INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Amazombie, second to Shackleford in the Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard last weekend, is likely to make one start at the current Betfair Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting, in the $250,000 Triple Bend Handicap on June 30.
The Grade 1 Triple Bend Handicap is run over seven furlongs, and is the top sprint race of the meeting.
“I think that’s probably what we’ll do,” trainer Bill Spawr said. “I think in the right circumstances he can run that far.”
AUBURN, Wash. – The heart of the Emerald Downs season begins Sunday with the first stakes race of the meeting and an undercard with entertainment value: 10 races, full fields, and a slew of promising handicapping angles. No question, it’s the best card of the meeting, just in time for Mother’s Day.
The main event, the $50,000 Hastings Handicap, lured just five runners, but the leading contenders – Class Included and Special Holiday – could put on quite a show for mom.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Six of the 10 races carded at Belmont Park for Sunday are scheduled for the turf, including a trio of high-priced allowance events.
The second race on the card is a second-level allowance heat for 3-year-olds and up at a mile. Three-year-olds Our Entourage and Achilles ended up in this spot after a stakes restricted to 3-year-olds was not used by the racing office.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Wesley Ward is a lot like a football coach in that, even late in the game, you can’t tell by his expression whether he is winning or losing. With few exceptions, Ward doesn’t do any rooting for his horses, even in the stretch run of their races. Rather, he watches closely and impassively, far more clinician than cheerleader.
ELMONT, N.Y. – While a large field remains likely, the lineup for the 137th Preakness Stakes underwent some alterations Friday as Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Dullahan as well as Derby pace factor Trinniberg were removed from consideration while newcomers Teeth of the Dog and Zetterholm were added to the mix.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Taylor Said showed his trainer Troy Taylor a new dimension when he came from a stalking position with Fernando Perez aboard to win the $50,000 John Longden 6000 last Sunday. It wasn’t by design, though. Taylor expected the speedy 4-year-old to be the one everyone was chasing in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up.
“I was surprised because he has so much speed,” Taylor said. “This might change our plans with him. We always thought he was just a sprinter, but now we’re not so sure. Fernando was impressed and thinks he’ll go long.”
FORT ERIE, Ontario – Opening weekend at Fort Erie began with a Kentucky Derby Day crowd that kept the tellers and concessions busy all day.
“In the past, we opened on the same day as the Derby,” said Rick Cowan, chief executive officer of Fort Erie, “but this year we tried something different by having our opening day on Sunday instead.
“It turned out great as the large Derby crowd of Saturday was primed and ready for Sunday’s live racing. We were pleased at the response from both a financial and customer standpoint.”
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – A large crowd is expected at Hastings Sunday when Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Mario Gutierrez will hold a noon press conference and then a meet-and-greet with fans on the tarmac in front of the winner’s circle at 1 p.m.
Gutierrez, 25, came to Hastings as an apprentice in 2006 and was the leading rider here in 2007 and 2008. He said he is coming to Vancouver to thank people for the support they have given him throughout his career.
Anne’s Beauty, who showed both talent and versatility in her 3-year-old campaign, had a troubled trip when fifth in her seasonal bow at Gulfstream in the Wait a While over 1 1/16 miles of turf. That race was on April 8 and while Anne’s Beauty is ready to run again the time and date of her next appearance remains flexible.
Paul Attard, who trains Anne’s Beauty for owner Rob Smithen, entered the Kentucky-bred in Sunday’s prep for the Grade 2, $300,0000 Nassau Stakes for fillies and mares..
OCEANPORT, N.J. – After Deliburnsky ran third in the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes over the inner track at Aqueduct in January, trainer Tony Wilson decided to take a step back with the 3-year-old New Jersey-bred gelding.
Rather than press on, Wilson opted to give Deliburnsky, the winner of three races, including the Jersey Juvenile by six widening lengths, a break with Monmouth Park on the not-too-distant horizon.
