Trainers should be on the lookout for “non-specific” lameness in the hind ends of horses that are entering training as a precaution for avoiding fatal injuries in the upper bones of the rear legs, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority said in an Equine Health Advisory issued on Thursday.
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On a Fountain of Youth Day program loaded with wide-open races sure to have handicappers scratching their heads trying to separate a multitude of contenders, there is one oasis, one race with one horse who appears to tower over the competition – the $225,000 Gulfstream Park Mile and multiple Grade 3 winner Knightsbridge.
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Following a break, Argos is ready to kick off his 3-year-old campaign in Saturday's $175,000 Colonel Liam Stakes going one mile at Gulfstream Park.
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Weekend GamePlan: Picks for Fountain of Youth, The Very One, Black Gold
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A year ago, Sovereignty used his victory in the Fountain of Youth as a stepping-stone to winning the Kentucky Derby and eventually Horse of the Year. On Saturday, a new group of 3-year-olds with similarly lofty aspirations will enter the starting gate for the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, the finale on an outstanding 14-race program at Gulfstream Park.
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If fates allow, trainer Linda Rice and Acoustic Ave might make a career out of finding short graded stakes fields at Aqueduct. A runner-up versus four rivals in the Grade 3 Elite Power in December, the 6-year-old gelding is sure to be in the mix again in a five-horse running of the Grade 3 Tom Fool Stakes on Saturday.
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The 3-year-old colt Touch of Fire in his lone start, a Jan. 8 maiden turf route at Fair Grounds, went off at odds of 4-1, a tick over his 7-2 morning line. Don't expect him to come close to his 3-1 morning-line odds in the $100,000 Black Gold Stakes, the featured race on a four-stakes Saturday card.
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They're coming from several locales to run in Saturday's Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. Some may be chasing Kentucky Derby points. Some may be just trying to win a historic race with a nice purse.
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Greg Reinhart's analysis of the Saturday 2/28 card at The Meadowlands.
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Kevin Plowcha's analysis of the Saturday 2/28 card at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
