Sun, 04/29/2012 - 19:00

Hollywood Park: Turf sprinter sets track record in claiming race

Streakin’ Mohican won a $32,000 claimer in course-record time of six furlongs on turf in 1:07.24 on Saturday at Hollywood Park.

A 5-year-old gelding, Streakin’ Mohican led throughout and won by 5 1/4 lengths in his first and only start for trainer Bill Spawr. Streakin’

Mohican was claimed for $32,000 on Feb. 12 and was lost via a claim for the same price on Saturday to trainer Wilton Whitehouse.

Saturday, Streakin’ Mohican was ridden by Rafael Bejarano, who had five wins on Saturday.

Sun, 04/29/2012 - 18:55

Hollywood Park: Willa B Awesome may try Hollywood Oaks before summer vacation

Shigeki Kikkawa
Willa B Awesome, all-out to win Saturday's Melair, may race once more at Hollywood Park before taking the summer off.

Willa B Awesome, who won her third stakes of 2012 in Saturday’s $300,000 Melair Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies, might make one more start at Betfair Hollywood Park's meeting before a summertime break.

Co-owner Terry Lovingier and trainer Walther Solis said on Sunday they are debating whether to start Willa B Awesome in the $150,000 Hollywood Oaks on June 23. One thing seems certain. Willa B Awesome will be rested for 30 to 60 days at Lovingier’s Southern California ranch soon.

Sun, 04/29/2012 - 18:48

Hollywood Park: Acclamation may run in Mervyn LeRoy

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

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The 2011 champion Acclamation missed the Grade 3 Inglewood Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park last Friday because of an apparent false alarm concerning his soundness.

There is another race for him on the immediate horizon. Co-owner Bud Johnston said over the weekend that Acclamation could start in Saturday’s $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap on the main track.

Sun, 04/29/2012 - 17:18

Woodbine: Northern Passion leads one-two finish for Casse fillies in Fury

Michael Burns
Northern Passion, under Luis Contreras, defeats stablemate Dene Court by 1 3/4 lengths in the Fury.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — The Mark Casse-trained stablemates Northern Passion and Dene Court ran one-two Sunday at Woodbine in the $150,000 Fury Stakes, a stepping-stone towards the June 3 Woodbine Oaks. 

The favored Northern Passion ($3.90) rallied along the rail under Luis Contreras to prevail by 1 3/4 lengths over second choice Dene Court, who was returning from a long layoff. Casa Loma was a stalking third in the seven-furlong sprint for Ontario-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Sun, 04/29/2012 - 15:35

Belmont: Saginaw captures fourth straight since adding blinkers in Carr Heaven

In a possible early preview of October’s Empire Classic, Saginaw remained perfect in blinkers when he rolled to a decisive triumph in Sunday’s $90,000 Carr Heaven overnight stakes at Belmont Park.

Despite winning three starts by better than 16 lengths after being equipped with the hood at Aqueduct, Saginaw ($13.20) was dismissed as the fifth choice in a field of six older New York-breds.

Sun, 04/29/2012 - 15:21

Churchill Downs: Larry Jones sees similarities between Proud Spell, Believe You Can

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Larry Jones notes that his filly Believe You Can (above) turned in the same sort of fast workout Sunday as Proud Spell did before winning the 2002 Kentucky Oaks.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It was a business-as-usual Sunday for Larry Jones at Churchill Downs.

Jones-trained horses are known for posting brilliant works before the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, and that’s exactly what Believe You Can did, working a bullet five furlongs just after the morning renovation break.

Sun, 04/29/2012 - 11:41

Kentucky Derby 2012: Bodemeister looks just as good as Union Rags did a day earlier

Barbara D. Livingston
Bodemeister (left) begins to close ground on stablemate Jemima's Pearl, a Kentucky Oaks contender, during Sunday's workout at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – One day after Union Rags turned in a sharp workout at Churchill Downs, the other potential favorite for the 138th Kentucky Derby next Saturday, Bodemeister, threw down the gauntlet with a brilliant piece of work over a muddy surface.

Sun, 04/29/2012 - 10:49

Kentucky Derby workouts: Bodemeister sizzles over hard, fast track

Barbara D. Livingston
Bodemeister, who will be one of the favorites in the Kentucky Derby, had a strong five-furlong workout over a muddy track at Churchill Downs on Sunday.

Churchill Downs:  Cloudy  Temp. 53  Track Muddy

LOUISVILLE , Ky. -   On Saturday, Union Rags set an extremely high standard for Kentucky Derby workouts. Sunday morning, Bodemeister did his best to emulate if not exceed that standard in his second and final Derby work since arriving in Louisville less than two weeks ago. 

Sun, 04/29/2012 - 07:55

Canterbury Park in line to gain $2.5 million for purses if legislation passes

Barbara D. Livingston
Win Willy, winner of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes, will be shipping back to Oaklawn Park next week, trainer Mac Robertson said.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – The Minnesota Thoroughbred Association gathered at Canterbury Park on Saturday night to honor the 2011 breeding and divisional champions three weeks prior to the start of the 2012 racing season. 

Sun, 04/29/2012 - 07:43

Evangeline Downs: Sadie's Soldier rallies to take John Henry

OPELOUSAS, La. - Sadie’s Soldier, under patient handling by Kerwin Clark, split foes nearing the furlong marker and finished full of run to overtake Classic Cascade in the final strides to win Saturday night’s $50,000 John Henry Stakes at Evangeline Downs by three-quarters of a length. Dandy’s Legacy turned in a mild rally to earn third, outfinishing Merkabah.