ARCADIA, Calif. - A winning pick six ticket worth $125,783 at Santa Anita on Thursday was purchased for $3,960 and used all of the runners in the last two races, according to documents provided by the California Horse Racing Board.
The ticket was one of four winning tickets on a day when interest was heightened by a carryover of $113,777 from the Monday, Feb. 18 program.
Bettors added $719,486 on Thursday.
No horse in the $50,000 Island Fashion at Sunland Park on Sunday can boast a better record at the race’s one-mile distance than Countess Curlin. She is 2 for 2 at the trip and should start as the favorite with Southern California-based entrant Branding expected to remain home for an allowance at Santa Anita.
The Island Fashion serves as the local prep for the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks on March 24. The field of eight 3-year-old fillies includes Fraudulentfootnote, runner-up in the $50,000 El Paso Times at Sunland, and Lady of Luck, who last raced at Churchill.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Honey Chile showed a different dimension, rallying from off the pace, when returning to the turf for her 2013 debut last month at Tampa Bay Downs, and trainer Wayne Catalano is hopeful Honey Chile’s new running style might translate into her long overdue first grass victory when she returns to Gulfstream Park and joins stablemate Trippin’ Along in Sunday’s wide-open $60,000 Ladies Turf Sprint.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Thinking about the $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita gave trainer John Sadler a chance to recall a tough beat that occurred 20 years ago.
Sadler still finds it hard to believe Gold Fleece lost the Grade 1 Gamely Handicap in 1993 at Hollywood Park.
“My mare ran [1:45-and-change] for a mile and an eighth, and Toussaud beat her,” Sadler said, shaking his head. “Toussaud – remember how good she was?
No trainer wants to run against himself, particularly placing horses for different owners in the same race. Sometimes, especially when dealing with a large stable not located within easy shipping distance of various racetracks, the practice can’t be avoided, as is the case with trainer Bret Calhoun in the featured seventh race Sunday at Fair Grounds. Calhoun has two sprinters, Triumph and Song and Make a Fortune, eligible for their second allowance condition. Into the same race they go.
ARCADIA, Calif. − When the 4-year-old Stephanoatsee closed steadily through the stretch to be second to Guilt Trip in the Grade 2 Strub Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 2, trainer Graham Motion decided where the colt would spend the late winter.
The performance justified the decision to leave Stephanoatsee in California for the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap over 1 1/4 miles on March 2. The Grade 1 Big Cap will be Stephanoatsee’s first start at that distance and at that level. The distance is especially attractive to Motion.
Trainer Dale Romans said both Little Mike and Dullahan will depart next Wednesday for Dubai, where they will make their 2013 debuts at Meydan Racecourse on March 9. Romans is using those races as preps for the Dubai World Cup card three weeks later.
Romans has yet to determine which of the two races on the March 9 card, the Burj Nahaar at a mile or the 1 1/4-mile Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3, would be best for Dullahan and Little Mike. He said his two horses will not race against each other that night.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. − It’s like she never left.
On Fire Baby was nestled in her old stall at Oaklawn on Friday, and come Sunday she’ll be back breezing over the same track on which she won last year’s Honeybee before going on to run fifth in the Kentucky Oaks.
NEW ORLEANS – Departing was to be scratched from the Risen Star Stakes on Saturday because of a wide post-position draw, trainer Al Stall said.
Departing will be redirected to Sam Houston Park, where he’ll start next weekend in the $50,000 Texas Heritage Stakes over one mile and around two turns. Were Departing to perform impressively in that spot, the timing would be favorable for him to come back in the Louisiana Derby here at Fair Grounds on March 30.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Humble Smarty won his maiden by more than three lengths at Oaklawn in February 2007. He ran an even better race here last month. Humble Smarty won a six-furlong optional claimer in 1:10.60, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 94 in his first start at age 9. The effort will make him a strong favorite Sunday in the $50,000 Nodouble Breeders’ at Oaklawn.
