OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Todd Pletcher left Aqueduct following last year’s Wood Memorial scratching his head after heavily favored Uncle Mo faded to third, throwing his Kentucky Derby aspirations into disarray.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Essence Hit Man, last year’s Canadian champion sprinter, won the six-furlong Jacques Cartier Stakes for the second year in a row at Woodbine on Saturday.
Essence Hit Man broke alertly under Jesse Campbell, and then outran the other speed through moderate fractions of 22.09 and 44.48 seconds. He opened up a clear lead exiting the turn before coasting home on top by 2 3/4 lengths, in a time of 1:09.26.
Big Band Sound, a 14-1 outsider, outran second choice Paso Doble for second in the seven-horse field.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The venue changed but the song remained the same Saturday for owner Joyce Robsham, trainer Todd Pletcher, and jockey Javier Castellano.
After enjoying a sensational winter at Gulfstream Park, that trio shipped Broadway’s Alibi up to New York, where she jogged to a front-running 3 1/2-length victory in Saturday’s Grade $3, $250,000 Comely Stakes at Aqueduct.
GROVE CITY, Ohio – Stamp Queen remained undefeated after destroying a field of nine other Ohio-bred 3-year-old fillies Saturday in the $50,000 Royal North at Beulah Park.
After breaking slowly in the six-furlong event, jockey Rafael Hernandez hustled Stamp Queen up to duel with 2-year-old filly champion Motega. The Doug Cowans trainee disposed of that rival on the turn and was shown the whip late to prevail by 6 1/2 lengths in ridden-out fashion.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Horse of the Year Havre de Grace will not run in the Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park on April 13, owner Rick Porter said shortly after the weights for the race were released on Saturday.
Havre de Grace was highweighted at 123 pounds, with Porter concerned she would have to give six pounds to Plum Pretty, the winner of last year’s Kentucky Oaks.
As far as filling out the bottom portion of exacta and trifecta wagers goes, the 6-year-old geldings Needtogetpaid and High On Candy are reliable investments. Win bettors, however, have consistently torn up tickets on those same two horses.
So even though Needtogetpaid and High On Candy have frequently finished in the money while racing in third-level optional claiming company at Parx Racing, those looking for a winner of Tuesday’s featured ninth race might be wise to look for alternatives in a field of six older males going 6 1/2 furlongs.
Force Freeze, runner-up in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and among the leading members of the sprint division again this season, will be sidelined indefinitely after sustaining a bowed tendon during a routine workout on Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park.
Force Freeze breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80, but was pulled up abruptly shortly after completing the work.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Amazombie, the champion sprinter of 2011, will start in Saturday’s $150,000 Potrero Grande Stakes at Santa Anita, trainer Bill Spawr confirmed on Saturday morning.
“We’re all set,” Spawr said. “He jogged today. He’s pretty happy.”
Amazombie, 6, is the 7-5 favorite on the morning-line in the Grade 2 Potrero Grande, which is run over 6 1/2 furlongs. Spawr had considered scratching Amazombie in favor of the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park on April 14, but has opted to stay in California.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Home Sweet Aspen, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Monica Stakes here in January, will make her next start in the $300,000 Vinery Madison Stakes at Keeneland on Thursday.
On Friday, Home Sweet Aspen worked six furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:13.40. Trainer John Sadler timed her in 1:13, including a last three furlongs in 36.40 seconds.
Sadler said Home Sweet Aspen is “better on a synthetic track.” Keeneland has a Polytrack synthetic surface. In two starts on Del Mar’s Polytrack surface last summer, Home Sweet Aspen was first and second in optional claimers.
