Remington: Alsvid may ship to Penn National for Fabulous Strike

Alsvid, who was second to the Breeders’ Cup-bound Wine Police in last month’s Remington Park Sprint Cup, is being considered for the $250,000 Fabulous Strike at Penn National, said his trainer, Chris Hartman. The six-furlong race is Nov. 27.

Alsvid is a multiple stakes winner of more than $500,000. He was the 3-5 favorite in the Remington Sprint on the strength of recent scores in the $100,000 Premiere Cup at Zia Park and an optional $35,000 claimer at Prairie Meadows for which he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 109.

Alsvid rallied at Remington to finish three-quarters of a length behind Wine Police, who was to be pre-entered in the $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint, according to his trainer, Henry Dominguez. As for Alsvid, he worked Oct. 17 at Remington, covering a half-mile in a bullet 46.40 seconds. It was Alsvid’s first move since the Remington Sprint on Sept. 29.

“We’re still trying to figure something out for him,” Hartman said Tuesday. “I think maybe the race at Penn National, the Fabulous Strike. It’s a possibility . . . there or the Delta Mile.”

The $150,000 Delta Mile is part of the Delta Downs Jackpot card on Nov. 23.

Alsvid, who is also a stakes winner at a mile, races for Black Hawk Stable.

Seeking Ms Shelley to Pan Zareta

Seeking Ms Shelley, who threatened the Remington course record for five furlongs on turf when she won a Sept. 2 allowance in 55.20 seconds, is a candidate for the $75,000 Pan Zareta at Fair Grounds, said her trainer, Joe Duhon. The 5 1/2-furlong turf race for fillies and mares is Jan. 4.

Seeking Ms Shelley has won her last three starts in a streak dating back to Feb. 17, when she captured the $60,000 Spring Fever at Oaklawn. She proceeded to win the turf allowance at Remington, then captured a dirt allowance for Oklahoma-breds at the track in her most recent start Sept. 28.

Following that race Seeking Ms Shelley was considered a top candidate for the Oklahoma Classics Distaff Sprint run last Friday night at Remington. But the decision was made to pass the race, partly because she had never raced at the six-furlong distance of the Distaff, said Duhon.

“My hats off to the owners,” Duhon said of the Dream Walkin Farms of country artist Toby Keith and his family. “They let the horse tell us what to do. The owners and farm manager have handled her the right way, and it’s paid off.”

Seeking Ms Shelley has now won 12 of 21 starts and $315,046. She is a 7-year-old by Cactus Ridge. Duhon said the long-term goal is for Seeking Ms Shelley to defend her title in the Spring Fever, a 5 1/2-furlong race at Oaklawn on Feb. 22.

Van Berg, Kotulak in second run

Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg and Remington marketing team member Chris Kotulak have traveled around the country this year for book signings of “Jack, From Grit to Glory.” Kotulak, 51, wrote the biography of Van Berg, trainer of Horse of the Year Alysheba.

“We’re into our second printing,” Kotulak said.

Kotulak began work on the book in June 2010. It was released this past spring and Van Berg, at times accompanied by Kotulak, embarked on a nationwide tour that included stops in Nebraska, a state to which both men have strong ties, as well as Arkansas, Delaware, Louisiana, Iowa, New York, Oklahoma, and West Virginia. Van Berg will also be taking part in a Breeders’ Cup event next month in Southern California, while signed copies of the book will be available in the gift shop at Santa Anita.

One of Van Berg’s final stops this year will be Retama Park, for Hall of Fame Night on Nov. 16.