BOSSIER CITY, La. – Mark Guidry is back having fun again.
After winning more than 5,000 races over a career spanning three decades, Guidry decided to hang up his tack in the fall of 2007. A native of Lafayette, La., 48 at the time, Guidry cited the physical grind of his profession as the reason the enjoyment of riding had left him.
Fast-forward to 2012 and Guidry has not only come out of retirement, but is enjoying a truly fulfilling renaissance to a career that began when he was in his teens.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Richard’s Kid was at the top of the California older male division when he was sent to Dubai in the fall of 2010.
Getting back to that level of racing is the goal for the second half of 2012, a campaign that begins in the $70,000 Prove It Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park on Friday evening.
Owned by Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed al Maktoum’s Zabeel Racing International, Richard’s Kid rejoins trainer Bob Baffert’s stable for his latest American campaign. Richard’s Kid was trained in Dubai by Satish Seemar.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Like many other trainers at Churchill Downs, Steve Margolis is rooting for I’ll Have Another to win the Belmont Stakes in the belief that “it would be good for the game” to have a Triple Crown winner.
“The horse has certainly done everything right, and Doug O’Neill is a real nice guy,” said Margolis.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Hard Not to Like, the talented 3-year-old filly who had been pointing for the Queen’s Plate, will not make the June 24 race.
“She has an issue that needs to be dealt with,” said Gail Cox, who trains the homebred Hard Not to Like for Garland Williamson. “She’s gone to the farm, and she’s probably going to need some minor surgery. Hopefully, we’re going to have her back toward the end of the year.”
Four of the six horses entered in a $40,000 optional claiming race for fillies and mares that will serve as the Northlands Park feature Friday are coming off wins. Nonetheless, Fleet Mama, second in a similar race May 25, and Maegans Princesses, fourth in the same race, appear to be the ones to beat in the six-furlong sprint.
Travelin Man, a Grade 2 winner during his 3-year-old campaign last year, is among five horses who accounted for 11 stakes victories the past two seasons in Friday’s feature race for older sprinters at Monmouth Park.
The six-furlong race, which goes as race 7, is a fourth-level optional $75,000 claimer that also is open to horses who have not won an allowance or stakes in 2012. None of the seven entrants will run for the claiming tag.
ALTOONA, Iowa – With two-time Hawkeyes winner L D Shes Special and defending champ Go Milan Go both retired to the breeding shed, the Iowa-bred filly and mare division has opened up for a new champion to step forward. The picture should be clearer after Friday night’s $75,000 Hawkeyes Handicap, which drew eight distaffers going 1 1/16 miles.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Sweet Cassiopeia garnered her first black type in the Hendrie Stakes, and should be dangerous as the lone speed in Friday’s second race at Woodbine, a third-level allowance-optional claimer.
Sweet Cassiopeia put together a wonderful 2011 campaign under the guidance of trainer Barb Minshall. After three consecutive runner-up placings in the summer, she graduated in a six-furlong maiden special Sept. 24.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Take your pick among the seven horses entered in a $25,000 claiming race that will serve as Friday’s feature at Hastings. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up goes as the sixth race on the seven-race card and appears to be a wide-open event. Post time for the first race is 7:15 p.m. Pacific.
AUBURN, Wash. – An evenly matched group of $12,500 claimers will compete over one mile Friday in the feature race at Emerald Downs. The first races goes at 6 p.m. Pacific, and the feature is the sixth event on a seven-race program.
Emancipated, dropping sharply in class, and Swiss Exploit, a front-runner who finished second behind the red-hot Go For Gusto in his last start, will attract plenty of support in the wagering.
