Wed, 02/19/2014 - 13:04

Gulfstream Park: Florida Derby the target for Conquest Titan

Barbara D. Livingston
Conquest Titan, here finishing second in the Holy Bull Jan. 25, is skipping the Fountain of Youth to await the Florida Derby.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Although Saturday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth drew a field of 13 talented 3-year-olds, it failed to attract the top three finishers from the Grade 2 Holy Bull here last month – Cairo Prince, Conquest Titan, and Intense Holiday.

Cairo Prince was not even nominated to the Fountain of Youth, with his connections having made the decision weeks ago to bypass the race and await the $1 million Florida Derby on March 29. Intense Holiday, trained by Todd Pletcher, is running Saturday at Fair Grounds in the Grade 2 Risen Star.

Wed, 02/19/2014 - 11:47

Golden Gate Fields: Tamarando, Zeewat time it just right

Vassar Photography
Zeewat (No. 1) gets up in the last stride under Russell Baze to win the Lost in the Fog on Monday.

Although their credentials stood out, the winners of the two stakes here over the holiday weekend just managed to get the job done.

Tamarando, a Grade 1 winner, rallied from last to win the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby by a half-length on Saturday. Zeewat, who had more stakes wins, four, than the rest of the field combined, won the $50,000 Lost in the Fog in the final stride Monday.

Wed, 02/19/2014 - 11:16

Evangeline Downs to run inaugural $300,000 Turf Sprint in June

Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La., will be home to one of the richest turf-sprint stakes in North America this summer. The track on Wednesday announced the creation of the $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint, a five-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up to be run June 21.

Evangeline is in its second season under the ownership of Boyd Gaming, which also operates Delta Downs in Vinton, La. Evangeline opens its Thoroughbred meet in April.

Wed, 02/19/2014 - 10:23

2015 Hawthorne Racecourse Stakes Schedule

2015 Spring Racing Dates

February 20 - April 26

Post Time: 1:50 p.m. CT (Wednesday, Friday-Sunday)

Special Night Racing: 5:00 p.m. CT (April 25)


Handicapping Information

Tue, 02/18/2014 - 21:24

Del Mar plans to install dirt track for 2015

Del Mar plans to install a dirt track for its 2015 summer season, replacing the existing synthetic surface, track president Joe Harper said Tuesday.

Harper cautioned that the move to a dirt track was contingent on finding the “right material” and gaining the necessary permits, including approval from the California Coastal Commission.

“I hope it happens,” he said. “I think that’s our plan. It’s one step at a time with making sure we get the right permits.

“It’s a matter of finding the right surface. It’s a long list to check off before we can say it.”

Tue, 02/18/2014 - 16:06

Fair Grounds: Rise Up gives Melancon a big horse this spring

Coady Photography
Rise Up wins the Delta Jackpot under Gerard Melancon, who will be back aboard the colt in the Risen Star.

For 16 seasons jockey Gerard Melancon was a Fair Grounds regular, winning races at a steady clip. But in 2007 Melancon moved his tack to Delta Downs in Vinton, La., for the winter. The money at Delta had gotten just about as good as at Fair Grounds, and Melancon every season ranks among the leading riders. Unlike when he rode in New Orleans, Melancon can make it home to the town of Scott in less than an hour after his work is done.

“I got a 10-acre farm, six broodmares,” he said. “I’m content. I wouldn’t trade this for anything.”

Tue, 02/18/2014 - 15:58

Fair Grounds: Pletcher road warriors worth a look

Barbara D. Livingston
Intense Holiday (right), here training with Todd Pletcher stablemate Matterhorn, runs Saturday in the Risen Star.

“Todd Pletcher” is the name you see in the headline, but the names of Pletcher’s pair of 3-year-olds scheduled to start Saturday at Fair Grounds – Intense Holiday in the Risen Star and Got Lucky in the Rachel Alexandra – don’t appear to be written in large, bold letters.

Intense Holiday has won only 1 of 6 starts, and has been sent on the road this week while the highly regarded Pletcher-trained 3-year-old Commissioner stays home for the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.

Tue, 02/18/2014 - 15:26

Oaklawn Park: Tapiture's win latest feather in El Primero Training Center's cap

Coady Photography
The sire, dam, and dam sire of Southwest winner Tapiture all did their early training at the El Primero Training Center in Texas operated by trainer Steve Asmussen's parents.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Tapiture’s win in the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest at Oaklawn Park on Monday was meaningful for more than one reason, said his trainer, Steve Asmussen. Not only was Asmussen pleased to see the promising 3-year-old win his seasonal debut following some impressive works, but he was also thrilled for owner Winchell Thoroughbreds, which has long sent horses to receive their earliest training lessons at the El Primero Training Center operated by Asmussen’s parents, Keith and Marilyn.

Tue, 02/18/2014 - 14:36

Santa Anita: Pontchatrain eyes Grade 1 stakes at Keeneland

Shigeki Kikkawa
Pontchatrain could run next in either the Jenny Wiley or the Madison, both Grade 1 events at Keeneland.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Pontchatrain may be bound for Keeneland this spring after winning her fourth consecutive stakes in Monday’s $201,250 Buena Vista Stakes for fillies and mares on turf at Santa Anita.

She is already a history-making filly for Glen Hill Farm.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had a horse win four straight stakes,” Glen Hill president Craig Bernick said after the Buena Vista. “We’ve been doing this for 47 or 48 years.”

Bernick is the grandson of Leonard Lavin, who founded Glen Hill Farm in 1966.

Mon, 02/17/2014 - 16:17

Fair Grounds: Risen Star attracts 16 horses; Vicar's in Trouble outside

Alexander Barkoff/Hodges Photography
Vicar's in Trouble (center) will have to work out a trip from post 14 in the Risen Star Stakes on Saturday.

Kentucky Derby Fever long has infected horsepeople with talented 3-year-olds, and now the malady has mutated, spinning off a similar affliction: Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points Fever.

A massive total of 16 horses passed the entry box Monday for Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes, which awards Derby qualifying points to its first four finishers on a 50-20-10-5 basis. The main body of the field is 14-strong, with two longshots – the race’s lowest earners – on the also-eligible list.