Tue, 02/12/2013 - 16:24

Santa Anita: Eblouissante has bruised foot, may miss Santa Margarita

Shigeki Kikkawa
Eblouissante suffered a foot bruise following a win in an optional claimer last month.

Eblouissante, a 4-year-old half-sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, may have her stakes debut postponed after being diagnosed with a bruised foot following a win in an optional claimer last month.

Trainer John Shirreffs said that Eblouissante recently resumed galloping after a brief break. He was unsure whether Eblouissante could start in the $300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational over 1 1/8 miles on March 16.

“I think we’ll have to wait and see how she works,” Shirreffs said.

“We’ll gallop her a week before we work her and get her back in her routine.”

Tue, 02/12/2013 - 16:07

Santa Anita: Stevens aims to continue stakes streak

Shigeki Kikkawa
Gary Stevens rode Slim Shadey to victory in Saturday’s San Marcos.

ARCADIA, Calif. – After sweeping the two stakes at Santa Anita last weekend, Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens can extend that streak of wins at the highest level this weekend at Santa Anita and at Fair Grounds later this month.

Tue, 02/12/2013 - 15:52

Gulfstream Park: Authenticity opts for softer spot in Thursday allowance

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Authenticity is among the nominees for Sunday’s Grade 3 Sabin, but trainer Todd Pletcher has opted to take the more conservative route with his lightly raced mare, entering her instead for Thursday’s $54,500 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park rather than take on two-time Eclipse Award winner Royal Delta and the multiple Grade 2 winner Grace Hall in the Sabin.

Tue, 02/12/2013 - 15:47

Santa Anita: Hollendorfer barn back to winning ways, sends Curvy Cat in Thursday feature

Shigeki Kikkawa
Curvy Cat will be trying turf for the first time while facing established grass specialists.

ARCADIA, Calif. – One year ago at Santa Anita, horses trained by Jerry Hollendorfer had a tough time finding the winner’s circle. This year, the winner’s circle is practically a second home.

Hollendorfer won only 7 races from 71 starters last winter at Santa Anita as he and assistant Dan Ward toiled through a forgettable season.

Tue, 02/12/2013 - 15:32

Oaklawn Park notes: Sister Ginger will target Honeybee next

Coady Photography
Sister Ginger wins last Saturday's Martha Washington by 2 3/4 lengths.

Sister Ginger, who earned 10 points toward the Kentucky Oaks with her win in the $75,000 Martha Washington last Saturday at Oaklawn, is being pointed to the track’s next race for the division, the Grade 3, $150,000 Honeybee on March 9, trainer Steve Asmussen said.

Tue, 02/12/2013 - 15:16

Oaklawn Park: Baffert sending in Super Ninety Nine for Southwest Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Super Ninety Nine worked a half-mile at Santa Anita in 47.60 seconds Tuesday. He is scheduled to ship to Oaklawn Park on Thursday.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Bob Baffert, who last year swept Oaklawn’s graded series for 3-year-olds, said Super Ninety Nine is scheduled to ship to Arkansas for Monday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest. The horse breezed a half-mile in 47.60 seconds at Santa Anita on Tuesday and is due to arrive Thursday aboard at Tex Sutton flight from Southern California.

Tue, 02/12/2013 - 14:55

Golden Gate Fields: El Camino Real Derby highlights holiday weekend

Benoit Photo
Carving holds the lead in deep stretch of the Real Quiet under jockey Martin Garcia.

Golden Gate Fields is preparing for its biggest weekend of the year, a three-day splurge that includes two stakes, featuring the track’s signature race, the Grade 3, $200,000 El Camino Real Derby, a $100,000-guaranteed pick four on Saturday and two dollar days.

Tue, 02/12/2013 - 14:06

Keeneland boosts purses for overnight races

Purses for non-stakes races at the Keeneland spring meet will be increased by at least $1,000 per race, track officials announced Tuesday, with some races getting a raise of as much as $8,000 from previous levels.

Maiden and allowance races for 3-year-olds and upward will be run for a minimum of $58,000, while those same classes of races for 2-year-olds will be run for at least $52,000. For years, most of those races had been contested for $50,000. Also, purses for claiming races will increase by $1,000.

Tue, 02/12/2013 - 11:51

Pletcher pointing Verrazano to Tampa Bay Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Verrazano will make his stakes debut in the Tampa Bay Derby on March 9.

After briefly considering the Fountain of Youth Stakes and the Gotham as possibilities, trainer Todd Pletcher on Tuesday said that the unbeaten Verrazano would make his stakes and two-turn debuts in the Tampa Bay Derby on March 9.

Verrazano, 2 for 2 in his brief career, most recently romped in a Gulfstream Park allowance race, a one-turn mile, by 16 1/4 lengths on Feb. 2 while earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 105.

Tue, 02/12/2013 - 10:39

2013 Belmont Park Spring-Summer Stakes Schedule

2013 Spring/Summer Racing Dates

April 26 - July 14 (56 days)

Post Times

Dark Mondays and Tuesdays except:
Open: Monday, May 27
Dark: Wednesday, May 29 and July 10: Sunday, June 9

1:00 p.m. ET daily; Except 11:35 a.m. on Saturday, June 8 – Belmont Stakes Day
3:00 p.m. on Fridays, June 14, 21 & 28; July 5 & 12