Mon, 04/23/2012 - 08:21

Emerald Downs: Hollywood Harbor sets world record for 5 1/2 furlongs

AUBURN, Wash. – The Pacific Northwest has long been a birthing ground for speed records, and on Sunday at Emerald Downs, a horse bred in Washington, Hollywood Harbor, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt faster than any other horse in the history of North American racing.

Mon, 04/23/2012 - 08:11

2012 Kentucky Derby: Asmussen sends out Daddy Nose Best, Sabercat for Monday works at Churchill Downs

Coady Photography
Julien Leparoux celebrates by pumping his fist as Daddy Nose Best reaches the wire first in the Sunland Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Trainer Steve Asmussen’s hopefuls Daddy Nose Best and Sabercat had their penultimate works for the Kentucky Derby early Monday morning at Churchill Downs.

Sun, 04/22/2012 - 20:35

Santa Anita: Bourbon Bay erases huge deficit to repeat in San Juan Capistrano

BENOIT PHOTO
Bourbon Bay, ridden by Joel Rosario, prevails by a nose in the San Juan Capistrano Handicap.

ARCADIA, Calif.- Halfway through Sunday’s $150,000 San Juan Capistrano Handicap over about 1 3/4 miles on turf, Bourbon Bay trailed leader Hog’s Hollow by more than 11 lengths.

With a quarter-mile remaining, Bourbon Bay trailed new leader Harrods Creek by more than four lengths, a deficit that was unchanged with a furlong left. Bourbon Bay continued to narrow the gap to the front late. He led for one jump of the Grade 2 San Juan Capistrano – the last.

Sun, 04/22/2012 - 19:42

Santa Anita: Seldom-used jockey draws 30-day suspension

Jockey Jesiere Medina has been suspended 30 racing days for an incident of careless riding that led to a two-horse spill in the ninth race at Santa Anita on April 14.

Sun, 04/22/2012 - 19:36

Hollywood Park: Acclamation ready for season debut in Inglewood

Shigeki Kikkawa
Acclamation is scheduled to make his first start of 2012 in Friday's Inglewood Handicap at Hollywood Park.

There are stakes on the first two days of the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting, which begins Thursday.

Acclamation, the champion older male of 2011, makes his 2012 debut in Friday’s $100,000 Inglewood Handicap over 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Trained by Don Warren, Acclamation has not started since winning the Grade 2 Clement Hirsch Turf Invitational at Santa Anita last October.
In the Inglewood, Acclamation is part of a field of five that includes Haimish Hy, Holladay Road, Smug, and Utopian.

Sun, 04/22/2012 - 19:30

Santa Anita: Cerin joins elite group of trainers with four-win day

Benoit & Associates
Briecat will be targeting a repeat in the $150,000 Bayakoa Handicap on Saturday at Hollywood Park.

From the start to finish of Saturday’s 10-race program, trainer Vladimir Cerin was on his way to equaling a milestone almost as old as Santa Anita. Cerin won four races, the 12th time in history that a trainer has done so since the track opened in 1934.

Sun, 04/22/2012 - 18:25

Woodbine: Roxy Gap runs down Honey Chile by neck in Whimsical

Michael Burns
Roxy Gap, under Patrick Husbands, gets up by a neck over Honey Chile in the Whimsical.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — A rejuvenated Roxy Gap wore down Kentucky shipper Honey Chile in the final strides to take the Grade 3, $181,800 Whimsical Stakes at Woodbine on Sunday.

Sun, 04/22/2012 - 17:45

Aqueduct: Hushion sad to see Big A close after Mine Over Matter wins Fabersham

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Mine Over Matter completes a weekend stakes sweep for trainer Mike Hushion by nosing out Uncle T Seven in the closing-day Fabersham.

 OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Mike Hushion had one question after Mine Over Matter got up in the final stride to beat Uncle T Seven by a nose in the $75,000 Fabersham Stakes on closing day at Aqueduct.

 “Why are they closing Aqueduct?” Hushion said.

 Mine Over Matter’s last-to-first jaunt under Jose Lezcano through the slop gave Hushion a sweep of the weekend stakes. On Saturday, Hushion won the Grade 2, $200,000 Jerome Stakes with The Lumber Guy and he finished the meet with 6 wins from 17 starters.

Sun, 04/22/2012 - 17:16

Keeneland: Wise Dan sets track record in Ben Ali romp

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

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Charlie Lopresti saved the best for last, as Wise Dan set a course and stakes record when he cruised  to an eye-popping 10 1/2-length victory under John Velazquez in the Grade 3, $150,000 Ben Ali Stakes on a cold Sunday afternoon at Keeneland.

Sun, 04/22/2012 - 16:29

Aqueduct: Filly rescued from abuse makes it to track, only to scratch at gate

 OZONE PARK, N.Y. - They came from as far west as Illinois and from as far south as Florida. Some lived only a half-hour’s drive from Aqueduct.

Despite a rainstorm that was picking up in intensity, approximately 45 enthusiastic partners in Five R Racehorse Stables filled the Aqueduct paddock for the second race Sunday afternoon. Armed with still and video cameras, many chronicled the continuing story of Notinrwildestdremz, a 4-year-old filly who was attempting to make it from harrowing beginnings to the races.