ARCADIA, Calif. – Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is building a strong team of early-season juvenile winners.
In recent weeks, Hollendorfer has won maiden special weight races with the fillies Seduire, a winner May 22, and Heart of Paradise, a winner June 5. On Friday, Hollendorfer was back in the winner’s circle with the California-bred Atta’ Boy Woody.
AUBURN, Wash. – Stryker Phd, a popular bridesmaid at Emerald Downs last year when he finished second in all four open stakes for older horses, will have his hands full Sunday when he returns from a long layoff to compete in the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at one mile.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Rob Gilker is considering taking a shot at the $50,000 Lieutenant Governors with Qatar’s Pearl, who beat a good field of allowance horses last Sunday. Gilker claimed Qatar’s Pearl for $50,000 in 2012 with an eye on the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby where he finished seventh. He didn’t run last year due to suspensory problems, but he is certainly headed in the right direction with two straight wins.
Qatar’s Pearl started twice at Santa Anita this winter before winning a maiden special weight race here May 4.
The high-percentage meet that trainer Ernie Witt II is having at Lone Star Park near Dallas is sweeter than usual because the success is coming for his father, owner Ernie Witt. The men have shared a passion for racing for decades, but they’ve bonded like never before in recent years, ever since the younger Witt began training in 2007.
The Witts have strong ties to Arkansas, and in addition to competing at Lone Star, where they are winning races at a 27 percent clip this season, they are regulars at Oaklawn Park.
CYPRESS, Calif. – California Chrome continues to show progress from a grabbed quarter sustained when he finished in a dead heat for fourth in the Belmont Stakes on June 7, assistant trainer Alan Sherman said Friday.
The winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in May, California Chrome is tentatively scheduled to be sent to the River Ranch division of Harris Farms in Coalinga, Calif., on Wednesday for six weeks of rest.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Goldencents, second in the $1,250,000 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park on June 7, will have a summer and fall campaign geared toward sprints and one-mile races, co-owner Glenn Sorgenstein said Thursday.
A four-time stakes winner, Goldencents is likely to return to racing in the $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes over six furlongs at Del Mar on July 27, followed by a potential trip to Saratoga for the $500,000 Forego Stakes over seven furlongs Aug. 30.
Global View, who is developing into one of the better 3-year-old grass horses in North America, has been stabled at Arlington since he finished second to Bobby’s Kitten in the May 31 Penn Mile at Penn National.
Global View has been in steady training here, but his next start has not yet been determined, according to Lindsay Schultz, the Arlington-based assistant to trainer Tom Proctor. Global View could stay at Arlington and race July 12 in the $200,000 American Derby, or travel to Belmont Park for a start in the $1,250,000 Belmont Derby Invitational.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Fashion Plate, the winner of consecutive Grade 1 races at Santa Anita in February and April but unplaced in major stakes in Kentucky and New York in recent weeks, might be switched to turf for the Del Mar summer meeting, trainer Simon Callaghan said.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Mucho Macho Man, who has not started since his fourth-place finish March 8 in the Santa Anita Handicap, remains in light training at Gulfstream Park after being diagnosed with bruising of the hind ankles, according to trainer Kathy Ritvo.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – By now, followers of the Chicago circuit almost certainly have asked themselves, “Where’s Wayne?”
Wayne Catalano has won the Arlington training title 10 times: in 2012-13, from 2005-2010, and in 2002-03. Moreover, torrid starts to the meet have become almost annual for Catalano’s barn, which long has targeted Arlington as its major meeting. Last year, between the meet’s opening and June 12, Catalano went 69-30-9-6-6. In 2010, his barn went 21-15-11 from 74 starters, and in 2008, Catalano somehow won with 24 of 40 starters during that early-season period.
