ARCADIA, Calif. – Memorial Day weekend at Santa Anita has been kind to Marckie’s Water in two of the last three years.
On Memorial Day in 2017, Marckie’s Water won his first stakes in the $201,035 Snow Chief Stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds. Last Saturday, Marckie’s Water won his first graded stakes in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf, a feat trainer Richard Baltas once doubted was possible.
“I didn’t think he’d win a graded stakes,” Baltas said Monday.
Ours to Run, who won her sixth consecutive stakes race Saturday night in the $75,000 Louisiana Legends Mademoiselle at Evangeline Downs, will be based this summer at Ellis Park, trainer Larry Jones said Monday.
Ours to Run’s win streak dates back to last year’s Mademoiselle.
Ours to Run was always prominent Saturday for a 1 1/4-length win, covering 5 1/2 furlongs in a sharp 1:03.48. She was the odds-on favorite in the seven-horse field. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 86.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Soi Phet, the 11-year-old stakes winner, is on the verge of being retired.
Trainer Leonard Powell said Monday that Soi Phet may have one more start, in the $100,000 Bertrando Stakes for California-breds on June 29 at Los Alamitos, depending on how he trains in coming weeks.
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The reigning Louisiana-bred of the Year will likely see action this summer at Louisiana Downs.
Monte Man was named the state’s top runner of 2018 by the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association in April, and in his first start since won Saturday night’s Louisiana Legends Sprint at his Evangeline Downs base. He’s now a candidate for the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint at Louisiana Downs, trainer Ron Faucheux said Monday. The six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up is Aug. 3.
ELMONT, N.Y. – There was an overflow field of 21 horses entered for the Kentucky Derby. The 13-horse field for the Preakness was the largest for that race since 2011 and one short of capacity. When it comes to running in the Belmont Stakes, enthusiasm is not as high.
As of Monday, eight horses were deemed definite starters for the Belmont Stakes. Two more, Joevia and Owendale, were likely and doubtful, respectively.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Effective Thursday, Churchill purses will undergo an across-the-board increase of 10.7 percent, with maiden-special races now starting at $95,000 and allowances at $97,000 (both figures include bonuses for Kentucky-breds).
Purses for seven stakes also have been boosted. Four stakes have gone from $100,000 to $125,000, and three overnight stakes from $100,000 to $120,000.
Trenchtown Cat appeared to have a lot going against her heading into Saturday’s $75,000 Ana T. Stakes. Not only was she the lone 3-year-old filly in a field of older and more seasoned horses, but she also was trying dirt for the first time in five career starts. In the end, neither proved any obstacle the very promising daughter of Discreet Cat, who drew off to a convincing 3 3/4-length decision over the odds-on favorite and graded stakes-placed Razorback Lady.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Nominations for the five graded stakes on the June 15 Stephen Foster night card at Churchill Downs don’t close until Saturday, and yet there’s already plenty of speculation as to what those races will look like.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Roger Attfield saddled his first two winners of the Woodbine meet this past weekend, with Art of Almost and Flawless Bourbon both graduating from the maiden ranks. The Attfield stable has also found recent success in stakes away from Woodbine, as older horses Tiz a Slam and Ickymasho recorded stakes wins south of the border during Victoria Day weekend.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The $500,000 Woodbine Oaks is June 8, and the field is beginning to take shape following the final local preps. Trainer Mark Casse has won the Oaks three times, most recently with Lexie Lou in 2014, and will send out a trio of horses in this year’s edition.
Among the Casse contingent being pointed to the Oaks is Fury Stakes winner Speedy Soul and runner-up Hastalavistababy. Casse will also is pointing Grade 3 Selene Stakes runner-up Preferred Guest to the Oaks.
