Hovdey: Hoping against hope in the Handicap
You can’t beat Shared Belief in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on Saturday, so don’t even try. End of column. Then again…
Jay HovdeyMar 04, 2015
You can’t beat Shared Belief in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on Saturday, so don’t even try. End of column. Then again…
If history is a fair gauge, Carpe Diem will run well Saturday in the Tampa Bay Derby – but won’t win.
The last few weeks have been good ones for King Leatherbury.On Monday, he was named a finalist for induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Ten days ago, Ben’s Cat rejoined Leatherbury’s Laurel Park stable following a winter vacation.
Lehigh Five was no surprise when he won his debut by nearly 11 lengths at 6-5 in a 10-horse field sprinting on Jan. 23. Friday, the New York-bred 3-year-old will stretch out in distance and meet winners for the first time.
Arnaud Delacour, best known for his prowess with turf runners, will have one of the fringe contenders in Divining Rod in the annual marquee race at Tampa Bay Downs, the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby on Saturday.
Remington Park in Oklahoma City will open its 50-date Quarter Horse meet Friday night with reduced minimums on three of its wagers in a new format that will extend to the Thoroughbred season.
Charles Town has canceled its Thursday night card in advance of an approaching winter storm. The West Virginia track will race Wednesday night as planned, however.
Saturday, Todd Pletcher will see if he has another Far From Over on his bench when he sends out a trio of under-the-radar 3-year-olds against the multiple stakes winner El Kabeir in the Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.
Wind Chill Factor will have to defeat eight others, including a pair of runners who finished in front of her in her season debut, Private Promise and Forest Lake, in Friday night’s $100,000 Azalea Stakes at Delta Downs.
Carpe Diem and Daredevil, both scheduled to make their 3-year-old debuts on Saturday, give WinStar Farm – which has an ownership interest in both – at least two strong Kentucky Derby prospects.