After being considered for races in California, Florida and Arkansas, Battalion Runner will instead make his next start in New York with hopes of making it to the Kentucky Derby on May 6.
On Sunday, trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed that Battalion Runner will make his stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. With the decision to run Battalion Runner in the Wood, One Liner will go to the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on April 15.
Trainer Leon Blusiewicz has seen a lot in his years around the racetrack, and at age 86 still has a passion for the game. On the Wood Memorial card Saturday, he plans to run Tom Fool winner Spartiatis in the Grade 1 Carter and Admiral Blue, whom he owns, in the Grade 3 Excelsior.
Spartiatis, winner of five of 31 starts, is in the best form of his career at age 7. He rallied from off the pace to score his first stakes win in the Grade 3 Tom Fool on March 11.
Owner Danny Chen sent trainer Edward Barker two fillies last year that he had purchased at the Ocala Breeders' Sales spring auction of 2-year-olds in training on the advice of bloodstock agent John Shaw. Chen paid $5,000 for Kissin Cassie and $8,000 for Yorkiepoo Princess.
Kissin Cassie has since won $77,000 and three races, including a $25,000 claiming sprint at Aqueduct on March 25. Yorkiepoo Princess will try to earn a spot in the Kentucky Oaks on Saturday when she starts in the Grade 2 Gazelle.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Arkansas Derby probables Untrapped and Lookin At Lee worked in company Sunday at Oaklawn Park. The multiple graded stakes-placed pair is trained by Steve Asmussen.
It was a clear morning in the 50s at Oaklawn. The track was fast.
Untrapped and Lookin At Lee covered five furlongs in 1:00.40. The drill was the second-fastest of 26 at the distance Sunday at Oaklawn. Asmusssen said Untrapped, who was on the rail, worked in blinkers and most likely will add the equipment for the Arkansas Derby.
The globe-trotting Lady Aurelia is dusting off her passport.
Last year's Cartier Award winner as Europe's outstanding 2-year-old filly, Lady Aurelia is targeting a return engagement at England's renowned Royal Ascot meeting in June, with her goal being the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes. Trainer Wesley Ward intends for the filly to prep in the Giant's Causeway Stakes on April 15 at Keeneland.
ARCADIA, Calif. - One ticketholder nearly collected a massive payoff in the pick six at Santa Anita on Saturday.
Lifeline ($3.40) won the final leg, the day’s 10th race, edging 5-1 Fortune of War by a length. Had Fortune of War won, there would have been a single ticket payoff of $689,105. Instead, there were six winning tickets in the pick six worth $21,213.
There is a carryover in the single-ticket jackpot for Sunday of $561,826.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Conquest Wildcat, who was a powerful allowance-sprint winner last month at Oaklawn, could move into stakes company for his next start, according to trainer Randy Morse. Conquest Wildcat tracked the pace while covering six furlongs in a sharp 1:10.46.
Morse said Conquest Wildcat, a 3-year-old by Wildcat Heir, could run back at Oaklawn in either the $150,000 Bachelor at six furlongs April 13 or the $150,000 Northern Spur at 1 1/16 miles on April 15. Morse said another option is to await the $65,000 Golden Circle, a six-furlong race April 28 at Prairie Meadows.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Arkansas Racing Commission on Saturday was to hear trainer Ron Moquett’s appeal of the results of the $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes, run March 25 at Oaklawn, according to a representative of the state agency.
Our Majesty, trained by Moquett, finished first but was disqualified and placed fourth by the stewards for an incident on the backstretch.
The meeting at Oaklawn will begin at 10:15 a.m. Central.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Big World, a Grade 3 winner based at Fair Grounds, invaded Oaklawn for the first time Thursday and won a high-end optional-claiming route for fillies and mares, proving 1 1/2 lengths best over the graded stakes-placed Taxable.
“I was pleased,” said Tom Amoss, who trains Big World. “[Taxable] is a really nice horse. I was happy with the outcome.”
