Fri, 04/04/2014 - 14:12

Santa Anita: Local horseplayer Decauwer has eyes on Double Down Challenge II

ARCADIA, Calif. – Dennis Decauwer has a tough act to follow – his own.

The local horseplayer – retired accountant, grandfather, family man – will be among more than 100 handicappers gunning for $75,000 in prizes next weekend, April 12-13, when Santa Anita hosts its second handicapping tournament of the season.

Fri, 04/04/2014 - 13:54

Gulfstream Park: Silver Freak fresh, fit for turf feature

By Mike Welsch

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Silver Freak hasn’t raced since December and will be stepping up in class when he takes on eight rivals in Sunday’s $51,750 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park. But one would be hard pressed to look past the speedy Silver Freak, who figures to stand plenty of catching in the second-level optional $62,500 claimer at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

[DRF Live: Get live reports and handicapping insights from DRF writers and handicappers this Sunday]

Fri, 04/04/2014 - 13:50

NYRA to make final loan payment to Genting

By DRF Staff

The New York Racing Association was scheduled on Saturday to make its final payment of a $25 million loan to Genting, the company that operates Resorts World Casino, adjacent to Aqueduct.

The $25 million loan was made on Oct. 22, 2010 by Genting to NYRA as part of an agreement between those parties and the state of New York. The loan was made to help NYRA continue operations until it began to receive statutory payments from the casino. Resorts World opened on Oct. 28, 2011.

Fri, 04/04/2014 - 13:39

Oaklawn Park: Dreaming of Julia, Teen Pauline on fence for Apple Blossom

By Mary Rampellini

Barbara D. Livingston

Trainer Todd Pletcher is unsure whether he wants to ship Dreaming of Julia (left) to Oaklawn Park for the Grade 1 Apple Blossom.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Stonestreet Stables and trainer Todd Pletcher are debating whether to start Dreaming of Julia or Teen Pauline in the Grade 1, $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn on April 11. Pletcher said Wednesday that upcoming works would be a big part of the decision process. There is a chance Pletcher could pass the race with both fillies.

Fri, 04/04/2014 - 13:20

Arkansas Derby: Pletcher may add Danza to lineup

By Mary Rampellini

Tom Keyser

Danza will run next in either the Arkansas Derby or the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Todd Pletcher said Danza is possible for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby, and if the horse goes he would lift the projected field for the April 12 race at Oaklawn Park to eight. Pletcher already has Commissioner committed, joining expected starters Bayern, Conquest Titan, Ride On Curlin, Strong Mandate, Tapiture, and Thundergram.

[DRF Live: Get live reports and handicapping insights from DRF writers and handicappers this Sunday]

Fri, 04/04/2014 - 13:15

Keeneland: My Conquestadory back in training

By Marty McGee

Keeneland/Coady Photography

Alcibiades winner My Conquestadory is at Churchill Downs and will work over the dirt surface there so Casse can evaluate her ability on that surface and decide whether she will start in the Juvenile Fillies or Juvenile Fillies Turf.

As an impressive winner of the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland last fall, My Conquestadory logically would have been a major candidate for the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes here Saturday.

But the 3-year-old filly pulled a muscle in her hip while training this winter in Florida, delaying her return to racing.

Fri, 04/04/2014 - 12:30

Gulfstream Park: Little Mike works toward Manhattan as first major target

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

Little Mike is likely to have a prep race in Florida before heading to New York for the Manhattan in June.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Little Mike moved closer to his 2014 debut after working six furlongs in 1:15.81 shortly after the first renovation break Friday at Gulfstream Park.

With regular exercise rider Faustino Orantes aboard, Little Mike broke off at the five-eighths pole, went in 1:02.82 to the wire, and easily completed the work into the turn before galloping out seven-eighths in 1:28.34.

[DRF Live: Get live reports and handicapping insights from DRF writers and handicappers this Sunday]

Fri, 04/04/2014 - 11:29

Keeneland beefing up security, testing for Blue Grass

By Matt Hegarty

Taking a cue from other tracks with major Kentucky Derby preps, Keeneland will put in place extra security procedures for horses entered in the April 12 Blue Grass Stakes and subject the horses to additional testing, the track announced on Thursday.

Fri, 04/04/2014 - 10:40

Wood Memorial: Kid Cruz scratched due to shoulder strain

By David Grening

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club

Based on his impressive last-to-first move in the Private Terms at Laurel, Kid Cruz could make an impact in stakes for 3-year-olds sometime this spring.

Kid Cruz, considered by some to be a live longshot in Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, will scratch from that race, trainer Linda Rice said Friday.

Rice had said most of the week that Kid Cruz was only "50-50" to run, owing to a shoulder strain she said was diagnosed out of his victory in the Private Terms Stakes.

Though Rice was happy enough with the way Kid Cruz worked Wednesday morning to enter the horse, she was not satisfied with how he came out of the work to run.

Thu, 04/03/2014 - 16:11

Aqueduct: Wicked Strong looks to wake up in Wood

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

After two losses in Florida, Wicked Strong will return to New York for Saturday's Wood Memorial.

When last seen in New York, Wicked Strong was finishing a respectable third in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct, setting him up for a potential trip down the Triple Crown trail.

But Gulfstream Park didn’t agree with Wicked Strong, who finished ninth in the Holy Bull Stakes and fourth in an allowance race, albeit beaten by Constitution, who won last Saturday’s Florida Derby.

Wicked Strong is back in New York and back at Aqueduct, where he will run in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial.

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