Fri, 06/01/2012 - 15:45

Arapahoe Park: Mythical Power tops Arapahoe Park Sprint

Mythical Power and Streakin’ Mohican, who were each claimed last out in Southern California, meet in Colorado on Sunday for the $40,000 Arapahoe Park Sprint. They are part of an 11-horse field for the six-furlong race that also includes horses who last raced at Woodbine, Turf Paradise, and Prairie Meadows.

Fri, 06/01/2012 - 15:35

Hastings: Majesticality, Northern Causeway looking to get back on track

The last two Grade 3 British Columbia Derby winners, Majesticality in 2010 and Northern Causeway last year, will be looking to get untracked when they run in the $50,000 Sir Winston Churchill on Sunday at Hastings.

Majesticality, a 40-1 shot when he won the derby in 2010, took the rest of the year off following his win and raced only five times in 2011. He is coming off a fourth-place finish in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance race May 12. His trainer, Barbara Heads, is looking for a more productive season with Majesticality this year.

Fri, 06/01/2012 - 15:18

Hollywood Park: Liaison looks to rebound in Affirmed Stakes

Tom Keyser
Trainer Bob Baffert expects Liaison to show improvement in Sunday's Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes at Hollywood Park.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – It was not a good winter for Liaison, who began 2012 among the top Kentucky Derby candidates in California. His reputation slipped race by race.

Four losses and five months later, Liaison aims for a resurrection at Betfair Hollywood Park. It certainly is the right track. Liaison won the CashCall Futurity in December at Hollywood, and trainer Bob Baffert expects the old Liaison to reappear Sunday.

Fri, 06/01/2012 - 15:14

Churchill Downs: Foster could feature sibling rivalry

Keeneland/Coady Photography
The 5-year-old gelding Wise Dan, ridden by John Velazquez, sets a course and stakes record winning the Ben Ali.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Charlie Lopresti said he and owner Morton Fink are considering running Wise Dan and Successful Dan against each other when the Grade 1 Stephen Foster is renewed at Churchill Downs on June 16.

“Wise Dan will run for sure,” Lopresti said Friday. “We’re still on the fence with Successful Dan. Obviously the big question is whether we want to run the brothers against each other.”

Fri, 06/01/2012 - 14:52

Belmont Stakes 2012: Chiropractor plays big role in keeping I'll Have Another straight

Jenny Burgos
Larry “Thumper” Jones (left) is I’ll Have Another’s chiropractor.

Horses and hockey. Those were the two loves of Larry Jones when he was a growing up in tiny Stettler in Alberta, Canada. Jones longed to win the Stanley Cup, but a back injury short-circuited those dreams and led to a career change that has instead put him front and center with I’ll Have Another, who will try to win the Triple Crown in the 144th Belmont Stakes on June 9 at Belmont Park.

Fri, 06/01/2012 - 14:49

Woodbine: Casse sending three in Oaks

Michael Burns
Dixie Strike, with Patrick Husbands riding, wins the Selene.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Casse has won the Woodbine Oaks twice, and will be loaded for bear again on Sunday when he sends out Dixie Strike, Northern Passion, and Black Bird Rock in the 57th running of the $500,000 event.

The nine-furlong Oaks tops an excellent card which also includes the $150,000 Plate Trial. Both stakes are important preps for the June 24 Queen’s Plate, and will be televised on CBC from 4:30-5:30 p.m. TVG will also provide special coverage of Sunday’s major races.

Fri, 06/01/2012 - 14:45

Belmont: My Jopia follows up good turf debut in Cupecoy's Joy

ELMONT, N.Y. – Before he takes a swing for the fences with longshot Five Sixteen in next Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, trainer Dominick Schettino looks to be a more realistic player with My Jopia in Sunday’s $75,000 Cupecoy’s Joy Stakes at Belmont Park.

The Cupecoy’s Joy, for 3-year-old fillies, shares billing with the $75,000 Spectacular Bid, for 3-year-old males, on Sunday’s 10-race card. Both races, scheduled for seven furlongs on the Widener turf course, are part of the New York Stallion Series, restricted to progeny of New York-based stallions.

Fri, 06/01/2012 - 14:21

Monmouth to bid for Breeders' Cup

The operators of Monmouth Park in New Jersey plan to submit a proposal to host the 2013 Breeders’ Cup, the top official at the track said on Friday.

Monmouth will submit the proposal within the next four to seven days, according to Dennis Drazin, the president of a horsemen-owned operating company that reached a deal earlier this year to lease Monmouth from the state. The proposal will ask for Monmouth to be considered for next year’s two-day event, along with events in 2014 and beyond, Drazin said.

Fri, 06/01/2012 - 14:10

Woodbine: Doyle, Graham take another shot at Woodbine Oaks

Michael Burns
Jockey Justin Stein gives Horseshoe Hill her final Woodbine Oaks work Tuesday, going six furlongs in 1:13.20.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Michael Doyle and owner Bill Graham teamed to win a Woodbine Oaks in 1989 with the 3-2 favorite Blondeinamotel.

On Sunday, Doyle and Graham will be looking to reprise that feat with Horseshoe Hill, who is 20-1 on the morning line.

“She’s doing very well,” said Doyle, who sent out Horseshoe Hill to drill six furlongs in 1:13.20 under jockey Justin Stein here last Sunday. “Justin really liked her.”

Fri, 06/01/2012 - 13:45

Hastings: Stablemates Taylor Said and St Liams Halo clash in Sir Winston Churchill

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – It is tough to look past Taylor Said and St Liams Halo in the $50,000 Sir Winston Churchill at Hastings Sunday. The 1 1/16-mile feature for 3-year-olds and up drew eight horses and goes race 7 on an eight-race card that starts at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

Both horses are owned by Glen Todd and trained by Troy Taylor but will run uncoupled in the wagering.

Todd likes St Liams Halo because he is a proven route horse. Taylor isn’t as sure, and neither was Fernando Perez when he had his choice of mounts and opted to ride Taylor Said.