Big class test for Carson Hollow
ELMONT, N.Y. - Carson Hollow has been impressive winning her first three career starts. Saturday, she will get a huge class test when she runs in the Grade 1 Prioress at Belmont Park.
A New York-bred daughter of Carson City, Carson Hollow has not been out since winning the restricted Bouwerie Stakes by five lengths May 19. Trainer Richard Dutrow planned all along to wait for the Prioress, but he had an added excuse to keep Carson Hollow in the barn, as she bled in the Bouwerie.
"She bled a little bit. It wasn't bad,'' said Dutrow, who added that Carson Hollow would run on Lasix for the first time Saturday. "She's been working on Lasix and it seems like she's doing very good. But that's an amazingly tough race.''
Tuesday, Carson Hollow worked a half-mile in 49.72 seconds at Aqueduct.
"She's ready to run; she's not going to get tired,'' Dutrow said. "She may get outrun. We'll see, but she's doing good.''
As many as 10 horses could run in the Prioress, and the combined record of the prospective runners is 33 wins from 60 starts. Among those expected are A New Twist, Drippingindiamonds, Proper Gamble, September Secret, Short Note, Spring Meadow, Vesta, and Wilzada. Willa on the Move is possible.
Dutrow dangerous in Tom Fool
Dutrow also will be represented in Thursday's $150,000 Tom Fool Handicap with Appealing Danger, who has overcome myriad physical problems to earn his way into stakes company.
The 5-year-old Appealing Danger came off a nine-month layoff to win a classified allowance race by 4 3/4 lengths on May 25. He earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 109. He is 3-1-2 in six starts since Dutrow claimed him for $80,000 in March 2001.
"He's had more problems than any horse I've been around,'' said Dutrow, who noted that Dr. Larry Bramlage operated on the gelding's ankles and knees following a second-place finish in allowance company last August. "He's a bleeder, he won't gallop the right way, his feet were bothering him, and his mind was all screwed up.''
Following Appealing Danger's
May 25 win, Dutrow did not take him to the track for 10 days.
While Dutrow believes Appealing Danger is over that race, he is concerned about the extra furlong of the Tom Fool. Appealing Danger's best races have come at six furlongs.
Carrero on a roll
Lost in the shuffle of a five-way logjam atop the jockey standings has been the recent hot streak put together by apprentice Victor Carrero. Since June 19, Carrero has won 10 races - including at least one a day the last six racing days - to move into sixth-place in the standings with 23 victories. Jerry Bailey leads the standings with 36.
During his recent streak, Carrero has ridden three debut winners for trainer Jimmy Jerkens.
"I think he's like a journeyman jockey getting five pounds off,'' Jerkens said. "He gives a horse a chance, gets good position early, saves some ground, and finishes strong. I don't know what more you could ask from a bug rider. He rides with confidence. He's not cocky by any means.''
Carrero, 21, was enjoying success last year before breaking an ankle in a gate mishap in October at Belmont. He didn't return until April and has really flourished at Belmont, where he is now the only apprentice rider in the room.
A year ago, Carrero was the third-leading rider at Monmouth Park with 58 wins and was fourth in the standings at The Meadowlands when he was injured. Since returning in April, Carrero has 35 wins from 272 mounts with earnings of $973,067. He has apprenticeship through the Saratoga meeting.
- Essayons, a good-looking winner of an entry-level allowance race on June 14, will skip Sunday's $150,000 Dwyer Stakes and instead will be pointed to the $100,000 Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth on July 13. Tuesday, Essayons worked four furlongs in 48.24 seconds at Belmont Park.
- Heir D'Twine, whose name was inadvertently left off the original list of Dwyer nominees, is likely to run in the race, according to trainer Steve DiMauro. Monday, Heir D'Twine worked five furlongs in 1:00.30 at Belmont, the fastest of seven works at the distance.
- Country Be Gold, who has placed in four of the last five graded stakes in which he has run, worked five furlongs in 1:03.02 Tuesday in preparation for Saturday's Grade 2 Suburban Handicap.