Mon, 12/10/2012 - 16:04

Gulfstream Park: Take Charge Indy will race as a 4-year-old; pointing to Donn Handicap

Barbara D. Livingston
Take Charge Indy, winner of the Florida Derby, will race as a 4-year-old and is eyeing the Donn Handicap.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Take Charge Indy, winner of the Grade 1 Florida Derby earlier this year, will be back to race again at 4 with his first goal the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on Feb. 9.

WinStar Farm purchased the breeding rights to Take Charge Indy from owners Chuck and Maribeth Sanford earlier this year. Take Charge Indy is by A.P. Indy out of the multiple Grade 1-winning mare Take Charge Lady.

Mon, 12/10/2012 - 15:41

Aqueduct: Tiz the Argument finally gets spot in Jameela Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
As a stalker, Tiz the Argument figures to get a good trip.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The 82-day layoff that Tiz the Argument has entering Wednesday’s $80,000 Jameela Stakes at Aqueduct is not by design.

“I’ve been wanting to run her for a long time,” said trainer Richard Dutrow Jr., who said he couldn’t find a suitable spot for the 4-year-old filly.

Mon, 12/10/2012 - 15:15

Charles Town stakes schedule features $3.67 million in purses

Charles Town Races plans to pay out at least $3.67 million in stakes purses during the 2013 racing season, including the $1.5 million purse for the Charles Town Classic, the track announced Monday.

The total amount of stakes purses does not include the amount the track plans to distribute in the races in the one-day West Virginia Breeders’ Classics, which last year had total purses of $1.345 million for nine races. In the Monday press release, Charles Town said it will announce the purses and schedule for the restricted Breeders’ Classics races at a later date.

Mon, 12/10/2012 - 14:47

Woodbine notes: Aunt Els rewards McKnight's confidence in Ontario Lassie

Michael Burns
Aunt Els wound up her first campaign with a 3-for-4 record and earnings of $154,884.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Aunt Els had not been among the original nominees to last Sunday’s Ontario Lassie, a $150,000 stakes race for Ontario-foaled 2-year-old fillies.

But after watching Aunt Els score a sharp allowance win over six furlongs here Nov. 23, trainer Norm McKnight decided she deserved a shot, even though she would be trying 1 1/16 miles for the first time.

Mon, 12/10/2012 - 14:35

Tampa Bay Downs notes: Allen embodies benefits of experience

Tom Keyser
Ronnie Allen won his first of four riding titles at Tampa Bay Downs in 1984.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Youth or experience?

In the racing industry, owners, trainers, and bettors face that question every day when choosing between young, up-and-coming jockeys and older veterans. Whether it’s putting a rider on a horse or betting on that same runner, weighing the pros and cons of youth versus experience is no easy task.

Mon, 12/10/2012 - 14:18

Canterbury Park to run five six-figure stakes in 2013

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – Canterbury Park’s 2013 stakes schedule features five stakes worth more than $100,000, the most in one season since the track reopened in 1995. The Mystic Lake Derby increases to $200,000, while the Lady Canterbury Stakes and the Northbound Pride Oakswill be returning to $100,000. The newly created $125,000 Mystic Lake Mile and $100,000 Shakopee Juvenile Stakes round out the major stakes.

The renamed Chaucer Cup returns to Canterbury next year in the form of the $50,000 Dark Star Cup, run in honor of local media personality and longtime track supporter Dark Star.

Mon, 12/10/2012 - 12:27

Trainer Mel Stute remains hospitalized after fall at home

Benoit & Associates
Trainer Mel Stute, 85, suffered a head injury after a fall at his home.

Trainer Mel Stute remained hospitalized Monday after suffering a head injury in a fall at his home Saturday evening.

Stute underwent tests Sunday and was in intensive care Monday morning, according to his son, trainer Gary Stute. He said doctors thought that Mel Stute could be transferred to a private room later Monday.

“He’s still pretty disoriented,” Gary Stute said Monday.

Sun, 12/09/2012 - 20:18

Hollywood Park: Doinhardtimeagain's win in Soviet Problem completes big weekend for Hollendorfer

Benoit & Associates
Doinhardtimeagain, ridden by Martin Garcia, gives trainer Jerry Hollendorfer his third stakes win of the weekend by taking the Soviet Problem.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Doinhardtimeagain, an improving 2-year-old filly, gave red-hot trainer Jerry Hollendorfer his sixth win of the weekend, and third in a stakes, in the $196,000 Soviet Problem Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park on Sunday.

Ridden by Martin Garcia, Doinhardtimeagain ($15.80) stalked pacesetter Home Journey on the backstretch and into the turn, swept around her and two other rivals in early stretch, and won the seven-furlong race for California-bred fillies by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:23.93.

“We got enough speed in front of and it went great,” Hollendorfer said.

Sun, 12/09/2012 - 20:12

Sunland: Nuggets Please heads 1-2 finish for trainer Evans in Johnie Jamison Handicap

Coady Photography
Nuggets Please (5), a 14-1 shot ridden by Derek Bell, closes from last to take the Johnie Jamison Handicap.

Stable H. M. A. and trainer Justin Evans sent out the first two finishers in the $85,000 Johnie L. Jamison Handicap at Sunland Park on Sunday, when Nuggets Please closed for a 2 1/4-length win over Our Choice. The horses raced as separate betting interests. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to Mostly Dust.

The Jamison was one of two New Mexico-bred stakes on the card. In the other, Rose’s Desert defended her title in the $85,000 New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap.

Sun, 12/09/2012 - 19:46

Remington: Texas Bling pays $259.60 in Springboard Mile upset

Dustin Orona Photography
Texas Bling (8) launches his winning rally under Erik McNeil in the Springboard Mile.

Texas Bling set a season-record in the final stakes race of the Remington Park meet on Sunday, when he paid $259.60 to win in the $300,000 Springboard Mile for 2-year-olds. He burst to the lead from between horses in the next-to-last race of the meet, for a 1 3/4-length win over Will Take Charge. It was another half-length back in third to Worldventurer.