ARCADIA, Calif. - Sunday’s top race is the $70,000 Santana Mile on the main track. A field of five is expected, including Gladding, winner of the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes in 2011 who was claimed twice for $62,500 in January.
The 6-year-old Gladding was claimed by trainer Mike Mitchell when second in an optional claimer Jan. 12. On Jan. 24, trainer Vann Belvoir claimed Gladding, who was last of seven in a one-mile race on a wet-fast track.
FORT ERIE, Ontario – Fort Erie Race Track will conduct a 50-day meeting this season, beginning May 26.
The official announcement came at a press conference Thursday morning at the border oval. The racetrack had been scheduled to close last Dec. 31 – after slot machines were removed last April – but continued to offer simulcast wagering in 2013.
On Tuesday, the Ontario government announced that Fort Erie would receive transitional funding that will allow the track to continue operations this year. The amount and nature of that funding has not yet been revealed.
NEW ORLEANS – Strange, this 100th running of the Louisiana Derby. The prep, the Risen Star, was won by the longshot Ive Struck a Nerve, who subsequently was injured and is off the Kentucky Derby trail. And since the Risen Star field found the first eight finishers separated by less than four lengths, five of them are signed up for another go-round Saturday. Why not?
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – After a couple of impressive-looking allowance victories, Cigar Street steps back into stakes company for the first time in a year in Saturday’s deep Grade 3, $100,000 Skip Away Stakes going 1 3/16 miles at Gulfstream Park.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Den’s Legacy and Super Ninety Nine have been on the same springtime schedule in recent weeks.
They were third and fifth in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 16 for trainer Bob Baffert. Thursday at Santa Anita, they worked a half-mile in company, with Den’s Legacy setting the fastest time of the morning, at 47 seconds, and Super Ninety Nine going a tick slower, at 47.20.
They will part ways in coming weeks. Super Ninety Nine is part of Baffert’s three hopes for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 6.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Neither trainer Shug McGaughey nor owner Dinny Phipps are prone to contracting Derby fever. But there’s no doubt temperatures have been rising around the barn ever since Orb entered the Kentucky Derby picture with his come-from-behind victory over the odds-on Violence in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth earlier this winter.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Doinghardtimeagain is not the richest filly starting in Saturday’s $200,000 Evening Jewel Stakes for 3-year-old California-bred fillies at Santa Anita.
That distinction belongs to Tilde, who has earned $344,810 on the strength of three stakes wins at 2. Doinghardtimeagain has earned $236,270, largely from her win in the $196,000 Soviet Problem Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park last December.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – No horse comes into the $60,000 Rainbow at Oaklawn Park on Saturday sharper than Goods Gone West. He has won both of his starts at the meet and also owns the field’s best career Beyer Speed Figure.
The Rainbow is a six-furlong race restricted to 3-year-olds bred in Arkansas. The field of nine includes Hezunusal, who gave jockey Calvin Borel the 5,000th win of his career, and Rock City Roadhog, runner-up in last year’s $50,000 Razorback Futurity at Louisiana Downs.
NEW ORLEANS – Heavy On Themister has a chance to solidify his position as the top older Louisiana-bred in training when he races in the Costa Rising Stakes on Saturday at the Fair Grounds.
With all-time leading Louisiana-bred money winner Star Guitar off to stud, Heavy On Themister has asserted himself as the leader of the division.
“He’s really been training well,’’ trainer Shawn David said. “He seems to be a horse that just continues to develop.’’
NEW ORLEANS – The week of the Risen Star Stakes 13 months ago here at Fair Grounds, trainer Larry Jones opined that although Mr Bowling was the more highly regarded of his two horses going into that race, he believed Mark Valeski, handled properly, would turn out to be the better of the two, even though he had yet to run two turns, or in a stakes race.
