Turfway Park officials announced Friday that one of its sister companies, Horseshoe Cincinnati, has become the title sponsor of its showcase 3-year-old race, a development that includes a moderate purse increase from $500,000 to $550,000.
The Grade 3 Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes, which goes at 1 1/8 miles on Polytrack, will be run March 23. Horseshoe Cincinnati replaces Vinery as the title sponsor. In a media release, Turfway did not say how long the sponsorship will extend.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer David Jacobson will have a slight concern, though not in the usual sense, when he sends Ea out as the probable favorite in Saturday’s $75,000 Moro Stakes at Aqueduct.
Jacobson will hope the 1 1/8 miles of the Moro will be long enough for Ea, a 9-year-old gelding who has found a niche as a 1 1/2-mile specialist.
Okay, so Onepointhreekarats has a ways to go before giving her connections a full return on their $1.3 million investment. Better late than never, the 5-year-old mare appears headed on the right track.
Onepointhreekarats can add $150,000 to her bankroll as well as enhance her value as a future broodmare if successful in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Tiz Miz Sue has come to hand so quickly for trainer Steve Hobby that she will be launching her 6-year-old season a month earlier than scheduled Saturday, when she starts in the $100,000 Bayakoa at Oaklawn Park.
“I think she’s ready to run,” said Hobby, who trains Tiz Miz Sue for Cresran LLC. “She’s really trained spot on.”
Despite the fact Cornelio Velasquez is 3 for 3 aboard Vyjack, Joel Rosario will ride the 3-year-old in the Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 2, trainer Rudy Rodriguez confirmed Thursday.
Rodriguez said owner David Wilkenfeld wanted to make the change to Rosario, who is the leading rider at the Gulfstream Park meeting. Rosario gives up the ride on Called to Serve in the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap to ride Vyjack.
“The owner wanted to make a change. That’s his call, it’s his horse,” Rodriguez said.
My Golden Belle will be a sentimental favorite Saturday night when she starts in the $75,000 Two Altazano, one of two divisions of the Texas Stallion Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park. In the $75,000 Jim’s Orbit, impressive debut winner Ivan Fallunovalot will meet multiple stakes winner Worldventurer.
Both of the races will be run at a mile and are restricted to 3-year-olds by eligible stallions.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jockey Ramon Dominguez said Thursday he is hopeful to receive clearance in three weeks to begin getting on horses in the morning, which could pave the way for him to return to race-riding in mid-to-late March.
Dominguez, who sustained a fractured skull in a riding accident at Aqueduct on Jan. 18, has continued to make significant strides in his recovery, impressing all of his doctors.
ARCADIA, Calif. – After Jubliant Girl won her debut in a maiden race for 2-year-old fillies on the hillside turf course in November, expectations soared for owners Lee and Susan Searing and trainer John Sadler.
OLDSMAR, Fla. – Doubles Partner won the 2011 Tampa Bay Stakes and will most likely be the betting favorite in Saturday’s renewal of the Grade 3, $150,000 turf stakes. But there are several entrants in the 13-horse field who could keep him from a second win in the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay.
Doubles Partner, a 6-year-old trained by Todd Pletcher, has made only seven starts in the 23 months since he came on late to win the 2011 Tampa Bay by a neck. His lone win during that time came in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf last March.
Hennesey Smash will be putting a five-race win streak on the line Saturday when she makes her two-turn debut in the $85,000 Peppers Pride Handicap at Sunland Park. She is part of a seven-horse field in the one-mile race restricted to fillies and mares bred in New Mexico.
