Thu, 05/10/2012 - 12:39

Woodbine: Incredicat looks to build on last in Marine Stakes

Michael Burns
Incredicat wins the Wando Stakes at Woodbine in his last start.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Incredicat’s first venture around two turns was a success, and he will continue on the road toward the June 24 Queen’s Plate on Saturday at Woodbine in the $150,000 Marine Stakes.

The 1 1/16-mile Marine drew just five other 3-year-olds, including Canadian-breds Classic Bryce and Strait of Dover. Lexington Stakes winner All Squared Away ships up from Kentucky for the race.

Incredicat notched his lone 2-year-old outing before going south for the winter and was a front-running third following a layoff in an allowance sprint at Gulfstream on March 24.

Thu, 05/10/2012 - 12:10

Golden Gate: The Roan Ranger on improve for Alcatraz

Benoit & Associates
Chips All In is being considered for Saturday's Alcatraz Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.

Trainer John Martin is asking a lot of The Roan Ranger in Saturday’s $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes at Golden Gate Fields. If The Roan Ranger is to win his third consecutive race, he will have to defeat the graded stakes winner Stony Fleece and stakes winners Chips All In and Longview Drive in the 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds.

Thu, 05/10/2012 - 08:54

Evangeline: Apprentice jockey Menard gets first win on 75-1 shot

OPELOUSAS, La. – Brandon Menard recorded his first career victory when 75-1 shot Jace’s Ace closed with a rush to win the eighth race at Evangeline Downs Wednesday evening. Jace’s Ace paid $153.20.

Jace’s Ace, trained by Firal Ryder, raced well back early before Menard steered him down to the rail, and they caught the leader and won by 2 1/4 legnths.

Wed, 05/09/2012 - 17:24

River Downs: Motorcycle accident can't keep Ouzts from winning daily double

CINCINNATI, Ohio – How tough is Perry Ouzts?

The 57-year-old veteran jockey was involved in a serious accident riding his motorcycle to River Downs on Wednesday, but still made it to the track in time to win the daily double.

Ouzts was going westbound on interstate 275 at about 65 miles per hour when a car entered the highway and slammed into him, totaling Ouzts’s motorcycle and sending him crashing to the pavement. Another driver saw the accident and stopped traffic, making sure Ouzts wasn’t run over. His motorcycle went tumbling and sailed over an embankment.

Wed, 05/09/2012 - 17:07

Belmont: Currency Swap returns to New York for You and I Stakes

Currency Swap, last year’s Grade 1 Hopeful winner where he beat, among others, I’ll Have Another, returns to New York at Belmont Park in Saturday’s $85,000 You and I Stakes at seven furlongs.

Currency Swap finished second to Gemologist in a one-turn mile allowance race at Gulfstream on March 16 before finishing 11th as the favorite in the Illinois Derby, his first start around two turns last month.

Currency Swap will take on Hardened Wildcat, winner of the Fred “Cappy” Capossela Stakes as well as minor stakes winner Phil Dancer, Tightend Touchdown, and Brian.

Wed, 05/09/2012 - 16:51

Belmont: Peter Pan prospect Cigar Street injured, out for summer

Lou Hodges Jr.
Cigar Street is scheduled to undergo surgery this week to insert a screw to repair a hairline fracture of his left hind cannon bone.

Cigar Street, an impressive maiden winner at Fair Grounds, was being pointed to Saturday's Peter Pan at Belmont Park, but was diagnosed with an injury last weekend and will miss the summer.

According to trainer Steve Margolis, Cigar Street had a hairline fracture of his left hind cannon bone and was to undergo surgery this week to have a screw inserted.

Margolis said the injury was caught early enough where the prognosis is good for a return to the races later this year.

Wed, 05/09/2012 - 16:35

Belmont: Street Life tries to prove he's stakes-caliber in Peter Pan

Barbara D. Livingston
Mark Valeski worked Monday morning, but trainer Larry Jones says he will use the horse's mood on Wednesday to gaurge whether to run in Saturday's Kentucky Derby.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Chad Brown doesn’t know where ultimately Street Life will fit among this year’s 3-year-old crop. However, he believes the colt’s sixth-place finish in last month’s Grade 1 Wood Memorial was not a true assessment of Street Life’s talent.

Saturday, Brown hopes to find out more when Street Life is scheduled to face 11 fellow 3-year-olds seeking an identity in the Grade 2, $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park. The Peter Pan, run at 1 1/8 miles over the main track, is likely to spawn a starter or two for the Belmont Stakes here on June 9.

Wed, 05/09/2012 - 16:16

Emerald Downs: Lucarelli well armed for a big summer

Benoit & Associates
Gallant Son could make a start in the Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs this summer.

AUBURN, Wash. – Emerald Downs kicks off its stakes program Sunday, and trainer Frank Lucarelli will be front and center with a contender in the $50,000 Hastings Handicap for fillies and mares.

Wed, 05/09/2012 - 16:03

Emerald Downs: Go With Gusto tries for first route victory

AUBURN, Wash. - The scramble to fill races continues at Emerald Downs. The fourth week of the meeting begins Friday at 6 p.m. Pacific with a seven-race program and only 48 potential starters. The feature race, a $12,500 claimer for older horses at one mile, attracted a field of six.

Go With Gusto and Hard Slider, each with a victory at the meeting, will attract the lion’s share of the betting in the feature. Favorites have dominated at the meeting to date, winning 44 percent of the first 103 races.

Wed, 05/09/2012 - 15:57

Hollywood Park notes: Whirlwind days for O’Neill following Derby win

Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography
Trainer Doug O'Neill answers questions from the media on the Churchill Downs backstretch the day after I'll Have Another's victory in the Kentucky Derby.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Doug O’Neill’s cell phone rang, as it does quite frequently, on the backstretch at Betfair Hollywood Park on Wednesday morning, interrupting a conversation with a ring tone that summarized the trainer’s recent weeks.

The song was “Life’s Been Good,” the 1978 rock classic by Joe Walsh.

“Hey, it’s been on there for a while, before the Santa Anita Derby,” O’Neill said in his defense.