HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jockeys Ricardo Santana Jr. and Didiel Osorio were both home resting on Friday, one day after being injured in a spill in the second race at Oaklawn Park. Both were transported to a local hospital after the heel-clipping accident and were released later Thursday.
Santana, who had a one-win lead in the standings through Thursday, separated his shoulder and was scheduled to see a specialist, according to his agent, Ruben Munoz.
Tequilita, the upset winner of the Grade 2 Forward Gal on Feb. 4, was conspicuous by her absence when entries were drawn for Saturday’s Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes. But trainer Michael Matz said he decided to skip the second leg of the local stakes series for 3-year-old fillies to await the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks at 1 1/16 miles on April 1.
Curlin’s Approval got back to some serious work at Gulfstream Park on Friday, breezing five furlongs in 1:00.39 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.02 with jockey Luis Saez aboard. The work was her first since capturing the Grade 2 Royal Delta in impressive fashion two weeks ago.
“She had a nice, easy breeze this morning,” said owner and breeder Happy Alter, who was on hand, as always, to oversee the work.
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Noble Bird, sixth most recently in the Pegasus World Cup, is headed to the Grade 2, $400,000 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds on April 1, trainer Mark Casse said.
On Friday, in his first work since the Pegasus, Noble Bird went five furlongs in 1:00.30 at the Palm Meadows training center.
“I thought he went fantastic,” Casse said.
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – State of Honor turned in an eye-catching drill under Julien Leparoux on Friday at the Palm Meadows training center in preparation for the Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby next Saturday. He was timed in 47.75 seconds for a half-mile and then galloped out powerfully.
“He trains unbelievable,” trainer Mark Casse said. “He’s training really well.
Girvin won the Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 25 at Fair Grounds, and trainer Al Stall’s phone started ringing.
No, Stall doesn’t train Girvin; Joe Sharp does. But a colt whom Stall does train, Excitations, debuted in the same race as Girvin on Dec. 16. The pair dueled through the whole homestretch, with Girvin getting his head in front just before the finish. Girvin later won the Risen Star by two lengths.
“I kept telling people, ‘Sure, it might make him look good, but he still has to go out and do it,’ ” Stall said of Excitations.
The defection of McCraken from the Tampa Bay Derby has created a vacuum that appears likely to result in a sizable field for the annual marquee event at Tampa Bay Downs next Saturday.
Maybe 10 or more 3-year-olds could go postward in the Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby, with Todd Pletcher now holding perhaps the strongest hand. Pletcher, who has won the Tampa Bay Derby four times – including three of the last four runnings – is expected to have two starters from the 14 horses he nominated.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – When Spice Lady won the second race here last Sunday, she became the ninth 3-year-old to win its career debut for trainer Todd Pletcher since the four-month championship meet began Dec. 3. The others: Nonna Bella, Ghalia, Coors Lute, Adorable Miss, Run and Go, Malagacy, Woodrow, and Faja.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Owner Mick Ruis hopes to become a licensed trainer this week, after which his 25-horse string – including Grade 1 winner Union Strike – will be transferred to his name, ending a four-month period during which he employed three trainers, including his daughter Shelbe.
Union Strike won the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante last summer before Mick and Shelbe Ruis ended their business relationship. Craig Dollase became the trainer for the Ruis stable until late February, when the horses were transferred to Mark Rheinford.
Eagle, who was fourth Feb. 25 in the Mineshaft Handicap at Fair Grounds, and Mo Tom, who finished sixth in the same race, are likely to run April 1 in the New Orleans Handicap.
Both horses were making their first start after a long layoff. Eagle, 5, hadn’t run since July, while Mo Tom, a 4-year-old, hadn’t started since September.
