HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Far Right has now won both of his Oaklawn Park matchups with Mr. Z – Sunday’s Southwest Stakes and last month’s Smarty Jones Stakes. But the rivalry, which has highlighted the local 3-year-old series, is unlikely to be renewed in next month’s Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel Stakes here.
Far Right and Mr. Z have different agendas coming out of the Southwest, and as a result, the 1 1/16-mile Rebel will have a new look when it is run March 14.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. –Sunday’s 10th race at Gulfstream Park featured the return of Top Billing, who was making his first start since finishing third in the 2014 Fountain of Youth. But in the end, it was Encryption who stole the show, the 4-year-old son of Exchange Rate coming back from a four-month layoff of his own to register an eight-length triumph over longshot I’m Steppin’ It Up, with Top Billing finishing a distant fourth as the 8-5 favorite. Encryption received a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure for his performance.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Bill Mott said that Mean Season “looked good and jogged sound” Monday at Payson Park, less than 48 hours after being vanned off following his last-place finish in Saturday’s Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint. The loss was the first in four starts for the speedster and the second time in as many starts that he received a ride back to the barn after the race. He also was vanned off due to a leg injury following his optional-claiming win at Aqueduct last March.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – All-sources handle on Saturday’s Fountain of Youth program at Gulfstream Park was $20,746,939, up slightly from 2014. There was significant growth in ontrack handle, which was $1.867 million, up 100 percent from the previous year.
“We’re extremely happy with our total handle and ontrack numbers on Fountain of Youth Day,” said Gulfstream Park’s vice president of racing and general manager, P.J. Campo. “We continue building our fan base with strong fields and great racing. We want to thank the horsemen for supporting our program as well as our great fans.”
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jockey Junior Alvarado rode North Slope to victory in Sunday’s $100,000 Evening Attire Stakes, part of a four-win afternoon and a seven-win weekend for him at Aqueduct.
Alvarado went 4 for 5 on Sunday’s card, also winning aboard Net Gain, Igotthediscoinme, and Bass River Road.
On Saturday, Alvarado went 3 for 7, including a victory in the Busher Stakes aboard Condo Commando.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Far From Over and El Kabeir, the top two finishers in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes on Feb. 7, both returned to the work tab Sunday as they train toward a possible rematch in the Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 7.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – North Slope earned a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure for his victory in Sunday’s $100,000 Evening Attire Stakes and will remain on the dirt for the foreseeable future, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. He will be kept under consideration for the $100,000 Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct on March 22.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – His triumphant 2015 debut behind him, Main Sequence will now be pointed for his first major goal of the season, the Dubai Sheema Classic on March 28 at Meydan.
Main Sequence couldn’t have been more impressive while making his first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf nearly four months earlier in Saturday’s Grade 2 Mac Diarmida.
OLDSMAR, Fla. – Dale Bennett will tell you one of the great joys he derives as a trainer is watching the development of his young runners.
That’s why Bennett had to be pleased with the performances by two of his young up-and-comers this past week at Tampa Bay Downs. On Thursday, Bennett sent out Fancy Man against a group of 3-year-old maiden special weight sprinters, and the son of Wildcat Heir looked very professional dispatching that field, prompting the pace for a half-mile and then drawing off late under Pablo Morales.
There is one stakes at Santa Anita during the upcoming four-day racing week from Thursday through Sunday.
Saturday’s program is highlighted by the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes, a Grade 3 race at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-old fillies. Light the City and Achiever’s Legacy, second and third in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes at a mile on Jan. 31, lead a field expected to include Enchanting Lady, Glory, Rattatap, and Stellar Wind.
