Fri, 06/15/2012 - 17:01

Belmont Park notes: Redeemed targeting Greenwood Cup

Tom Keyser
Redeemed is being pointed to the Grade 3, $200,000 Greenwood Cup at Parx Racing on July 14.

Redeemed, the 10-length winner of the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap here June 8, will keep racing at the 1 1/2-mile distance and make his next start in the Grade 3, $200,000 Greenwood Cup at Parx Racing on July 14.

The Greenwood Cup is a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Marathon to be held in November at Santa Anita. The winner of the Greenwood Cup gets their entry fees paid to the Marathon plus a $10,000 travel stipend.

Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. said Redeemed would likely run in the Greenwood Cup and have one more start before the Breeders’ Cup.

Fri, 06/15/2012 - 16:36

Belmont: Boys At Tosconova in realistic spot

Barbara D. Livingston
Boys At Tosconova missed most of his 3-year-old season because of nagging injuries.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Though he has returned to the winner’s circle several times since the summer of 2010, Boys At Tosconova has yet to return to the form that made him a Grade 1 winner as a 2-year-old.

Thus, in picking out spots in which to run the 2010 Hopeful winner, trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. doesn’t shoot for the stars.

So while some may have opted to run Boys At Tosconova in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap following his runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Westchester, Dutrow said, “I wasn’t looking in that direction for him.”

Fri, 06/15/2012 - 16:13

Emerald Downs: Winning Machine may be flying under radar in Budweiser Handicap

Erin Palmer/Emerald Downs
Winning Machine scores a front-running upset in the Governor’s Handicap on May 20.

AUBURN, Wash. – Winning Machine, the little engine that could, will be among the leading contenders Sunday in the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at Emerald Downs. But despite his recent victory over stakes foes, he’s liable to be overlooked in the wagering. Such is life in the shadow of Noosa Beach.

Fri, 06/15/2012 - 16:08

Monmouth Park notes: Currency Swap pointing to Saratoga

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Currency Swap, with Rajiv Maragh riding, wins the You and I at Belmont Park.

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Trainer Terri Pompay is proud of the effort by Currency Swap in his runner-up finish to Trinniberg in the Woody Stephens Stakes last weekend at Belmont Park.

“He ran terrific,” Pompay said. “He ran a 102 Beyer, which is his lifetime best.”

There was no catching Trinniberg that afternoon, although Currency Swap and jockey Rajiv Maragh made it a contest. They pressed the leader throughout and were beaten only 1 3/4 lengths in the seven-furlong stakes.

Fri, 06/15/2012 - 16:00

Indiana Downs: Horsemen's complaint led to commission's order to halt racing

The dispute that has led to the temporary cancellation of live racing at Indiana Downs originated with a complaint by the track’s Thoroughbred horsemen that the track was too hard, an official of the Indiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association said Friday.

Fri, 06/15/2012 - 15:46

Arapahoe Park: New Mexico shipper looks tough in Molly Brown

Came West can help move her jockey, Isaias Enriquez, closer to a career milestone Sunday if she wins the $40,000 Molly Brown for fillies and mares at Arapahoe Park. Enriquez through Thursday was at 997 Thoroughbred wins. He is in from New Mexico to ride Came West, the winner of the $50,000 First Lady at Ruidoso Downs in her last start May 27.

Fri, 06/15/2012 - 15:42

Will Rogers Downs: Handle rises 40 percent during 31-day meet

Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., experienced a more than 40 percent increase in handle on its races during the 31-date meet that closed in late May. The track handled an average $661,742 a card on its races from all sources, compared with $451,398 during the corresponding, 32-date meet in 2011.

Of the total amount, Will Rogers handled an average $636,908 a day on its races offtrack, compared with $426,110 in 2011. Ontrack, handle on the live card averaged $24,834 a day versus $25,287, the slight dip attributed to Will Rogers opening two new off-track betting sties.

Fri, 06/15/2012 - 15:24

Lone Star: Jimmy Dodwell follows in dad's footsteps at Diamond D

Rachel Alexandra tops of the list of horses Jimmy Dodwell has developed in his role as farm trainer for Diamond D Ranch in Lone Oak, Texas. But recent Lone Star Park maiden winner Greybill also ranks high on Dodwell’s list of favorites.

Greybill gave Dodwell his first official win as a trainer on May 24, when he rolled by six lengths in a maiden special weight. The horse was Dodwell’s fifth starter, and on Thursday night he collected another win with his sixth starter, I’m Denny Crane, a 2-year-old who could be headed to Del Mar.

Fri, 06/15/2012 - 15:16

Belmont Park: Mucho Macho Man sizzles in four-furlong drill

Bob Coglianese
Mucho Macho Man is being prepared for a possible start in the Suburban at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Kathy Ritvo had two horses to run on Friday’s card at Belmont Park. But she shipped three down from her base at Saratoga.

One of the three was Mucho Macho Man, who breezed four furlongs in 46.75 seconds Friday morning over the Belmont training track. It was the fastest by one full second of 29 moves at the distance.

Fri, 06/15/2012 - 15:08

Canterbury adds $150,000 Mystic Lake Derby to schedule

Canterbury Park announced a new addition to its stakes schedule on Friday, the $150,000-added Mystic Lake Derby. The race will be restricted to 3-year-olds going a mile over the turf course and will be run on July 28.

“The Mystic Lake Derby will offer the largest purse paid at Canterbury since its early years and will increase next season as we expand our stakes schedule,” track president and CEO Randy Sampson said.