Sat, 03/16/2013 - 18:01

Tampa Bay Downs: Magic Hour takes Wayward Lass Stakes

John Duca/Tom Cooley
Magic Hour won the $50,000 Wayward Lass by a length for her third career victory.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Magic Hour took the lead when Sister Earth broke down after a half-mile in the $50,000 Wayward Lass, then turned back challenges from the quarter pole home to register a hard-earned, one-length victory in the 29th running of the 1 1/16-mile fixture for fillies and mares.

Sat, 03/16/2013 - 16:40

Laurel: Norman Asbjornson gobbles up ground late to win Harrison Johnson Memorial

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
Norman Asbjornson, ridden by Jeremy Rose, roars past tiring pacesetter Eighttofasttocatch to earn his first stakes victory in the Harrison Johnson Memorial.

Norman Asbjornson had a reputation for consistently picking up small pieces of purses in stakes without ever winning an added-money event. It certainly looked like that trend would continue Saturday afternoon at Laurel Park when Eighttofasttocatch came into the stretch of the $90,500 Harrison Johnson Memorial Stakes with a huge lead while Norman Asbjornson was chugging along far behind.

But Eighttofasttocatch’s bid to win the Johnson for the third straight year was foiled when Norman Asbjornson came flying late to blow past the tiring pacesetter.

Sat, 03/16/2013 - 16:16

Fair Grounds: Mike Maker trains 1,000th winner

Trainer Mike Maker won the 1,000th race of his career when Magical Season captured the third race Saturday at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Maker, who turned 44 on Feb. 9, first had a trainer’s license as a 24-year-old in 1993, but after winning 13 races from 94 starters that year, he became an assistant to trainer Wayne Lukas, a position Maker held for 10 years.

Sat, 03/16/2013 - 15:48

Aqueduct: Falling Sky to make next start in Arkansas Derby

Tom Keyser
Falling Sky, the third-place finisher in the Tampa Bay Derby, is being pointed to the Arkansas Derby.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer John Terranova said Saturday that Falling Sky, the winner of the Sam Davis Stakes and the third-place finisher in the Tampa Bay Derby, would make his next start in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn on April 13.

Terranova said he was pleased with Falling Sky’s performance in the Tampa Bay Derby but was a little disappointed he couldn’t finish second to Verrazano.

“He came out of the race very well; he’s going to be very fit coming off two races at

Sat, 03/16/2013 - 15:16

Gulfstream Park: Zaikov impresses in debut

Bob Coglianese
Zaikov won his debut by more than 11 lengths Friday and earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure.

The performance by trainer Todd Pletcher’s latest 3-year-old sensation, Zaikov, here Friday was all the talk during training hours Saturday.

Zaikov, a homebred son of Distorted Humor out of the $2 million earner Wait a While, won his debut by more than 11 lengths while earning a 99 Beyer Speed Figure. Zaikov is owned by Alan Cohen’s Arindel Farm, which also campaigned Grade 1 turf winner Wait a While.

Sat, 03/16/2013 - 14:38

Sunland Derby expected to attract full field of 12

Benoit & Associates
After winning the seven-furlong San Vicente under jockey David Flores, Shakin It Up will likely be asked to try two turns in his next start.

Shakin It Up and Titletown Five are among the early probables for the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby on Sunday. The field for the 1 1/8-mile race was starting to take shape Saturday, with entries to be drawn Wednesday.

“The Sunland Derby looks to be a full field,” said Dustin Dix, director of racing operations for Sunland.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

Dix said the maximum the gate can hold is 12.

Sat, 03/16/2013 - 14:29

Gulfstream Park: Frac Daddy targets Grade 1 Florida Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Frac Daddy likely will run in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 30 if his throat ulcer has healed sufficiently.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The field for the $1 million Florida Derby is starting to grow.

On Saturday, trainer Ken McPeek added Frac Daddy’s name to the short list of 3-year-olds pointing for the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 30. He announced the decision after watching Frac Daddy work five furlongs in 1:00.82 in company with his 3-year-old filly stablemate Pure Fun, a Grade 1 winner.

Sat, 03/16/2013 - 14:25

Aqueduct: Elnaawi works for Wood Memorial

Tom Keyser
West Hills Giant will run next in either the Wood Memorial or the Blue Grass Stakes.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Elnaawi, the third-place finisher in the Gotham on March 2, began working toward a start in the $1 million Wood Memorial on April 6 by breezing an easy half-mile in 50.01 seconds Saturday morning over the Belmont Park training track.

Elnaawi, a half-brother to Grade 1 winner To Honor and Serve, breezed in company with Navy Guard, a 3-year-old maiden who is a half-brother to 2008 juvenile champion Midshipman. Elnaawi worked in blinkers, equipment he has worn in all three of his starts.

Sat, 03/16/2013 - 13:39

Mountaineer: Russian Greek trying to regain best form

Stacia Mumm/Vassar Photography
Russian Greek, ridden by Aaron Gryder, captures the California Derby, giving trainer Jerry Hollendorfer his fifth win in the stakes.

Russian Greek, the winner of a $100,000 stakes in California last year, and Thunder Lord, the runner-up in a pair of stakes worth $75,000 or more during his last two racing campaigns, bring more than a touch of back class to Monday night’s allowance feature at Mountaineer Racetrack.

Sat, 03/16/2013 - 13:28

Charles Town: Prize Winner might upend favorites in overnight handicap

Mike Montgomery
Bayonne, ridden by Erick Ramirez, surges past Withgreatpleasure to win the Pink Ribbon for fillies and mares.

Based on her rally to get third in a Grade 2 stakes last month, Withgreatpleasure would seem to be a bargain at her 9-5 morning-line odds for Tuesday night’s $35,000 overnight handicap for fillies and mares at Charles Town. A closer look at her record in three previous visits to the six-furlong West Virginia track, however, might sway bettors to look for a viable alternative.