstream Park empties out the Rainbow 6 jackpot Saturday, a pot that has grown since March 18.
Consumer Credit won the $100,000 Memories of Silver Stakes at Aqueduct on Thursday, but she had to work harder in the stretch than you would expect from a 1-2 shot.
Ivan James will lead a four-horse team of Angel Sanchez-trained starters in Saturday night’s Grade 2, $621,100 Sam Houston Futurity for Quarter Horses.
Dale Romans is in his element at Churchill Downs, the track where he grew up shirt-tailing his dad, the late trainer Jerry Romans. As well traveled as he is, Romans always seems to do his best right here at home.
There is a presumption among the more aggressive promoters of American racing that international competition is a good thing that should be encouraged without question. That the pitchmen from foreign racing interests should be welcomed with open arms to hawk their wears. That America’s racing stars, both human and equine, should be fair game for plunder, as long as the price is right. Now, welcome to David Flores’s nightmare.
Trainer Tony Dutrow said Thursday that The Big Beast will get a freshening and point to a summer campaign, most likely at Saratoga.
The connections of Wonder Gal were hoping to run her in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks but would have settled for running her in the Grade 3 Eight Belles on the same May 1 card at Churchill Downs. Unfortunately, she won’t be running in either race.
Nebraska native Doug Anderson will return home on Saturday with a favorite’s chance to take down the biggest stakes race at Fonner Park. Doctor Peter will represent Anderson in the $75,000 Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes off a career effort in a highly rated overnight race at Oaklawn Park.
The Grade 3, $100,000 Miami Mile helps kick off the 2015 spring-summer stakes schedule at Gulfstream Park on Saturday while highlighting a card that features two other stakes and a mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 jackpot.
