HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Groupie Doll will remain at Gulfstream Park for the next few days before being vanned to Ocala, where preparations will begin for the star mare to begin her new life as a broodmare, according to trainer Buff Bradley.
Leading jockey Russell Baze took off his final three mounts Sunday due to back spasms.
Baze had won the second race on the card with Successful Bluff ($3.80) and the third race with Curvy Cat ($3.80) to increase his meet-leading win total to 46, 16 ahead of Dennis Carr in second place.
He is expected to return to action when racing resumes Thursday.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Vagabond Shoes, the winner of the $201,500 San Marcos Stakes on turf Saturday, will start in the $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes over 1 1/2 miles on turf March 22, trainer John Sadler said.
In the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes over 1 1/4 miles, Vagabond Shoes, the 5-2 favorite, closed from seventh to win by 1 1/4 lengths over 19-1 Si Sage. The San Marcos was the first start for Vagabond Shoes since a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf over 1 1/2 miles here last November.
Sadler said he has no concern about trying Vagabond Shoes in longer turf races.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Blingo is bound for the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 8 after his upset win in Saturday’s $300,500 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita. As of Sunday, Blingo is likely to have ample company in the Big Cap.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Shared Belief, the champion 2-year-old male of 2013, resumed light exercise over the weekend after missing almost a month of training because of a quarter crack.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Shared Belief jogged at Santa Anita on Saturday and Sunday. A patch was placed on Shared Belief’s right front foot earlier in the week. Hollendorfer postponed Shared Belief’s return to the racetrack from Friday to Saturday because of wet conditions Friday morning from a rainstorm Thursday.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Candy Boy emerged from his victory in the Grade 2, $200,500 Robert B. Lewis Stakes on Saturday in good condition and likely will await the Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 5 for his next start, trainer John Sadler said Sunday.
“I think I’ll wait for the Santa Anita Derby,” Sadler said. “I’m not in a hurry to rush back.”
The mutuel field closed as a big favorite Saturday, the third and final day of wagering into Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.
The field – the 24th or “all others” option – is the 3-2 favorite, followed by Honor Code (12-1), Cairo Prince (13-1), Top Billing (13-1), Shared Belief (14-1), Strong Mandate (17-1), and Midnight Hawk (19-1).
Pool 2 closed at 6 p.m. Eastern, about an hour before Candy Boy (32-1) won the Grade 2 Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita. The Lewis was the only prep race with Derby points (10 to the winner) this weekend.
ALBANY, Calif. - Undefeated Exit Stage Left, winner of the Golden Nugget, Gold Rush, and California Derby, was injured during training Saturday at Golden Gate Fields and will miss the Feb. 15 El Camino Real Derby trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.
The potential favorite for the Grade 3, $200,000 El Camino Real Derby, Exit Stage Left had a six-furlong bullet work of 1:13.60 on Feb. 2. He was galloping on Saturday when injured.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
