Fri, 11/30/2012 - 15:11

Gulfstream Park: Little Distorted sold privately to Silverton Farm

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. − Little Distorted, who turned heads when he earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure in his debut victory at Belmont Park, has been purchased privately by Silverton Farm, his former trainer, Michael Mareina, confirmed Friday.

A 2-year-old son of Distorted Humor, Little Distorted made his debut Oct. 28 and easily defeated Revolutionary, a highly regarded Todd Pletcher-trained horse who was the 1-5 favorite. Little Distorted led throughout, shaking off a couple of challenges before pulling clear to win by 2 1/4 lengths. He went six furlongs in 1:09.72.

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 14:52

Hollywood Park: Smiling Tiger primed for Vernon Underwood

Barbara D. Livingston
Smiling Tiger has overcome throat problems to regain his form coming into Sunday's Vernon Underwood.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Smiling Tiger returned from a four-month break to finish a solid third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 3 as a 20-1 outsider.

He was beaten three lengths by upset winner Trinniberg and had the best finish of a California-based runner in the field of 14. That will make Smiling Tiger the favorite to win the eighth stakes of his career in Sunday’s $100,000 Vernon Underwood Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park.

“He’s been training up a storm,” trainer Jeff Bonde said on Friday. “He should run his race.”

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 14:34

Woodbine: Long-absent Fifty Proof returns in Sir Barton

Michael Burns
Physical ailments have kept Fifty Poor on the sidelines since July 2011.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Fifty Proof, who was voted Canada’s champion older male of 2011 following a campaign of four starts which concluded in late July, will be returning to the races here at Woodbine in Sunday’s $125,000 Sir Barton.

The Sir Barton, a 1 1/16-mile race for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds and upward, attracted a field of 12 and shares top billing on the 10-race program with the $125,000 Kingarvie Stakes.

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 14:28

Woodbine: Tiller sends trio of geldings in Kingarvie Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Bob Tiller has a trio of geldings for Sunday’s $125,000 Kingarvie Stakes – Jade Dragon, Power Phil, and Smells Like Gold. A case could be made for all three of them in the 1 1/16-mile route for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds at Woodbine.

Jade Dragon was loaded for bear first time out in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special June 3, which he won comfortably. He went to the sidelines after getting drilled in the June 30 Clarendon Stakes and was a well-beaten third against $40,000 claimers when he resurfaced Aug. 29.

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 14:15

River Downs meet may have to be delayed or moved to another facility

The Ohio Racing Commission at its monthly meeting Thursday postponed assigning 2013 racing dates until its next meeting on Dec. 13.

One of the issues complicating the dates process is that River Downs may not be able to run its summer meet this year. River Downs typically races from early May until Labor Day.

Pinnacle Entertainment, which owns River Downs, plans to demolish the old grandstand and clubhouse and construct a new racino with up to 2,500 video lottery terminals. The construction process may make it difficult to race there this summer.

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 12:18

Tampa Bay Downs bans horses from Hawthorne Race Course

Horses that have raced, trained, or been stabled at Hawthorne Race Course during its fall meeting will not be allowed to enter the Tampa Day Downs backstretch, the track said in a Friday press realease.

An outbreak of equine herpesvirus has claimed the lives of four horses during the Hawthorne meet, which began Oct. 5 and runs through Dec. 30. Hawthorne horses have been under a state-imposed quarantine.

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 10:27

Turfway Park: Ouzts passes John Longden on all-time win list

Perry Ouzts achieved another riding milestone on the Thursday night opener at Turfway Park when passing Johnny Longden and taking 16th place on the all-time wins list by riding two winners, giving him 6,033 in his 39-year career.

Ouzts won the fourth race aboard Sok Sok and the ninth on Wonka. Both horses are trained by Susan Anderson.

Thu, 11/29/2012 - 17:06

Aqueduct: Overdriven, Sanford winner, retired

Barbara D. Livingston
Overdriven has been retired from racing due to a shoulder injury.

Owner Mike Repole said that Overdriven, his stakes-winning 2-year-old of 2011, has been retired due to a shoulder injury. Repole is looking for a home for Overdriven as a stallion in either New York or Kentucky.

Overdriven, a son of Tale of the Cat and a half-brother to the multiple Grade 2 stakes winner and millionaire Smooth Air, went 2 for 3 in his career and earned $129,750.

Thu, 11/29/2012 - 17:06

Nicole H eyeing stakes at Laurel

B & D Photography
Nicole H is pointing to the $100,000 Willa on the Move Stakes at Laurel Park on Dec. 15.

Nicole H, winner of stakes at Delaware and Penn National in her last two starts, may continue on her tour of the Mid-Altlantic region.

Trainer Mike Hushion said he is considering Nicole H for the $100,000 Willa on the Move Stakes at Laurel Park on Dec. 15.

Nicole H has won her last two starts, including the Endine at Delaware on Oct. 13 and the Daylily at Penn National on Nov. 21. In the Daylily she earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

Thu, 11/29/2012 - 16:30

Hawthorne: My Option tries to transfer form to dirt in Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante

STICKNEY, Ill. – My Option ran well finishing second in her career debut on Polytrack and performed even better winning a turf race in the second start of her career, and if My Option’s form transfers to dirt, she should be a formidable favorite Saturday at Hawthorne in the $125,000 Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante.