The home-and-home series between new rivals Graydar and Bourbon Courage comes to New Orleans when the 4-year-old colts square off again Saturday in the $400,000 New Orleans Handicap, one of three highly intriguing Grade 2 races on the Louisiana Derby undercard at Fair Grounds.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Despite his status as last year’s Florida Derby winner, Take Charge Indy does not figure to be favored in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Skip Away Stakes at 1 3/16 miles, which drew a contentious field of 10.
Take Charge Indy is winless in four races since the Florida Derby, most recently finishing third, eight lengths behind Graydar in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap here on Feb. 9.
Take Charge Indy, who will break from post 8 under Rosie Napravnik, will take on the rapidly improving Cigar Street, who has won two allowance races here this meet.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Itsmyluckyday won’t be the only horse Eddie Plesa runs Saturday in search of a third consecutive stakes victory at this meet.
Approximately 4 1/2 hours before Itsmyluckyday runs in the $1 million Florida Derby, Plesa will send out Successful Song in the Grade 3, $150,000 Rampart Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles.
Successful Song, a 6-year-old daughter of Successful Appeal, won the Ocala Stakes and the Sunshine Millions Distaff earlier this meet.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - On Fire Baby is to launch her 4-year-old season in the Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap next month at Oaklawn, trainer Gary Hartlage said Wednesday. The 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares is April 12.
“The next step is the Apple Blossom,” Hartlage said.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Live Lively and Dreaming of Julia, the 1-2 finishers in last month’s Grade 2 Davona Dale, renew their budding rivalry in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Gulfstream Oaks, one of six stakes on the Florida Derby undercard at Gulfstream Park.
Live Lively used her advantage as the lone speed to upset the Grade 1 winner Dreaming of Julia in the Davona Dale, her third consecutive victory since having a chip removed from an ankle following her debut last June.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Ile St. Molly should be able to adapt to whatever pace scenario unfolds on Friday when she seeks the second stakes win of her career in the $60,000 Rainbow Miss at Oaklawn.
Ile St. Molly has the speed to set the tempo in the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies bred in Arkansas, but could also stalk the pace under jockey Robby Albarado.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Titletown Five is set for Saturday’s Louisiana Derby after breezing a half-mile in 48.80 seconds Wednesday at his Oaklawn base. He was scheduled to ship to Fair Grounds on Thursday, according to his trainer, D. Wayne Lukas.
Fairplex Park, which is seeking more racing dates in Southern California as early as 2014, can accommodate as many as 1,200 horses on its backstretch as a secondary training center upon the expected closure of Betfair Hollywood Park, track officials said Wednesday.
Fairplex Park, in Pomona, Calif., has emerged as a leading contender to gain racing dates if Hollywood Park closes. Hollywood Park has racing dates through December of this year, but the track has not definitively stated whether it will remain open for training and racing past then.
Shippers abound in Friday’s featured eighth race, as five of the eight fillies and mares in the one-mile optional claimer last ran out of town.
Among the new faces are Zaphyra and Roman Invader, who concluded their productive 2012 campaigns with sharp efforts for former trainer Michael Reavis at Hawthorne Park last December. They make their seasonal debuts as the only entrants in for the $62,500 claiming price.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Three races into his career, Little Jerry has yet to display the potential trainer Richard Baltas expects.
"He's kind of a baby," Baltas said.
Little Jerry was fourth and last in the Grade 2 Robert Lewis Stakes on Feb. 2, ending his involvement in the major springtime races for 3-year-olds on dirt. Friday, Little Jerry makes his turf debut in the $70,000 Pasadena Stakes for 3-year-olds over a mile on turf at Santa Anita.
