Dubai World Cup lures Brass Hat

Brass Hat likely will make his next start in the $6 million Dubai World Cup on March 25, trainer Buff Bradley said this week from Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

"We got invited Monday," said Bradley. "Assuming everything goes okay between now and then, we're planning on going."

Brass Hat, a 5-year-old gelding bred and owned by Bradley's father, Fred, has become one of the top handicap horses in North America after winning the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap on Jan. 7 and the Grade 1 Donn Handicap last Saturday. Bradley said the gelding was sent from Gulfstream Park to his wife, Kim, at the family's Frankfort, Ky., farm, Indian Ridge, shortly after the Donn.

"I'm just giving him a little rest," said Bradley. "He's coming back to me at the track Monday."

Brass Hat, by Prized, earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 109 with his 4 3/4-length victory in the Donn. Bradley said he is not the right person to gauge whether Brass Hat is being accorded a fair amount of respect, considering the way he dominated the New Orleans 'Cap and the Donn.

"I told somebody that a lot of the horses that seem to get more respect are more royally bred," said Bradley. "I don't know that we've gotten that part of it. All I know is he's impressed us, so we're all happy."

Wydick decides upon surgery

Jockey Lori Wydick said she expects to be out another four to six months after undergoing surgery on her left shoulder Monday.

Wydick injured the shoulder Dec. 16 in a paddock accident at Turfway, and although she continued to ride for about 2 1/2 weeks afterward, "the pain got to be too much," she said, so she stopped riding in early January. She then underwent physical therapy for several weeks before the surgery.

Wydick, 41, has won 1,429 races in a career that dates to 1984. She has had several starts and stops to her career, most notably a five-year absence (2000-04) that stemmed primarily from a spinal injury that first occurred in 1997. Last year, Wydick enjoyed a remarkable resurgence by winning 140 races, most of them at her primary base, River Downs.

Flint nears 3,000 wins

Trainer Bernie Flint is closing in on 3,000 winners. Going into Thursday night's card at Turfway, Flint had won 2,994 races, so it shouldn't be long before he attains that noteworthy milestone.

Flint, 66, began a full-time training career in 1976 after taking early retirement from the New Orleans police force. He has won 36 training titles on the Kentucky circuit, including 20 at Turfway, as well as training titles at five other tracks outside Kentucky.

Flint almost didn't make it this far. In early September 2004, he was hospitalized in intensive care for several days after blood clots developed in his lungs and one leg. He since has made a full recovery.

* Turfway racing secretary Rick Leigh and stakes coordinator Randy Wehrman are hitting the road to solicit nominations for the track's marquee event, the March 25 Lane's End Stakes. Leigh will be in south Florida starting Monday, and Wehrman will be at Oaklawn Park starting Wednesday to gather nominations for the Grade 2 Lane's End. Nominations close Feb. 22.