Sat, 06/23/2012 - 14:34

SunRay: Fog Alert needs pace to close in San Juan County Commissioners Handicap

Fog Alert ran the biggest race of his career in a 1 1/8-mile handicap in April, and on Tuesday he will be stretching back out to that distance when he starts as one of the top-weighted horses in the $90,000 San Juan County Commissioners Handicap at SunRay Park in Farmington, N.M.

The San Juan is for 3-year-olds and up, and it drew a field of 10. Forest Mouse is the 124-pound highweight, while Fog Alert will tote 122 along with multiple stakes winners Imco Spirit and Quiet Again.

Sat, 06/23/2012 - 13:25

Hollywood Park: Tsunami Slew victory further proof Boat Trip has found his niche on grass

Benoit & Associates
Boat Trip, 3 for 3 on turf after winning the Tsunami Slew, will be pointed to the Oceanside on opening day at Del Mar.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – As Boat Trip was walking into the winner’s circle after Friday’s $74,330 Tsunami Slew Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park, trainer Mike Pender was kicking himself.

“I wish I’d switched him to turf a long time ago,” he said.

The surface switch was the right move. Boat Trip has made up for lost time in recent months.

The minor Tsunami Slew Stakes stretched Boat Trip’s unbeaten streak to three on grass, and gave Pender and owners B.J. Wright and James Hirschmann every right to look forward to turf stakes for 3-year-olds at Del Mar this summer.

Sat, 06/23/2012 - 12:01

Kentucky: Dullahan headed to Haskell, Hansen to the Iowa Derby

Tom Keyser
Trainer Dale Romans is going to give Dullahan another try on dirt in the Haskell Invitational.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Two of the top 3-year-olds in training, Dullahan and Hansen, had their next races confirmed by their connections after Saturday workouts.

Dullahan goes next in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 29, while Hansen will run Saturday night, June 30, in the Grade 3, $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows.

The Saturday work at Churchill Downs was the first for Dullahan since the chestnut colt finished a disappointing seventh as the 5-2 favorite in the June 9 Belmont Stakes. Over a fast track, he went five furlongs in 1:00.60.

Sat, 06/23/2012 - 10:40

Delaware Park: A matchup of successful claims

HoofprintsInc.com
Parent's Honor, a seven-length winner at Delaware in June 2011, is among the contenders in Monday's featured eighth race at six furlongs.

The 4-year-old colt Escort has won four times since trainer Jamie Ness claimed him on behalf of Midwest Thoroughbreds for $10,000 in January. Likewise, 4-year-old gelding Bet the Power has rewarded trainer Kenny Smith and owners Alan Copeland and Ruth Cutley by winning twice and missing a third victory by a head since he was taken for $20,000 in early March.

Escort and Bet the Power, far more valuable now than they were earlier in 2012, look like two of fhe prime contenders among 10 older horses going six furlongs in Monday’s featured eighth race at Delaware Park.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 17:19

Emerald Downs: City Twister wants fast pace to chase in Coca-Cola Handicap

AUBURN, Wash. – Makors Finale and D’honorable One, who reached the finish line together June 3 in the Auburn Handicap – the second dead heat for the win in Emerald Downs stakes history – will duke it out again Sunday in the one-mile, $50,000 Coca-Cola Handicap for 3-year-old colts and geldings.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 17:07

Belmont Park notes: Flying Zee Stables trainers still in rebuild mode

Tom Keyser
The Prize Fighter comes into the Mike Lee Stakes off a first-level allowance victory.

ELMONT, N.Y. – It has been nearly a year since Carl Lizza, the head of Flying Zee Stables, died. The operation, now run by his widow Viane, has undergone a major downsizing that has greatly impacted two of the stable’s trainers.

Phil Serpe and Carlos Martin, who trained the bulk of Flying Zee’s horses, are definitely in rebuilding mode. Though Serpe is having a nice Belmont meet with six winners from 19 starters, he is only 9 for 42 on the year.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 16:50

How to bet Woodbine's Pick 4 for Sunday, June 24, 2012

Here's my race-by-race rundown of Sunday's pick four at Woodbine on June 24, 2012. I'm building my wager with TicketMaker, found exclusively on DRF.com. Bet increments are $0.50, and my budget is $100.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 16:46

Hastings will offer incentives to shippers

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – In an effort to increase the local horse population, Hastings is offering a financial incentive for owners to bring horses to the Vancouver track.

Beginning July 1, horses shipping to Hastings and staying for at least two races will receive a $1,000 bonus following their second race. If they win their first race at Hastings, they also will receive a 25 percent bonus. The 25 percent bonus only applies to horses that stay and run a second time. To be eligible, a horse must not have raced in British Columbia for the same owner in the past six months.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 16:19

Calder: Sassy Image may not defend Princess Rooney title

Barbara D. Livingston
Sassy Image won last year's Princess Rooney at Calder.

MIAMI – A couple of weeks ago, it looked like there was a very good chance that the defending champs from both main events on the July 7 Summit of Speed program – Smile Sprint hero Giant Ryan and Princess Rooney winner Sassy Image – would be back to defend their titles. Now, there’s a possibility neither will be here.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 16:15

Emerald Downs: Royal Moses has work cut out for her in Irish Day

AUBURN, Wash. -- Royal Moses, a beaten favorite in her last start, will try to make amends Sunday in the Irish Day Handicap at Emerald Downs. But after finishing more than eight lengths behind the speedy Exclusive Diva in the Seattle Handicap, even Royal Moses’s trainer, Tim Harder, is skeptical she can close the entire gap in the season’s first route stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Exclusive Diva stormed to an 8 1/2-length victory in the Seattle and finished full of run. She covered the final sixteenth in 5.85 seconds, leaving the fast-closing Royal Moses in her distant wake.