HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Willis Horton had long made a point of attending the Arkansas Derby each April at his home track of Oaklawn Park. But this year is particularly special.
Horton will be represented in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby with his homebred Long Range Toddy, who drew post 11 for the 1 1/8-mile race on Wednesday. Long Range Toddy enters with a big chance, as he comes off a win in the first division of the Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel last month at Oaklawn.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Espresso Shot, who was beaten five lengths when finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Gazelle Stakes here on Saturday, will not point to the Kentucky Oaks and will likely shorten up to a one-turn race for her next start, said Daniel Zanatta, co-managing partner of Final Furlong Racing Stable, part-owner of the filly along with Maspeth Stables and Parkland Thoroughbreds.
The $125,000 Bouwerie, a seven-furlong race at Belmont Park on May 27, is the likely next target for Espresso Shot, Zanatta said.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though she didn’t win the race, trainer Michelle Nevin still had reason to be thrilled with the second- and third-place performance of Skyler’s Scramjet and Honor Up in last Saturday’s Grade 1 Carter.
Skyler’s Scramjet and Honor Up alternated on the lead before both were overtaken by odds-on favorite World of Trouble, who would beat Sklyer’s Scramjet by a half-length. It was 1 1/4 lengths back to Honor Up in third.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The last time Forever Liesl ran 1 1/8 miles over Aqueduct’s main track, she put forth a breakthrough performance, winning the Ladies Handicap by 4 1/4 lengths. The next time Forever Liesl runs 1 1/8 miles over Aqueduct’s main track will be Saturday in the $200,000 Top Flight Invitational, and trainer Michelle Nevin can only hope for a similar type performance.
Forever Liesl was one of six fillies and mares entered in the Top Flight, one of two stakes on Saturday’s program. The $100,000 Bridgetown for 3-year-olds on the turf at six furlongs is the other.
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.
