While trainer Rick Dutrow is happy to have two months between starts for his blossoming 3-year-old Captain Cook, the horse apparently seems ready to get back to action sooner than later.
Captain Cook on Tuesday worked a half-mile in 50.09 seconds over the Belmont Park training track, his fourth workout since he won the Withers Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths on Feb. 1.
Rapture
Colt by Uncle Mo – Positively Royal, by Bernardini
Bred in Kentucky by Bill Mathis and Terry Mathis, MST LLC, and Rochelle Bloodstock ($300,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by China Horse Club, Maverick Racing, and Siena Farm).
ARCADIA, Calif. – A rainstorm this week in Arcadia jeoparadizes three turf races Friday at Santa Anita and may influence the six races scheduled for dirt.
Santa Anita closed the main track for training Tuesday and Wednesday, citing a “rain event.” According to the website RainDrop.farm, Arcadia received .16 inches of rain during the 24-hour period from Tuesday through Wednesday morning. A bigger storm was due Wednesday evening.
Rain this week at Santa Anita is a minor glitch for Journalism, favorite for the Kentucky Derby after a 108 Beyer Speed Figure victory March 1 in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes. But weather and track closure could cause trainer Michael McCarthy to adjust Journalism’s work schedule. Journalism was tentatively scheduled to work this weekend. A day or two later would make little difference.
What’s behind the name Citizen Bull? The 2024 champion 2-year-old male ranks among the leading Kentucky Derby prospects for an ownership group that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, and Stonestreet Stables.
But how did the colt get his cool, catchy name? Creative thinking by SF racing manager Tom Ryan.
“I was looking at luxury watches, Citizen Bullhead watches,” Ryan said. “I didn’t like the name Citizen Bullhead” – for a horse – “and I didn’t like the name Bullhead” for a horse.
WHO’S HOT
The plan for Owen Almighty to target the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile on May 3 at Churchill Downs still makes sense, but that plan may have changed after his slow-pace front-running win March 8 in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. Despite trainer Brian Lynch’s reservations about Owen Almighty getting 1 1/4 miles, the colt’s owners are keen for the Kentucky Derby. Owen Almighty, whose 65 qualifying points ensures a Derby berth, is new to Derby Watch. Daily Racing Form linemaker David Aragona opens him at 40-1.
Sheilahs Warcloud, a 4-year-old filly still looking for her first stakes victory, will get another chance in the $150,000 Stellar Wind Handicap on Friday at Colonial Downs. In the past two years, owner-trainer Justin Nixon has had to watch his homebred filly come within two lengths of four stakes victories, only to fall short each time.
“She’s run so hard on so many occasions,” Nixon said. “I’d really like to see her pop through and get a stakes win.”
Book’em Danno will make his 4-year-old debut in the $150,000 Boston Handicap on Friday at Colonial Downs. Expectations are high for the graded stakes winner who will likely travel overseas next month if things go well at seven furlongs in Virginia.
“Everything has gone perfect,” trainer Derek Ryan said. “He’s training great. Hopefully, everything goes to plan and we’ll ship him to Dubai.”
Men’s conference championship week is here, and for some teams it’s the final chance to impress the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee.
The 68-team bracket will be revealed this coming Sunday, meaning March Madness betting is gaining serious steam. And with 31 automatic bids going to the conference tournament winners, there are 37 at-large bids available.
