Fri, 04/27/2012 - 13:59

Hastings: Wando Woman seeks to leave gate issues behind

Four-Footed Fotos
Wando Woman makes her first start of 2012 in an allowance race Sunday at Hastings.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Wando Woman makes her seasonal debut in an allowance race Sunday at Hastings, and trainer Cindy Krasner will be keenly focused on the start of the race.

Krasner is aware that Wando Woman, who has absolutely no speed, is going to be last early and is unlikely to get up in time in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint. It is just how Wando Woman comes out of the gate that Krasner is concerned about.

Fri, 04/27/2012 - 12:56

Churchill Downs: Catalano optimistic Sacristy can handle longer distance of Kentucky Oaks

Barbara D. Livingston
Sacristy heads a field of seven entered for Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Forward Gal Stakes.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Sacristy has joined the prospective field for the 138th Kentucky Oaks after working seven furlongs Friday morning in 1:29 at Churchill Downs in preparation for what will be a daunting first try in a two-turn race.

“She’s feeling good and doing good, so that’s when you’re supposed to try them, right?” asked Wayne Catalano, who trains Sacristy for the Peachtree Stable of John Fort. “I don’t know about the distance for her, but a mile and an eighth might be questionable for a lot of those fillies.”

Fri, 04/27/2012 - 12:45

Los Alamitos: The Cartel Straw hot prospect coming into Kindergarten Futurity

This is the time of year when 2-year-olds, not 3-year-olds, became the focus of racing at Quarter Horse venues nationwide.

At Los Alamitos, the year’s first futurity, the Kindergarten, will have 300-yard time trials on May 6 and a $400,000-estimated final on May 20. Later, there are three seven-figure futurities in June, November, and December at Los Alamitos.

Fri, 04/27/2012 - 12:45

Hastings: Overvalued the one to run down in deep allowance race

Four-Footed Fotos
Overvalued will make her 4-year-old debut in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance on Sunday.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Overvalued is one they will have to catch in an $29,300 allowance race for fillies and mares that headlines an eight-race card at Hastings on Sunday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint attracted seven stakes winners, including Dashing Daisy who was voted the 2011 champion older female in British Columbia.

Fri, 04/27/2012 - 12:28

Woodbine: Biamonte expecting better from Roses and Shine in Fury

Michael Burns
Menlo Castle will make his first start of the year Sunday in the $150,000 Woodstock Stakes at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Ralph Biamonte, who won nine stakes with his 2-year-olds here last year, will be looking to get back into the swing of things when he sends out Roses and Shine for Sunday’s $150,000 Fury Stakes.

Roses and Shine wintered at Crupi’s New Castle Farm in the Ocala, Fla., area along with stablemates Menlo Castle, Run in Aruba, and Jenna’s Wabbit, all of whom contributed to the Biamonte juvenile stakes fund.

Fri, 04/27/2012 - 12:25

Woodbine notes: Kitty's Got Class preps in Fury with eye on Lady Angela

Michael Burns
Pender Harbour, last year's champion 3-year-old in Canada, is scheduled to make his first start of the year in the May 26 Eclipse or May 27 Connaught Cup.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario -  Kitty’s Got Class, an Ontario-sired filly who won two stakes here last season, will be making her seasonal bow in the Fury for trainer Mike DePaulo.

Racing for Denny Andrews and the late Dr. Mike Colterjohn, Kitty’s Got Class won the six-furlong Victorian Queen for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies and the six-furlong Fanfreluche for Ontario-breds before being well-beaten in the open Glorious Song at seven furlongs.

Fri, 04/27/2012 - 12:18

Woodbine: Wednesday racing returns

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Wednesday racing kicks in next week, with first post set for 6:45 p.m.

Wednesday night racing also brings back "Bet Night Live,” which is scheduled to air on The Score from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. each Wednesday through the balance of the meeting.

Jason Portuondo will join Laura Diakun as the new co-host on the show, which also will feature Jim Bannon as analyst and Sandy Hawley and Natalie Zak in supporting roles.

Fri, 04/27/2012 - 11:24

Kentucky Derby workouts: Union Rags hits Churchill Downs track; I'll Have Another works at Hollywood

Audrey C. Crosby
Union Rags gallops under Peter Brette Friday at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The first appearance at Churchill Downs of Union Rags and a somewhat unorthodox six-furlong work by I’ll Have Another at Hollywood Park highlighted Friday’s Kentucky Derby activity report across the country.

Union Rags looked very impressive during a routine gallop under regular exercise Peter Brette after the renovation on a cold, crisp morning at Churchill Downs. Union Rags is scheduled to have his final Derby work, weather permitting, on Saturday.

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 17:57

Keeneland: Upperline ovecomes slow pace to capture Bewitch

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Upperline, ridden by James Graham, wins the Bewitched by 1 1/2 lengths.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – When jockey James Graham allowed Upperline to drop back from first to third in a slow-paced running of Thursday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Bewitch Stakes at Keeneland, her connections and those that bet her had a right to feel anxious.

Luckily, Graham and Upperline never showed the nerves those watching might have felt, and she rallied in the stretch under Graham to win by 1 1/2  lengths over Woodford Belle.

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 17:13

Belmont Park notes: Motion has pair for Inside Information

From April 21-26, trainer Graham Motion finished second with six of 11 starters, including a heart-breaking nose loss with Eagle Poise in the San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita.

In Saturday’s $90,000 Inside Information Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, Motion can finish second and still win the race.

That’s because Motion sends out the uncoupled entry of Zucchini Flower and Proud Pearl in the one-turn mile race.