LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It had been a while between proverbial drinks for Noble’s Promise. The millionaire 5-year-old lost 11 straight races before finally getting back to the winner’s circle last month at Keeneland, and now he is looking to end his career on a modest winning streak.
By the first of April, Willyconker had raced four times in 2012, won a Grade 1 race, and was worn out.
“He got a little weak on us and we needed to kick him out,” trainer Doug O’Neill said earlier this week.
Willyconker got his break. He returns to racing on Friday at Betfair Hollywood Park in a $56,000 allowance race over six furlongs on turf.
While O’Neill has hesitations about the distance, he expects a bright performance for Willyconker in advance of the 2012-13 meeting at Santa Anita.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Off her nose loss in the Nov. 4 Ontario Fashion Stakes, Youcan’tcatchme is the one to fear most in Friday’s Woodbine headliner, but returning to action on short rest may make her vulnerable in the six-furlong second-level optional $62,500 claimer.
Youcan’tcatchme had been idle for nearly a year when she won a five-furlong allowance with an 81 Beyer Speed Figure on July 2. She subsequently finished fifth after attending the pace in the seven-furlong Duchess Stakes.
Hightail will be the first 2012 Breeders’ Cup winner to run back when he faces a field of nine in Saturday’s Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot. Entries for the 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds were taken on Wednesday. Hightail drew post 5 just a few hours before he was to arrive at the Vinton, La., track aboard a flight bringing several Southern California- and Kentucky-based horses for Saturday’s card of eight stakes worth $2.2 million.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Yet another Lasix snafu occurred on the Kentucky racing circuit Wednesday at when Outofsiteoutofmind had to be scratched from the fourth race at Churchill Downs after being given two injections at the receiving barn, apparently by the same veterinarian employed by the Kentucky state veterinarian’s office.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Nipissing, tuning up for Sunday’s $125,000 South Ocean Stakes, breezed three furlongs in 35.80 here Wednesday morning with her regular rider Steven Bahen in the irons.
A Chiefswood Stable homebred, Nipissing would be looking to run her record to 4 for 4 after becoming a stakes winner last time out in the Oct. 28 Princess Elizabeth, a 1 1/16-mile race for Canadian-bred 2-year-old fillies.
Captain Genius set a pressured pace while off the rail under Deshawn Parker and after being moved to the four path in upper stretch drew off to win the $85.000 Mountaineer Park Sophomore Sprint on Tuesday night.
Trained by Joe Woodard for owner Billy Hays, Captain Genuis put away Warrioroftheroses and Jasizzle coming into the stretch on his way to an 8 1/2-length win in ridden-out fashion.
Jasizzle hung on for second in the eight-horse field of 3-year-olds, finishing 2 1/2 lengths in front of Fleet Eagle in third.
2014-15 Racing Dates
November 21 - March 29
Post Times
1:25 p.m. CT (daily)
Exceptions:
12 p.m. CT: Dec. 13 (Louisiana Champions Day), Dec. 20 (Santa Super Saturday), Feb. 1 (Super Bowl Sunday), Feb. 17 (Mardi Gras Day)
12:30 p.m. CT: Jan. 17 (Road to the Derby Kickoff Day), Feb. 21 (Louisiana Derby Preview Day), Mar. 28. (Louisiana Derby Day)
5:00 p.m. CT: Dec. 26, Jan. 16, Feb. 27, Mar. 20 (Other Starlight Racing nights)
Central Banker could start as fourth or fifth choice in the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot on Saturday despite having defeated an eventual Breeders’ Cup winner.
Central Banker will be seeking his third win from five starts in the Jackpot. His maiden score came in his turf debut at Saratoga when he edged Hightail, who went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint. Hightail is also expected for the Jackpot, a 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds.
