NEW ORLEANS – Majestic Harbor, who is getting ready for the New Orleans Handicap, is sending out positive signals to trainer Paul McGee.
“He rides his bicycle to and from the track,” McGee said, explaining that Majestic Harbor pumps his legs energetically, “dancing and prancing.”
It would be understandable if Majestic Harbor, 8 years old and having made 39 starts, had lost a bit of enthusiasm for being a racehorse. But that’s not what McGee is seeing.
Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., canceled its nine-race program on Thursday due to a saturated surface. The area has had steady rain since Tuesday, and in that time, the surface has taken more than five inches of rain, according to a release from Oaklawn.
“The safety of the horses and riders is always our first concern,” said David Longinotti, director of racing for Oaklawn. “The rain began about 3 p.m. Tuesday and has barely stopped since.”
Candy My Boy, who held admirably for fourth in the Risen Star after setting a very strong pace, worked an easy half-mile in 50.60 seconds last weekend at Fair Grunds and is likely to make his next start in the Louisiana Derby.
“If everything goes right, he probably will [run],” said trainer Roger Brueggemann. “He probably deserves another shot.”
Mo Tom continues to do well in his daily training and came out of a sharp half-mile workout last Saturday at Fair Grounds in good shape, and while Tom Amoss isn’t certain whether Mo Tom will have one or two more works before the Louisiana Derby, Mo Tom won’t be working again on Saturday.
“We have a lot of bad weather coming in tonight, and it’s going to be around for a while,” Amoss said Wednesday. “It’s still up in the air when he’ll work again.”
Gun Runner, the Risen Star Stakes winner, worked five furlongs in company with the filly Adore on Monday at Fair Grounds, going the distance in 1:01.40. It was Gun Runner’s second five-furlong work since he won the Risen Star by a half-length while making his first start in almost three months.
“It was spot on, and the horse is really doing well,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “We feel great about him coming out of the Risen Star.”
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Lon Wiggins knows what it’s like to be in the winner’s circle after the Kentucky Oaks. He was there in 2009 when his father, trainer Hal Wiggins, saddled Rachel Alexandra to a 20 1/4-length victory. Lon Wiggins would not mind getting back into the Churchill Downs infield this spring with Kentucky Oaks nominee Cosmic Evolution.
“We’re hoping and dreaming,” Wiggins said.
Grade 1 winner Greenpointcrusader will ship from Florida to start March 26 in the $1 million Louisiana Derby, trainer Dominick Schettino confirmed Wednesday. Greenpointcrusader flies to New Orleans a few days before the race and will have John Velazquez in the irons.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The Grade 2 Inside Information, to be decided at seven furlongs March 19, attracted 18 nominations, led by Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Wavell Avenue. But trainer Chad Brown said it’s “highly unlikely” that she will run.
Brown said he’ll probably bring Wavell Avenue back in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland on April 9.
“If there were more time between races, I might have run her in both,” said Brown. “But they are too close together to try to do that.”
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Saturday’s $75,000 Silks Run Stakes will feature a rematch between two of the top turf sprinters in the area, Power Alert and Amelia’s Wild Ride. The pair finished first and second, a neck apart, in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint on Feb. 6.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Heart to Heart, the winner of the Canadian Turf and Fort Lauderdale stakes here earlier in the meet, will make his next start in the $6 million Dubai Turf on March 26 at Meydan.
After conferring with owner Terry Hamilton, trainer Brian Lynch said the decision was made to accept the invitation tended to Heart to Heart late last week.
