Sat, 05/18/2013 - 13:59

Churchill Downs: Take Charge Indy gearing up for Stephen Foster

Barbara D. Livingston
Take Charge Indy, winner of the Alysheba Stakes, will make his next start in the Stephen Foster Handicap.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Take Charge Indy, the romping winner of the May 3 Alysheba Stakes, had his first breeze since that breakout victory when going an easy half-mile in 51 seconds early Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Pat Byrne said he definitely is planning on running Take Charge Indy in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill on June 15. The 4-year-old colt earned a 109 Beyer Speed Figure with his six-length triumph under Rosie Napravnik in the Grade 2 Alysheba on the Kentucky Oaks undercard.

Sat, 05/18/2013 - 13:58

Hastings: Evelyn’s Dancer looks tough in Strawberry Morn

Four-Footed Fotos
Evelyn’s Dancer figures to be a heavy favorite in the $50,000 Strawberry Morn Stakes.

Evelyn’s Dancer is going to be tough to beat in the 6 1/2-furlong, $50,000 Strawberry Morn at Hastings on Monday. Trained by Troy Taylor, Evelyn’s Dancer has won five of her last six races at Hastings, and in her only loss, she ran a huge race to finish second behind Class Included in the Grade 3 Ballerina, where she was facing older fillies and mares for the first time. She dominated the local 3-year-old filly division last year, and prior to her loss in the Ballerina, she romped by 5 1/4 lengths in the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks.

Sat, 05/18/2013 - 13:43

Parx Racing: Kreiser and Lake mares muddy the picture

Older fillies and mares who suddenly produce a career-best Beyer Speed Figure while winning are usually good candidates to regress next time out. The 5-year-old mare La Grey Zuliana, who just ran the fastest race of her 35-race career, and 4-year-old filly Dani’s Storm, freshened after she delivered her best performance in 14 lifetime starts, would seem to be two good examples of runners to bet against in Monday’s $50,000 feature at Parx Racing.

Sat, 05/18/2013 - 13:43

Northlands Park: Bond James Bond steps up after win

Trainer Greg Tracy got what he was looking for when Bond James Bond easily won a $25,000 optional claimer in his seasonal debut at Northlands Park on May 4. A triple stakes winner at 2, Bond James Bond had not won a race since he scored a front-running win in a $75,000 optional claimer at Hastings in his first start as a 3-year-old in 2011.

“I was hoping for an easy win to help him regain his confidence,” Tracy said. “That was a good race for him, and it was nice to see him in the winner’s circle again.”

Sat, 05/18/2013 - 13:35

Hastings: Herbie D the one to catch in John Longden 6000

Four-Footed Fotos
Herbie D figures to be on the lead in the $50,000 John Longden 6000 Stakes.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Herbie D, the champion sprinter in British Columbia in 2012, will make his seasonal debut in the $50,000 John Longden 6000 at Hastings on Monday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up headlines an eight-race card that also includes the $50,000 Strawberry Morn, where Evelyn’s Dancer figures to be an overwhelming favorite in a six-horse field.

There are five horses entered in the Longden, and four of them figure to be chasing Herbie D, who is clearly the speed of the race. Post time for the Victoria Day holiday card is 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

Sat, 05/18/2013 - 13:32

Pimlico: Debt Ceiling rallies to win Rollicking Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Debt Ceiling, with Eric Camacho aboard, wins the Rollicking by 2 1/2 lengths in his stakes debut.

BALTIMORE – Debt Ceiling used new tactics Saturday, when he remained perfect in two starts with his off-the-pace win in the $100,000 Rollicking. The five-furlong race for 2-year-olds was the first of seven stakes on the Preakness card at Pimlico Race Course.

Debt Ceiling wired the field in his career debut March 30 at Laurel, increasing his advantage at every call for a 4 1/2-length win in a maiden special weight.

Sat, 05/18/2013 - 13:28

Hollywood Park: Marketing Mix to return in Gamely

Benoit & Associates
Marketing Mix hasn't raced since winning the Rodeo Drive last fall (above).

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – A little later than originally intended, Marketing Mix makes her 2013 debut in the $250,000 Gamely Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park on May 27.

She will resume her career where she left off in fall 2012 – racing against the best turf fillies and mares on the circuit.

Sat, 05/18/2013 - 12:07

Woodbine: Casse saddles Paso Doble, Haverhill for New Providence

Michael Burns
Paso Doble wins the 2011 New Providence Stakes at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Casse will saddle Paso Doble and Haverhill in the $125,000 New Providence Stakes, the contentious feature on the Victoria Day holiday Monday at Woodbine.

Paso Doble has a fine record in the six-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired runners. He prevailed in the 2011 New Providence and was a close second to favored Gypsy Ring in 2012, before going to the sidelines for nearly a year.

Sat, 05/18/2013 - 10:55

Preakness Stakes: Rain possible before race time

BALTIMORE – The 13-race Preakness Stakes card at Pimlico Race Course could see a change in weather patterns from the cloudy skies and 70-degree temperatures the program opened under at 10:45 a.m. Eastern.

[PREAKNESS STAKES: Live updates and live video from Pimlico]

There is a high likelihood of rain moving in around 5 p.m., with the precipitation potentially continuing into the 6 p.m. block, according to an hourly weather forecast from weather.com. The Preakness is scheduled for 6:18 p.m. Eastern.

Sat, 05/18/2013 - 10:46

Black-Eyed Susan winner Fiftyshadesofhay will point to the Alabama

Barbara D. Livingston
Fiftyshadesofhay (left) overtakes Marathon Lady in deep stretch of the Black-Eyed Susan.

BALTIMORE - Trainer Bob Baffert said that Black-Eyed Susan winner Fiftyshadesofhay will be heading home to Southern California next week, but she will definitely be back out on the road this summer with the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga being her next major objective.

“She’s just maturing, she’ll get better with age,” Baffert said Saturday morning, the day after Fiftyshadesofhay rallied from well off the pace to win the Grade 2, $500,000 Black-Eyed Susan by a neck over Marathon Lady. “Distance is not a problem for her. The mile and a quarter will be good for her.”