Thu, 03/07/2013 - 12:14

Hawthorne still on its feet after difficult season

Four-Footed Fotos
Sweetnorthernsaint wins the 2006 Illinois Derby, Hawthorne's signature race. Once a major Derby prep, the race was excluded from Churchill's new Derby qualifying system and is being rebranded as a prep for the Preakness Stakes.

In Washington Park on Chicago’s south side, there’s a low brick building with green trim that until 1905 stabled horses at the original Washington Park racetrack. In the south suburban town of Homewood, a street called Derby Avenue harks back to Washington Park’s second incarnation, which burned in 1977. Through mid-20th-century, Chicago attracted many of the best stables in the country every summer. The remains of the old tracks lie all over Chicagoland: Aurora Downs, Garfield Park, Harlem Race Track, Dexter Park, Brighton Park. Sportsman’s Park.

Wed, 03/06/2013 - 18:18

Oaklawn Park notes: King Henny, Gazebo winner, will stay sprinting

Coady Photography
The most likely option for King Henny's next race is the $75,000 Bachelor for 3-year-olds at six furlongs April 6.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - King Henny, who upset Titletown Five in the $60,000 Gazebo for 3-year-olds at six furlongs last Saturday at Oaklawn, will remain sprinting, said trainer Steve Asmussen. The horse won his third career stakes and earned a career-high Beyer of 83.

"I think three-quarters to seven-eighths is his best lick," Asmussen said.

Asmussen said the goal now is to run King Henny back in a sprint at Oaklawn, with the most likely option the $75,000 Bachelor for 3-year-olds at six furlongs April 6.

Wed, 03/06/2013 - 18:00

Oaklawn Park: Master Rick eyes Texas Mile

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Master Rick, who dominated allowance foes last week at Oaklawn, is being pointed for the Grade 3, $200,000 Texas Mile at Lone Star Park, said his trainer, Steve Asmussen. The race is April 27.

“We like him at a flat mile and think that’s his distance,” said Asmussen, who trains Master Rick for Richard L. Davis. “This gives him plenty of time off a nice win.”

Wed, 03/06/2013 - 17:56

Oaklawn Handicap next for Unstoppable U

Jack Coady/Coady Photography
Unstoppable U earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 89 winning the Maxxam Gold Cup.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Unstoppable U, who shipped into Sam Houston Race Park last Saturday night and won the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup, is to make his next start in the Grade 2, $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap on April 13, said his trainer, Ken McPeek.

Unstoppable U has now won two of three starts this year, his other score coming in an allowance at his Oaklawn base. In the Maxxam, run over the same mile-and-an-eighth distance of the Oaklawn Handicap, he tracked the pace and went on to a one-length win. Unstoppable U earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 89.

Wed, 03/06/2013 - 17:32

Aqueduct: Smooth Bert back to work after procedure

Barbara D. Livingston
Smooth Bert (right) finished sixth in the Grade 3 Withers on Feb. 2.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Smooth Bert, winner of the Damon Runyon Stakes for New York-bred juveniles last December, breezed three furlongs in 37.89 seconds Wednesday morning at Belmont Park.

It was the first work for Smooth Bert since he finished sixth in the Grade 3 Withers on Feb. 2. It also was his first work since he had a testicle removed and became a ridgling.

Trainer Leah Gyarmati said Smooth Bert had been bothered periodically by an ascended testicle. Sometimes, he would walk awkwardly around the shed row, Gyarmati said.

Wed, 03/06/2013 - 17:26

Gulfstream Park notes: Kenneally gives Majestic Hussar, Bradester a rest

Barbara D. Livingston
Majestic Hussar tired to finish fourth in the Fountain of Youth.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Eddie Kenneally reported that he has sent two of his promising 3-year-old prospects, Majestic Hussar and Bradester, to the farm. Majestic Hussar set the pace before finishing a tiring fourth stretching out around two turns for the first time in the Fountain of Youth. He had defeated Palace Malice in his previous start.

[DERBY WATCH: Top 20 Kentucky Derby contenders with odds and video]

Wed, 03/06/2013 - 17:25

Aqueduct: Canani mulls options for Called to Serve

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
Called to Serve vacationed briefly in Kentucky following his third-place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Nick Canani was back in New York on Wednesday morning, but his prize pupil, Called to Serve, was getting a brief vacation in Kentucky following his third-place finish in Saturday's Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap.

Called to Serve was flown from Southern California to Lexington on Wednesday and was to spend a couple of days at a farm. He was expected to van back to Belmont Park over the weekend.

Wed, 03/06/2013 - 17:24

Fair Grounds: Injured Touch Magic still eyeing Kentucky Oaks

Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography
Touch Magic, the winner of the Silverbulletday Stakes, will miss the Fair Grounds Oaks because of an inflamed hock.

Trainer Pat Devereux said he is hopeful he can still make the Kentucky Oaks with his stable star, Touch Magic, who has not breezed since Feb. 16. The daughter of Lion Heart incurred a setback with what Devereux describes as an inflamed hock.

“The Oaks is still in our plans if we can get her back to more steady work,” Devereux said. “We’re just proceeding with great caution.”

Wed, 03/06/2013 - 17:18

Fair Grounds: Proud Strike to get another shot on Derby trail

Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography
Proud Strike likely will run in either the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park or the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.

After breezing five furlongs in 1:02 here Monday, Proud Strike will get another chance to prove he belongs on the Triple Crown trail, trainer Steve Asmussen said. Proud Strike was the surprise early leader in the Feb. 23 Risen Star before fading to eighth, beaten less than four lengths by Ive Struck a Nerve.

“I thought he breezed back real well,” Asmussen said. “We’re nominating to the Rebel,” to be run March 16 at Oaklawn Park, “and if we don’t make that, we’ll probably just wait for the Louisiana Derby.”

Wed, 03/06/2013 - 17:14

Aqueduct: Retreive likely for Bay Shore

Tom Keyser
Retreive won his maiden race by 8 3/4 lengths at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 22.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The day that unbeaten Gotham winner Vyjack won his maiden at Aqueduct, Clawback, the Jimmy Winkfield winner, was second, and Orb, the Fountain of Youth winner, finished fourth.

The favorite in that race, however, was Retreive, who finished third in that Nov. 10 race.

It took Retreive three more tries before winning his maiden, something he did by 8 3/4 lengths at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 22.

Jeremiah Englehart, trainer of Retreive, said he is leaning toward shipping that horse back to New York for the Grade 3, $250,000 Bay Shore Stakes on April 6.