Fri, 04/12/2013 - 18:05

Aqueduct: Sunny Desert back on short rest for Shot Berry Stakes

Michael Amoruso
Sunny Desert has won seven of her last eight starts heading into Sunday’s $75,000 Shot Berry Stakes.

Sunny Desert, who has won seven of her last eight starts, makes a quick turnaround when she heads a field of six entered in Sunday’s $75,000 Shot Berry Stakes.

Sunny Desert is coming back just two weeks after winning the Broadway Stakes on March 30.

“Normally, I wouldn’t do something like this,” trainer John Parisella said. “It’s against everything I believe in, but she’s just doing great.”

Parisella said he plans to run Sunny Desert just once more after this – in a stakes at Belmont on June 1 – before giving her a lengthy vacation.

Fri, 04/12/2013 - 17:59

Aqueduct: Princess of Sylmar eyes Kentucky Oaks

Barbara D. Livingston
Princess of Sylmar likely will run next in either the Kentucky Oaks or the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.

Princess of Sylmar, the runner-up to Close Hatches in the April 6 Gazelle, was scheduled to join stablemate Verrazano on a Sunday flight to Kentucky for a possible start in the Kentucky Oaks.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said Princess of Sylmar would train over the Churchill surface, and a determination would be made whether to run in the Oaks or wait for the Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico two weeks later.

“Because of the pace scenario in the race the other day, we had to take her out of her running style a little bit,” Pletcher said.

Fri, 04/12/2013 - 17:33

Tampa Bay: Centeno, Coa avoid serious injury in spill

Leading rider Daniel Centeno and fellow jockey Daniel Coa escaped serious injury Friday when both were involved in a spill during the running of the fifth race at Tampa Bay Downs.

Centeno, atop the rider standings at Tampa with 77 wins, was aboard the heavily favored Basilone when the 5-year-old, second-time starter broke down and fell leaving the turn of the six- furlong maiden claiming sprint. Coa, who was aboard Duppyzapper, was unseated when his mount swerved attempting to avoid the fallen horse and rider.

Fri, 04/12/2013 - 17:18

Santa Anita: Code West eyes Grade 2 Coolmore Lexington Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Code West, who finished sixth in the Louisiana Derby last out, might run in the Grade 2 Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 20.

Code West, sixth in the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds on March 30, is a candidate for the $200,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 20, trainer Bob Baffert said Friday.

“It’s a possibility,” Baffert said.

Code West worked three furlongs Friday morning at Santa Anita, Baffert said, but the time was not on the workout sheet. Baffert said Code West galloped out a half-mile in 49 seconds.

Fri, 04/12/2013 - 16:45

Aqueduct: Pletcher pleased with Verrazano ahead of Kentucky Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Verrazano, the undefeated winner of the Wood Memorial, is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Sunday for the Kentucky Derby.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – In two of the last three years, trainer Todd Pletcher sent a horse from the Wood Memorial to Churchill Downs hoping against hope that the horse would make the Kentucky Derby.

A week before the 2010 Derby, Pletcher had to withdraw Eskendereya from the Derby with a leg injury that ultimately led to his retirement. In 2011, Uncle Mo, third in that year’s Wood, was scratched with what was eventually diagnosed as a liver disorder.

Fri, 04/12/2013 - 16:26

Aqueduct: Seal Cove, Hymn Book cover both surfaces for McGaughey in Dave Stakes

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Hymn Book gallops home under Joel Rosario in Friday's Frank Martin Stakes. Hymn Book is now 5 for 7 over wet tracks.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Regardless of which surface Sunday’s $75,000 Dave Stakes is run, a horse trained by Shug McGaughey stands a good chance to be in the Aqueduct winner’s circle afterward.

If the race remains at 1 1/16 miles on the turf course, McGaughey will be represented by Seal Cove, a 5-year-old gelding who is a two-time overnight stakes winner. Should the race be transferred to dirt, and run at a mile, Grade 1 winner Hymn Book would make his 7-year-old debut in this cozy spot.

Fri, 04/12/2013 - 16:12

Sunland: Forest Mouse packs 127 pounds in Handicap

Coady Photography
Forest Mouse, under Ry Eikleberry, covers a mile and 70 yards in a track-record 1:39.01 while winning the Winsham Lad.

Forest Mouse will be spotting his rivals a notable amount of weight on Sunday when he returns to New Mexico for the $75,000 Sunland Park Handicap. He is the 127-pound highweight in the 1 1/8-mile race and will be giving his five rivals between seven and 10 pounds. Others set to start include Red Lead, a winner of his last two starts, and Tiz Gianni, who made his most recent start at Santa Anita.

Fri, 04/12/2013 - 16:03

Santa Anita: Bejarano, atop jockey standings, still needs a Kentucky Derby horse

Coady Photography
Rafael Bejarano has a comfortable lead atop the jockey standings at the Santa Anita winter-spring meet, which ends April 21.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Rafael Bejarano had a perfect racing day at Santa Anita on Thursday, winning with all four of his mounts.

That success is reflective of Bejarano’s standing among jockeys at the winter-spring meeting, which he has dominated from the start. Bejarano had four wins on opening day, Dec. 26, and had a commanding lead of 26 victories through Thursday.

Fri, 04/12/2013 - 15:25

Tampa Bay: Ronnie Allen Jr. injured in spill, out 4-6 weeks

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Jockey Ronnie Allen Jr. remains in St. Joseph’s Hospital recovering from injuries suffered in a spill during the running of the Wednesday’s fifth race at Tampa Bay Downs.

Fri, 04/12/2013 - 14:25

Santa Anita: Egg Drop looks appealing in Santa Lucia despite challenges

Benoit & Associates
Egg Drop will be running on short rest when she tries for her first stakes win in Sunday's $70,000 Santa Lucia.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Egg Drop is wheeling back too soon, only 17 days.

She is moving up in class too swiftly, from first-level allowance to stakes. And the pace scenario of the $70,000 Santa Lucia Stakes might not favor her up-front style.

What does a bettor do with Egg Drop on Sunday at Santa Anita – throw her out? That might not be a good idea.

Five fillies and mares entered the 1 1/16-mile Santa Lucia, and though trainer Mike Mitchell recognizes the challenges, he is confident his filly is up to the task.