OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Madefromlucky, the runner-up to stablemate Tommy Macho in the Grade 3 Discovery Handicap last November at Aqueduct, has returned to New York and will be aimed at Sunday’s $125,000 Stymie Stakes, trainer Todd Pletcher said.
Madefromlucky has made his last two starts at Gulfstream Park, finishing second to Valid in the Harlan’s Holiday on Dec. 12 and last of eight to stablemate Mshawish in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on Feb. 6.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – One horse whose absence was conspicuous from the entry box for Saturday’s Tom Fool Handicap is Green Gratto, the New Jersey-bred gelding who won the Fall Highweight and Gravesend last fall.
Trainer and part-owner Gaston Grant said he will train Green Gratto up to the Grade 1 Carter at Aqueduct on April 9. Green Gratto finished second to Dads Caps in last year’s Carter at odds of 53-1.
Since winning the Gravesend on Dec. 26, Green Gratto has finished third in the Grade 3 Toboggan on Jan. 30 and fourth in the Grade 3 General George at Laurel on Feb. 15.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The familiar foes Salutos Amigos and Dads Caps renew acquaintances at Aqueduct on Saturday in the Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap, a race in which they finished one-two last year.
Salutos Amigos and Dads Caps were two of 11 horses entered Wednesday for the Tom Fool, including a trio of runners from the Chris Englehart stable.
Those who watched the sixth race at Delta Downs on Feb. 20 might have thought that a Paint horse won the maiden special weight race at the Vinton, La., track. But Painting the Sky is all Thoroughbred, and the 3-year-old filly with unusual markings will be back in action Friday night. She again runs in the sixth race, a first-level allowance on the penultimate card of the meet.
ARCADIA, Calif. – This might be the year Calculator reaches his potential.
Last month, the 4-year-old Calculator returned from a 13-month layoff to win an optional claimer here at seven furlongs. On Saturday, he starts in the $300,000 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Lost Bus needs action.
A 4-year-old filly, Lost Bus has not started since winning the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes in a 64-1 upset Jan. 23. She starts in an optional claimer at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Friday that trainer Gary Sherlock envisions as a prep for the $200,000 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos on April 23.
“I’m ready to run her,” Sherlock said on Wednesday.
Racing returns to Maryland following a 3 1/2-week hiatus on Friday and will continue at the Maryland Jockey Club tracks of Laurel Park and Pimlico for the remainder of the year, excluding an 18-day break in late August and early September for the Maryland State Fair meet at Timonium.
Laurel, which opens Friday, will continue through Mother’s Day, May 8, the day after the Kentucky Derby. Pimlico will open the following Thursday, host the May 21 Preakness, and race through June 26. Laurel will then run the rest of the year, excluding the seven-day Timonium session.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Donworth caught bloodstock agent Dennis O’Neill’s attention at last November’s Keeneland breeding stock sale at about the same time that O’Neill was ready to leave for his California home.
O’Neill, the brother of trainer Doug O’Neill, took one look at the then-3-year-old Donworth and changed his schedule. He called his principal client, Paul Reddam, in Southern California and discussed buying the horse.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Sunday’s card featured impressive debut victories by the 3-year-old fillies Lightstream and Just Talkin.
Lightstream earned an eye-catching 103 Beyer Speed Figure in winning at first asking, going seven furlongs on dirt with Julien Leparoux aboard for trainer Brian Lynch. It was the highest Beyer by a 3-year-old of either sex in 2016.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Marcus Vitali said his handicap star, Valid, appears to have come out of Saturday’s Gulfstream Park Handicap none the worse for wear after being knocked sideways by Anchor Down while rallying at midstretch of the Grade 2 fixture for older horses.
“Other than a few cuts, he seemed fine this morning,” Vitali said on Sunday. “We’ll know for sure in a couple of days, but at the moment, he seems to have come out of it okay.”
