Sun, 04/15/2012 - 14:25

Keeneland: Kentucky Derby prospect Union Rags arrives from Florida

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Michael Matz says he is uncertain whether Union Rags will work out over Keeneland's Polytrack or ship to Churchill Downs to work on dirt.

LEXINGTON, Ky.  -- Union Rags, the third-place finisher in the Florida Derby and a leading contender for the Kentucky Derby, arrived at Keeneland on Sunday morning after a long van ride from the Palm Meadows training center in Florida.

Michael Matz, the colt’s trainer, said that Union Rags arrived at his barn at Keeneland at 4:30 a.m. after an 18-hour trip and settled in “without a problem at all.”

Sun, 04/15/2012 - 12:26

Pimlico wants to add Arabian stakes to Preakness program

Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography
TM Texas Fred won last year's President of the United Arab Emirates Cup when the race was worth $50,000 and was the first race for Arabians ever contested at Churchill Downs.

Pimlico plans to run a Grade 1 race for Arabian horses on its Preakness Day card on May 19.

As part of its 14-race program that is highlighted by the $1 million Preakness, Pimlico would like to add the $75,000 President of the United Arab Emirates Cup, a 1 1/16 mile race on the main track.

Sun, 04/15/2012 - 11:34

Keeneland: Romans gives Dullahan his nod as favorite for Kentucky Derby

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Blue Grass Stakes winner Dullahan earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Dullahan earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure for his victory Saturday in the Blue Grass Stakes, the Grade 1 race that highlighted a record-setting day at historic Keeneland.

Trainer Dale Romans said Sunday morning that Dullahan came out of his 1 1/4-length victory over Hansen in good shape and that his newest stable star most likely will have one breeze at his home track, Churchill Downs, on April 28, the Saturday before the colt runs back as one of the top contenders in the 138th Kentucky Derby.

Sun, 04/15/2012 - 11:00

Oaklawn: Bodemeister, Secret Circle, Sabercat get green light for Kentucky Derby

Coady Photography
Bodemeister received a 105 Beyer Speed Figure for his win in the Arkansas Derby.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Bodemeister, Secret Circle, and Sabercat, the first three finishers, respectively, in the Arkansas Derby on Saturday, all came out of the race in good order and will share a plane ride to Kentucky on Monday morning to begin final preparations for the May 5 Kentucky Derby, their respective camps said Sunday morning at Oaklawn Park.

Sat, 04/14/2012 - 23:47

Charles Town: Caixa Eletronica captures $1 million Classic

Mike Montgomery
Caixa Eletronica, ridden by Javier Castellano, becomes a millionaire after collecting $576,000 for winning the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic.

Trainer Todd Pletcher capped a roller-coaster of a day on a high Saturday night when Caixa Eletronica blew past Duke of Mischief in the stretch and drew clear to win the Grade 2, $1 million Charles Town Classic by three lengths.

Duke of Mischief, who won this race last year, finished second by 1 1/4 lengths over Mister Mardi Gras. Tackleberry finished fourth in this race for the second straight year, this time as the 8-5 favorite.

Uh Oh Bango finished fifth and was followed in the order of finish by Pants On Fire, Tres Borrachos, Norvsky, Skipshot, and Redding Colliery.

Sat, 04/14/2012 - 21:47

Charles Town: Flashy Dresser shoots through small gap to capture Robert Hilton Memorial

Mike Montgomery
Julien Leparoux and Flashy Dresser draw clear late to capture the $250,000 Robert Hilton Memorial for 3-year-olds.

There didn’t appear to be much room between Wild Louis on the rail and 44-1 longshot Mr. Handsome as they raced in deep stretch of Saturday night’ $250,000 Robert Hilton Memorial for 3-year-olds. Julien Leparoux, the riding star of the current Keeneland meet, figured that Flashy Dresser could squeeze through the narrow opening and the heavy favorite wasn’t one bit shy about shooting through the small gap.

The daring move paid off when Flashy Dresser ($3) burst between horses and reached the wire first by a length in the seven-furlong, two-turn race at Charles Town.

Sat, 04/14/2012 - 20:58

Turf Paradise: Jaws 'n Paws best of trio in Princess of Palms

Jaws n’ Paws dominated Saturday’s $35,000 Princess of Palms Handicap at Turf Paradise, though the sprint for fillies and mares  was decimated by scratches as an original field of six was reduced to just three.

Sat, 04/14/2012 - 20:35

Charles Town: Magical Feeling scores as favorite in Sugar Maple

Mike Montgomery
The 6-year-old Magical Feeling, ridden by Roberto Alvarado Jr., captures her second major stakes of the season in the $200,000 Sugar Maple.

At an time when many mares her age are already in midst of their second career as a broodmare, Magical Feeling is racing better than ever.

Following up on her 27-1 upset in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap in February, the 6-year-old Magical Feeling collected another six-figure stakes when she rallied as the 8-5 favorite to win Saturday night's $200,000 Sugar Maple at Charles Town.

Sat, 04/14/2012 - 19:47

Santa Anita: Mizdirection takes off-the-turf Las Cienegas

Benoit & Associates
Mizdirection, ridden by David Flores, scores her fourth straight victory in the off-the-turf Las Cienegas Handicap.

ARCADIA, Calif. - The surface was different than expected, but there was no surprise to the outcome of Saturday's $100,000 Las Cienegas Handicap at Santa Anita. Mizdirection ($2.60) extended her winning streak to four races.

The race was transferred from the hillside turf course to the main track after considerable rain on Friday. As a result, the 10-time stakes winner Unzip Me and the graded stakes winner Broken Dreams were scratched, leaving four starters.

Sat, 04/14/2012 - 19:03

Arkansas Derby: Bodemeister romps; heads to Kentucky Derby as major player

Coady Photography/Christopher Coady
Bodemeister pulls away in the stretch run of the Arkansas Derby.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Though he was the least-experienced horse in the race, the sheer, raw talent of Bodemeister was too much for his rivals on Saturday in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, as Bodemeister romped to a dazzling, 9 1/2-length victory, firmly placing himself among the elite contenders for the Kentucky Derby on May 5 at Churchill Downs.

Secret Circle, like Bodemeister trained by Bob Baffert, held on for second, a neck in front of Sabercat, whose trainer, Steve Asmussen, and jockey, Corey Nakatani, combined for five wins earlier on the card.