OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer John Terranova’s initial thought when seeing West Hills Giant start to lug in during the stretch run of the Gotham Stakes was to chalk it up to immaturity.
There might have been more to it.
Terranova said Monday that West Hills Giant may have been bothered by a cracked cap, the term given to a horse’s baby tooth that is being pushed up by the permanent tooth.
The top two finishers in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap last month at Gulfstream Park both had weekend breezes as they continue preparations for their expected rematch in the Grade 2, $400,000 New Orleans Handicap on the Louisiana Derby undercard March 30.
Graydar, the Donn winner for Todd Pletcher, went an easy five furlongs in 1:03.80 on Sunday at the Palm Meadows training center, while Bourbon Courage went five furlongs Saturday in a minute flat at Fair Grounds.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The pace scenario for the $1 million Florida Derby may have changed significantly on Monday after trainer Bob Hess Jr. announced his intention to run Merit Man in the Grade 1 fixture on March 30.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jason Servis isn’t brimming with as much confidence as one might suspect the trainer of Lady Gracenote would have entering Wednesday’s $75,000 Sonia’s Scamp Stakes at Aqueduct.
On paper, Lady Gracenote looks the horse to beat, dropping out of the Grade 2 Top Flight while others are stepping out of the claiming ranks.
But Servis is concerned about running Lady Gracenote back just 18 days from the Top Flight, a race in which Lady Gracenote earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 84.
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.
