Icon Ike and Extravaganza, winners of the twin turf-sprint stakes at Fair Grounds in New Orleans on Saturday, will head to Keeneland for their next races while remaining in their niche.
Icon Ike rallied from well back to win the $73,500 Colonel Power by 2 3/4 lengths under Jimmy Graham, while Extravaganza eked out a nose victory over Storm’s Promise an hour later in the filly counterpart, the $73,500 Happy Ticket.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Woodbine has released the first phase of its stakes schedule, consisting of 37 stakes covering the period from opening day, April 20, through Queen’s Plate Day, July 7.
“We release this 12-week calendar with guaranteed purses to provide confidence for horsemen as they plan their racing season,” said Steve Koch, Woodbine’s vice president of Thoroughbred racing. “We will release a full-year stakes schedule after the industry has finalized funding projections.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – At the beginning of the year, a decision had to be made with Bench Glory, whether to keep her in training, or, at age 6, retire her for breeding. She was kept in training, and in her first start in 50 weeks on Sunday at Santa Anita ran the race of her life, closing stoutly for a 15-1 upset in the $100,750 Irish O’Brien Stakes for California-bred female turf sprinters.
Attitude E Racer turned the tables on heavily favored stablemate On Down the Road to win Sunday’s $85,000 New Mexico State University Handicap for New Mexico-breds at Sunland Park.
The 5-year-old Attitude E Racer had faded late in the Albert Dominguez Memorial Handicap, allowing On Down the Road to turn a three-length deficit in the final furlong of the 1 1/16-mile race into a three-quarter-length victory on Dec. 30.
In last year’s New Mexico State University, On Down the Road finished second, three lengths in front of Attitude E Racer.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Aubby K, who always seems to run well fresh, returned from a seven-month vacation to register an impressive three-length victory over Spectacular Sky in Sunday’s $150,000 Inside Information at Gulfstream Park.
Golden Mystery, runaway winner of two stakes here earlier in the meet, including the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie, turned in a dull effort finishing 10th and last as the 6-5 favorite.
ARCADIA, Calif. -- When Bright Thought ran 1 1/2 miles on turf in 2:22.72 when winning the San Luis Rey Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, he set a world record, according to the American Racing Manual, which listed the 2:22.80 time set over this course by Hawkster in 1989 as the previous mark.
Bright Thought was awarded a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 104.
The first three furlongs of a 1 1/2-mile race at Santa Anita is run downhill.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Joyful Victory, who earned the first Grade 1 win of her career in the Santa Margarita Stakes on Saturday, emerged from the race in good condition, Corey York, the assistant to trainer Larry Jones, said Sunday morning at Santa Anita.
“All’s well. She ate her dinner last night, ate all of her breakfast this morning,” York said. “She was a little tired, but I guess she’s supposed to be.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – In his first work since his breathtaking victory in the Santa Anita Handicap earlier this month, Game On Dude cruised through a half-mile in 49.20 seconds on Sunday morning at Santa Anita.
Martin Garcia was aboard for the work, and he was standing tall in the saddle as Game On Dude effortlessly cruised through the lane.
“I needed to work him. He was getting pretty anxious,” said his trainer, Bob Baffert.
Game On Dude is being pointed to the Grade 2, $1.5 million Charles Town Classic on April 20, Baffert said.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Den’s Legacy, who finished third in the Rebel Stakes on Saturday, could return to Oaklawn Park next month for the Arkansas Derby, while Super Ninety Nine, who finished fifth as the 6-5 favorite, likely will head to the Santa Anita Derby, their trainer Bob Baffert, said Monday morning at Santa Anita.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
