HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Super Ninety Nine’s win in the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Monday was somewhat reminiscent of Oxbow’s score in last month’s Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte at Fair Grounds.
Both horses were front-running, 11-length winners of the first graded 3-year-old preps in this region. And both traveled for their races for Hall of Fame trainers. But their paths are not likely to cross soon.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Although trainer Bill Mott was the No. 1 star this past week, leading trainer Todd Pletcher didn’t fare too badly himself over the holiday weekend. Pletcher sent out Capo Bastone to win his 3-year-old debut Saturday, then came back Monday to register impressive allowance wins with a pair of 4-year-olds, Hierro and the filly Ciao Bella.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Santa Anita bettors aiming at the $113,777 pick-six carryover on Thursday might wait until the storm expected early this week blows through and late changes are announced before handicapping the sequence.
Three races in the pick six are scheduled for turf. Rain could influence the conditions of those races, including a 1 1/4-mile race with a novel alternative for distance depending on track condition.
After he monitored the forecast, racing secretary Rick Hammerle recognized rain could jeopardize the race-5 allowance.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Bill Mott not only won all three graded stakes decided here this past weekend, he also sent out the up-and-coming older horse Cigar Street to an impressive allowance win Sunday. Cigar Street led throughout to register a 2 1/2-length decision over Big Screen going 1 1/8 miles for his second straight victory since returning from nearly nine months on the sidelines due to a hairline fracture in his right hind ankle.
One of the winter’s best races has been the battle between Irad Ortiz Jr. and his younger brother Jose, who enter the last few weeks of the winter meet tied for the lead with 54 victories, 13 ahead of their closest pursuer.
Their sibling rivalry renews in Thursday’s second race, a $59,000 optional claiming route for New York-bred fillies and mares that serves as the nominal feature.
A disrupted start to 2013 appears to be behind The Lumber Guy, a Grade 1 winner in 2012.
After finishing seventh in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, The Lumber Guy was briefly sidelined with a bruised foot, missing an expected start in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes over six furlongs here Jan. 19. He returns to racing in Saturday’s $200,000 San Carlos Stakes over seven furlongs.
Pimlico Race Course has increased the purses for a large number of its stakes races for 2013, including a $200,000 bump for the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, as the track’s share of subsidies from Maryland casinos accumulates.
Amateur photographers will have the run of Santa Anita on Friday when the track hosts its first Photo Day this year.
A successful promotion in the past, Photo Day provides photographers with an up-close look at morning workouts, a chance to meet trainers, a stable tram tour, and an opportunity to shoot races in the afternoon.
Registered photographers will be granted access to the track’s paddock and winner’s circle during racing.
Advance registration is available for $20 on the track’s website, santaanita.com, or on the day of the event from 7:30 a.m. for $25.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Hall of Fame rider Edgar Prado entered the 2012-13 Gulfstream Park meet with a new agent and high hopes, but not a lot of established business to hang his helmet on.
Eleven weeks into the session, Prado has himself a Grade 1 winner, a clientele base that is growing on a daily basis, and is riding as good as any jockey on the grounds.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Mizdirection will run in a mix of turf sprints and miles in coming months after reaffirming her versatility with an impressive win in Monday’s $150,000 Buena Vista Stakes at Santa Anita.
The Grade 2 Buena Vista was Mizdirection’s first start at a mile on turf since August 2011 and has left trainer Mike Puype with options throughout the nation this spring and summer.
