ARCADIA, Calif. – Roy H, the two-time champion sprinter who missed the Group 1 Golden Shaheen Stakes in Dubai on March 30 because of a minor foot injury, has returned to trainer Peter Miller’s California stable.
Miller said on Wednesday that Roy H “looks good” but may not race again until the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs at Del Mar on July 27.
“We haven’t really got a plan,” Miller said. “In theory, he shouldn’t be as tired as if he ran. The Bing Crosby could be our next start.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockeys and horseplayers can breathe a sigh of relief this week following cancellation of the no-whip experiment initially scheduled for Friday at Santa Anita.
Standard protocol regarding the whip will be in place for the eight-race card. Jockeys will carry conventional riding crops that they can use as deemed necessary.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The first running of the $100,000 Limestone Turf Sprint drew quite the response, as more than the turf-course limit turned out for the 5 1/2-furlong race on the Maker’s 46 Mile undercard Friday.
Wesley Ward has two of the top contenders in Chelsea Cloisters and Stillwater Cove, both of whom last raced in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in November. Play On, Thriving, and Ginger Nut are among the prime opposition in a full field of 14 3-year-old fillies.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The two-time stakes winner Catalina Cruiser had his first workout of the year at Santa Anita on Tuesday, going three furlongs in 37.80 seconds. Trainer John Sadler timed Catalina Cruiser in 37 seconds, with a half-mile gallop-out in 49 seconds.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – When Paulo Lobo sent out Holly Blame to win a maiden-claiming race here Sunday, the filly became the trainer’s second winner in Kentucky. His first: Farda Amiga in the 2002 Kentucky Oaks.
“This was fun,” said Lobo, who has moved his entire stable to Keeneland from his former longtime base at Santa Anita. “I’m here to stay. I have 11 horses here now and will be up to 15 soon.”
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Blue Grass Stakes winner Vekoma returned Tuesday to his winter base, the Palm Beach Downs training center in Florida, where the speedy chestnut will do the bulk of his training toward the May 4 Kentucky Derby.
Trainer George Weaver said Wednesday from Palm Beach that Vekoma will have his pre-Derby work in Florida before returning north.
“That’s what won us the Blue Grass, and we’re sticking with what worked,” he said.
Vekoma was scheduled to return to light training Thursday.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Improbable drew the rail for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby, which will have a field of 11 for Saturday. Entries for the 1 1/8-mile race were taken on Wednesday.
The Arkansas Derby will be the 11th race on a 12-race program that will have a special first post of 12:30 p.m. Central.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The M and M Racing stable of Mike and Mickala Sisk set a single-season record for owner wins at Oaklawn in the ninth race Sunday, when C J’s Flair ($4.60) gave the couple their 49th win at the current stand. It was the fourth win on the card for the Sisks. The couple broke a 1974 record held by Dan Lasater.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Anothertwistafate drew post 4 in a field of 10 3-year-olds for the Lexington Stakes, a Kentucky Derby points race on Saturday that most likely will determine whether the colt makes the 20-horse cutoff for the May 4 Derby.
The Grade 3, $200,000 Lexington will share top billing Saturday at Keeneland with the $350,000 Jenny Wiley, the last of four Grade 1 races at the 16-day spring meet.
Let’s get to the points.
The long and winding road that leads to the Kentucky Derby on May 4 began with the Iroquois at Churchill Downs last Sept. 15 and concludes Saturday with the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn and the Lexington at Keeneland. Those two races are the final chances for horses to earn enough points to make the field, and the likes of Anothertwistafate, in the Lexington, and Country House, in the Arkansas Derby, are being wheeled back on short rest to try to get in, because if the series ended now, they’d be out.
