Sun, 03/25/2012 - 18:07

Santa Anita: Bourbon Bay gobbles up ground late in San Luis Rey

Benoit & Associates
Bourbon Bay, ridden by Joel Rosario, runs down Slim Shadey in deep stretch to prevail by a head in the San Luis Rey.

ARCADIA, Calif.- Bourbon Bay rallied from last in a field of five, closing six lengths in the final quarter-mile, to score a thrilling win in Sunday’s $150,000 San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita.

Sun, 03/25/2012 - 16:41

Santa Anita: Handsome Mike gets one last chance in Arkansas Derby

Benoit & Associates
Handsome Mike (right), Rafael Bejarano up, runs second to Stoney Fleece in the Generous.

Handsome Mike, fourth in Saturday’s Grade 3 Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park, is scheduled to make his next start in the $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on April 14, a last chance to gain a spot in the Kentucky Derby on May 5.

Handsome Mike was en route to Arkansas on Sunday, trainer Doug O’Neill said between races at Santa Anita.

“He’s headed to the Arkansas Derby as long as he’s training good,” O’Neill said.

A colt by Scat Daddy owned by Paul Reddam, Handsome Mike was beaten 6

Sun, 03/25/2012 - 16:35

Gulfstream: El Padrino gallops out nicely in final prep for Florida Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
El Padrino joins trainer Todd Pletcher's list of Triple Crown candidates by winning a two-turn allowance Sunday at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -   El Padrino’s final work for Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby may not have gone quite as planned at the beginning. But in the end, trainer Todd Pletcher got just what he was looking for from the Risen Star winner, who figures to be the second choice behind Union Rags in the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. 

Sun, 03/25/2012 - 15:39

Santa Anita: Dynamic Host may target San Juan Capistrano

Benoit & Associates
Dynamic Host (right), winner of Saturday's Tokyo City Cup, may attempt the 1 3/4-mile San Juan Capistrano on closing day at Santa Anita.

Dynamic Host won his first stakes in Saturday’s $150,000 Tokyo City Cup over 1 1/2 miles on the main track and may start in another marathon next month – the $150,000 San Juan Capistrano Handicap over about 1 3/4 miles on turf.

“We’ve got options for him,” trainer Art Sherman said. “We could look at the San Juan Capistrano.”

The San Juan Capistrano is the closing day feature, on April 22.

Sun, 03/25/2012 - 15:31

Santa Anita: Empire Way taken off Kentucky Derby trail

Shigeki Kikkawa
Empire Way was a closing second in the Robert Lewis.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Empire Way, runner-up in the Grade 2 Robert Lewis Stakes in February, but ninth in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 10, is off the Kentucky Derby trail, trainer Mike Harrington said on Sunday.

Empire Way is likely to make a start in an allowance race later this spring, Harrington said.

“I backed off him a little while,” he said. “He needed a little time.

He’s definitely off the Derby trail.

“When he comes back, I’ll run him in an allowance race. I still think he’s a good horse. He’s still training.”

Sun, 03/25/2012 - 14:58

Fair Grounds: Avie's Sense out of Fair Grounds Oaks

Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges Jr.
Summer Applause (center) runs by Avie's Sense (right) to win the Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra Stakes.

The defection of Avie’s Sense has solidified Summer Applause’s position as the favorite for Saturday’s Fair Grounds Oaks, which was drawn with a six-horse field on Sunday.

Sun, 03/25/2012 - 14:18

Gulfstream: Awesome Feather won't run in Rampart

Barbara D. Livingston
Awesome Feather scores a 5 3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Florida Sunshine Millions Distaff.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -    Frank Stronach’s undefeated, Eclipse Award winner Awesome Feather will not run in Saturday’s Grade 3 Rampart at Gulfstream Park as originally scheduled, trainer Chad Brown reported on Sunday.

Awesome Feather, who has won all nine career starts, including the Sunshine Millions Distaff here earlier this winter, was expected to meet Grade 1 winner Awesome Maria in the 1 1/8-mile Rampart.

Sun, 03/25/2012 - 13:50

Fair Grounds: Bourbon Courage considered for Derby Trial

Bourbon Courage could be headed for the Derby Trial after scoring a second-straight flashy six-furlong win at Fair Grounds on Saturday, trainer Kellyn Gorder said Sunday.

In his career debut on Feb. 3, Bourbon Courage won a maiden race by 4 ¼ lengths, running six furlongs in 1:09.28 and earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 103. Saturday, facing other winners for the first time, he scored by 6 ½ lengths, running six furlongs in 1:09.42 and earning an initial Beyer of 101.

Sun, 03/25/2012 - 13:46

Fair Grounds: Cigar Street sharpens for Louisiana Derby

Cigar Street, a blowout two-turn Fair Grounds maiden winner in his most recent race, green-lighted his entry into next Sunday’s $1 million Louisiana Derby with a good five-furlong workout in 1:01.20 Sunday morning.

“Our main question was how was he going to look doing it, and I think the question was answered,” trainer Steve Margolis said Sunday morning. “Right now, all systems are go. We’re going to enter tomorrow.”

Sun, 03/25/2012 - 11:28

Laurel: Russell, Kobiskie top standings again for winter meet

Jockey Sheldon Russell and trainer Dane Kobiskie were repeat winners during the 12-week Laurel Park winter meeting that wrapped up Saturday.

Russell, the top jockey in Maryland a year ago, collected his fourth straight meet-leading riding title in the state by finishing with 54 first-place finishers, 21 ahead of runner-up Malcolm Pierce.