HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Mark Casse likely summed up the feelings of every trainer participating in Sunday’s $100,000 Hal’s Hope at Gulfstream Park when he said, “I’d feel pretty darn good if Csaba wasn’t in there.”
The red-hot Csaba will likely be favored to post his fourth straight stakes victory in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope, a race he and many others in the field are hoping to use as a stepping-stone to the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on Feb. 9.
NEW ORLEANS – Stakes winners Tour Guide and Avie’s Quality are among 10 3-year-olds under consideration for the Lecomte, the first two-turn stakes prep for the Louisiana Derby.
Entries will be taken Wednesday for the Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte, a mile-and-70 yard race next Saturday. The race is in the first level of races offering Kentucky Derby points – 10 for winning, 4 for finishing second, 2 for third, and 1 for fourth – as part of Churchill Downs’s new qualifying system if the Kentucky Derby overfills.
One long-standing Grade 3 stakes returns after a year’s absence, while two Grade 3 turf events are gone as part of the 2013 stakes schedule released by Monmouth Park on Friday.
Overall, Monmouth will offer 19 stakes worth a collective $3.75 million this season, down slightly from the 2012 stakes package of 22 stakes worth a combined $3.95 million. Overnight stakes, which will be announced at a later date, are not included in the totals.
The 2013 stakes include 16 graded races worth a total of $3.45 million.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Though trainer Nick Canani sounded like he’s leaning toward running Called to Serve in the Grade 1, $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 9, he cautioned no firm decision has been made.
Canani said he and owner Marc Ferrell are still considering the Grade 2, $200,000 Strub Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 2 or possibly just training up to the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 2.
Trainer Chad Brown said it is unlikely his top Kentucky Derby prospect Normandy Invasion will run here this winter. Normandy Invasion was beaten a nose by Overanalyze in the Grade 2 Remsen to conclude a 2-year-old campaign that also included a 9 1/4-length maiden win. A son of Tapit, Normandy Invasion is owned by Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farms.
Groupie Doll, who is almost a sure thing to receive an Eclipse Award here next weekend, has still not been to the track since arriving on the grounds nearly two weeks ago. Groupie Doll dominated her division in 2012, highlighted by an easy victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Calidoscopio, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Marathon in his U.S. debut at Santa Anita last November, will be after another major prize at the same track in coming months.
Thursday, trainer Mike Puype said that the 10-year-old Calidoscopio is being pointed to the $200,000 San Antonio Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 3 as a prep for the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap over 1 1/4 miles on March 2.
The Big Cap is the top race of the meeting for older horses.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Gary Contessa doesn’t remember where he was or with which horse he recorded his 1,000th career victory. He doesn’t plan to make the same mistake when career win 2,000 comes along.
Contessa, who recorded his first career victory in 1985, entered Friday’s racing at Aqueduct with 1,993 career wins. He believes 2,000 is a significant milestone.
Louisiana Downs has made some changes to its wagering format for its 46-date Quarter Horse meet that opens Saturday. The Bossier City, La., track will race through March 27.
Louisiana Downs will card pick threes on all races this meet, said Trent McIntosh, director of racing operations for the track. McIntosh also said the minimum number of starters required for superfectas has been reduced from eight to six, and for trifectas, from six to five.
