HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – In three sprint starts on dirt last year, Flying Bird never finished closer than 5 1/2 lengths of the winner, and his Beyer Speed Figures declined with each race. Then he was put on the grass, and sent two turns. The transformation was immediate.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – There were as many as four options the connections of the New York-bred Brigand were considering for his next start, but ultimately they settled on Sunday’s $75,000 Turnofthecentury Stakes going one mile at Aqueduct.
Entered in Saturday’s $75,000 Evening Attire Stakes here against open company at 1 1/16 miles, Brigand was to scratch and run in this one-mile race restricted to New York-breds. Brigand also was under consideration for Monday’s Native Dancer at Laurel and next Thursday’s Billy Redcoat Stakes, a six-furlong New York-bred race at Aqueduct.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Joe Talamo had three wins on Thursday to move into second in the standings with 12 wins, three behind leader Rafael Bejarano.
Talamo won the second on Derekson ($8.20), the fourth on the aptly named Warren’s Joe T. ($90.60), and the sixth on Kir ($35.40).
Thursday, Kevin Krigger had a career-best day at Santa Anita, winning three races – the first on Donato ($6.40), the third on Sweetrayofsunshine ($7.80), and the fifth on There Is No Limit ($7.40). Through Thursday, he was tied for sixth at the meeting with seven wins.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Notwithstanding sharp form, Book Review and More Chocolate seem to be up against it Sunday in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita.
After all, Book Review is a late-running sprinter trying two turns, and More Chocolate is a turf specialist trying dirt. Beat the favorite Lady of Fifty? What, are they kidding?
HOT SPRINGS, Ark.– Sam’s Bliss and Cheery are both on the verge of becoming stakes winners and figure to vie for favoritism Sunday when they meet in the $60,000 American Beauty at Oaklawn Park. The six-furlong race for fillies and mares is the second half of a stakes double. The $60,000 Dixie Belle for 3-year-old fillies has been brought back for Sunday’s card after having been canceled due to poor weather Jan. 12.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Great Mills, fourth in the BC Turf Sprint in November, will be heavily favored to win an optional claimer over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in Sunday’s second race.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Great Mills was entered for the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes on the hillside turf course on Dec. 29, but withdrawn when the race was transferred to a wet-fast main track.
Despite a year of turmoil in its corporate offices, the New York Racing Association enjoyed a terrific year business-wise in 2012, posting significant gains in handle.
All-sources handle on NYRA’s races at its three tracks – Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga – was $2,202,719,485, a 12.4 percent increase over $1,959,931,791 in 2011. There were 245 racing days in 2012, compared with 240 in 2011.
When simulcasting is factored in, total handle was $2,496,498,959, an 11.8 percent increase over the $2,233,402,711 wagered in 2011.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Frank Stronach, chairman of the Stronach Group, the owner of Gulfstream Park, has purchased a half-interest in three-time Grade 1 winner Point of Entry from the Phipps Stable. The sale was confirmed on Friday by Shug McGaughey, who will continue to train Point of Entry for the new partnership.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Eblouissante, a half-sister to Zenyatta, is perfect in two starts after a cozy win in a first-condition optional claimer over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Thursday.
The victory is likely to lead to a stakes appearance later at this meeting, with races such as the $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 16 or the $300,000 Santa Margarita Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on March 16 to be considered, trainer John Shirreffs said.
