Trainer Henry Dominguez will attack the Sunland Derby Day program at his home track in New Mexico on Sunday with 15 horses in the entries, including the barn’s flagship runner, Isn’t He Clever.
A couple weeks ago, Gary Stevens and Catch a Flight were galloping back alongside Tyler Baze and Bronzo, gabbing about what had just transpired in the Santa Anita Handicap when all of a sudden, the bottom fell out.
Handle at California tracks showed a slight gain for the year through February, according to figures compiled by the California Horse Racing Board.
There may be only five horses entered in Sunday’s $100,000 Stymie Stakes but it’s not an easy race to handicap.
Masochistic, a four-time winner who was recently transferred from trainer A.C. Avila to Ron Ellis, will make his 2015 stakes debut in the $200,000 Kona Gold Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on April 11, Ellis said.
Richard Hessee’s purchase of Brahms to stand at stud in Arkansas a few seasons ago could not have come at a better time. Sunbean was on the cusp of developing into one of the stallion’s leading earners, just starting to build a name for himself in his native Louisiana. At the same juncture, Hessee brought Brahms to his Trophy Club Training Center in Royal, Ark.
Trainer Bob Baffert said Lord Nelson will not start in Sunday’s $800,000 Sunland Park Derby in New Mexico and will be pointed for the $300,000 Bay Shore Stakes at seven furlongs at Aqueduct on April 4.
Rather than have his two best 3-year-old fillies meet in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on April 4, Bob Baffert will send Callback to the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks on Sunday at Sunland Park, while leaving the Santa Anita Oaks for Luminance.
One Lucky Dane may have earned a start in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 4 after winning his 3-year-old debut in a first-level optional $80,000 claimer at Santa Anita on Thursday.
Oceanwave has developed into a 3-year-old filly of note during the Oaklawn Park meet, and she could get a shot at the track’s richest offering for her division. The Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy is April 4, and she is being considered for the 1 1/16-mile race, said trainer Wayne Catalano.
