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.
Goldencents, the winner of the Grade 3 Sham Stakes on Jan. 5, is likely to make his next start in the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on March 9, trainer Doug O’Neill said on Thursday.
“I like the timing,” O’Neill said. “It’s nine weeks. We’re looking toward the San Felipe as a stepping-stone for the Santa Anita Derby.”
The $750,000 Santa Anita Derby is on April 6, and is the final local major prep for the Kentucky Derby on May 4.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – El Padrino was expected to vie for favoritism with Csaba in Sunday’s Grade 3 Hal’s Hope, but trainer Todd Pletcher has instead opted to pass the race to await the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on Feb. 9.
El Padrino returned from a 7 1/2-month layoff to finish second behind Citrus Kid as the 1-5 favorite going a mile under allowance conditions here Dec. 19 to conclude his 3-year-old season. El Padrino finished fourth behind Take Charge Indy in the Grade 1 Florida Derby and 13th in the Kentucky Derby prior to going to the sidelines last spring.
The famed Twin Spires of Churchill Downs hold no allure for 6-year-old Starlite Starbrite, but put her in sight of the old Jockey Club building that rises up beyond the quarter pole at Fair Grounds and the mare is in her element.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Lady Stonewall appears to have the makings of a quality runner, and on Saturday she will get her first shot at stakes competition in the $60,000 Dixie Belle at Oaklawn Park. The opening weekend feature is for 3-year-old fillies. Others making up the field for the six-furlong race include two-time stakes winner American Sugar and the undefeated Baby Princess.
Back Seat Roll will be seeking her fifth consecutive win Saturday when she leads a field of 11 in the $85,000 La Senora at Sunland Park. The six-furlong race is restricted to 3-year-old fillies bred in New Mexico.
Back Seat Roll has been on a tear since her third career start July 14, when she won her maiden in a trial for the Rio Grande Senorita Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. She came back and won the finale July 29, the $140,000 New Mexico Juvenile Fillies at Zia on Oct. 28, and the $85,000 Enchantress at Sunland in her most recent start Dec. 16.
OLDSMAR, Fla. – On Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, 3-year-olds will take what their connections hope are the first steps to the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby and Grade 3 Florida Oaks when they go postward in the $100,000 Pasco and $100,000 Gasparilla Stakes, both at seven furlongs.
PHOENIX – Why Not Be Perfect always had ability, but it looks as though the 6-year-old may have put it all together. He comes off two smashing victories to lead Saturday’s $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Handicap. The mile grass event drew a good field of 11.
[bc_video_id:281201:]ARCADIA, Calif. – Handsome Mike’s upset win in the Pennsylvania Derby last September looked like a fluke after he was comprehensively beaten in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Hollywood Derby in November.
Trainer Doug O’Neill hopes to show that Handsome Mike is better than those results when the colt makes his 4-year-old debut in Saturday’s $150,000 San Fernando Stakes at Santa Anita. O’Neill blames himself for Handsome Mike’s ninth-place finish in the BC Classic here on Nov. 3 and a 10th in the Hollywood Derby on Nov. 25.
Bold Affair won five stakes in Maryland during 2012. But bettors will have to ask themselves whether her failure as the 2-5 favorite in the Thirty Eight Go Go three weeks ago was merely a by-product of a troubled trip or a warning sign that the sharp form she maintained during a 10-race campaign is due to deteriorate.
At anything close to her best, the 5-year-old Bold Affair should trounce her seven rivals in Saturday’s $100,000 What a Summer Stakes at Laurel Park. But if she doesn’t run faster than she did last time out, Bold Affair could be in big trouble.
