HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – After a failed turf experiment, Dreaming of Neno returns to dirt and looms as the horse to catch in Friday’s $62,100 optional-claiming feature at Gulfstream Park.
Two starts back, Dreaming of Neno finished third in this condition behind Discreet Dancer and Candyman E. Discreet Dancer came back to win the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap, while Candyman E came back to win the Bensalem Stakes at Parx Racing.
Del Mar has made only minor revisions to the stakes schedule for its 37-day summer meeting, which runs from July 17 to Sept. 4, with an emphasis on increasing overnight purses for maiden special weight races and allowance races.
Del Mar has scheduled 43 stakes worth $7.8 million, an increase of $50,000 from the 2012 meeting. The richest race remains the $1 million Pacific Classic for 3-year-olds and older on Aug. 25. The Pacific Classic is one of seven Grade 1 stakes during the meeting.
NEW ORLEANS – Revolutionary, who overcame severe traffic problems to win the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct in his last start, drew post 3 in a full field of 14 on Wednesday for the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby on Saturday at Fair Grounds.
[LOUISIANA DERBY: Get Fair Grounds PPs, watch video previews]
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – And then there were 10.
What originally was shaping up to be a small field due to the imposing presence of Itsmyluckyday, Orb and Shanghai Bobby – three of the top four horses on Daily Racing Form’s Derby Watch – swelled to 10 when entries were drawn Wednesday for Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby.
The Grade 1 Florida Derby will top a 13-race program at Gulfstream Park which also includes its filly counterpart, the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks. The Florida Derby is worth 170 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, including 100 to the winner.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer-owner Mark Tsagalakis will be happy if the month of March ends like it began, with a comeback victory at Santa Anita.
Oliver’s Tale might eventually emerge as the star of Tsagalakis’s small stable after a sparkling March 1 maiden win that earned him a 104 Beyer Speed Figure in his first start in nine months. But the current star is Dubai You X Y Z, returning Thursday from a similar layoff.
The maiden race winner Summer Exclusive will skip the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 6 in favor of the $250,000 Bay Shore Stakes over seven furlongs for 3-year-olds on the same day at Aqueduct.
Summer Exclusive worked seven furlongs in 1:26 at Hollywood Park on Monday, but trainer Peter Miller said he was not pleased with the way the colt finished. Miller timed the workout in 1:25.40.
“He didn’t relax and didn’t finish as I’d liked for him to,” Miller said. “We’ll stick to one turn now and stretch him out later.”
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer James Bond knows it's a tall order to run Cue the Moon off a 146-day layoff in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Gulfstream Oaks at 1 1/8 miles against the likes of graded stakes winners Live Lively and Dreaming of Julia.
"But I think she's that good," Bond said.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Few have questioned his ability. No one has questioned his desire. Many have questioned whether Shanghai Bobby, last year’s 2-year-old champion male, is a legitimate Kentucky Derby contender.
Cot Campbell gave a number of reasons why he picked out the Louisiana Derby for Palace Malice, the colt who will represent Dogwood Stable on Saturday in the Fair Grounds showcase.
[LOUISIANA DERBY: Get Fair Grounds PPs, watch video previews]
