Jockey Eliska Kubinova won six of the 10 races on Wednesday’s card at Portland Meadows, an encore to her five wins the previous Wednesday.
Kubinova won the first race with Sweet Pleasure ($5.40); the second aboard Tannersmillionaire ($6.80); the fourth with Atta Lora ($5.20); the sixth on
Rich Debut ($8.60); the eighth aboard Sasha B. ($3.60); and the 10th on Mr. Ichiban ($5).
Thiskyhasnolimit, who fractured his right front cannon bone during the Feb. 25 Mineshaft Handicap, has continued to do well in his recovery from the injury, trainer Steve Asmussen said.
“So far so good,” Asmussen said Tuesday. “He’s not out of the woods yet, but he’s doing well.”
Dr. Laura Riggs, who is overseeing Thiskyhasnolimit’s care at the Louisiana State University equine clinic, calls Asmussen with daily reports on the horse’s condition.
“They’ve changed his cast and said everything looks good,” Asmussen said.
The 2011 Kentucky Oaks runner-up St. John’s River, returned to trainer Andy Leggio’s barn in mid-February following a protracted recovery from throat surgery performed to repair a breathing problem, and posted a timed workout on Feb. 29, going an easy half-mile in 51.20 seconds.
“We took it real easy on her in that work,” said Leggio. “Her throat looks great. We’ve scoped her probably five times since she’s been here, and it can’t look any better than it did, but I’m going to bring her along easy.”
Post positions were drawn Wednesday for Saturday’s pair of six-furlong stakes for 3-year-olds, the Grade 3, $150,000 Cicada and the $100,000 Fred “Cappy” Capossela.
Agave Kiss, who has won her first three starts by a combined 20 lengths, will be odds-on to stay unbeaten against four other fillies in the Cicada Stakes.
Heavy Breathing, who remained perfect in two starts after winning a 1 1/16-mile allowance race here last weekend, will be pointed for one of the upcoming graded stakes for 3-year-olds later this spring, according to trainer Todd Pletcher. Heavy Breathing is owned by Jack Wolf’s Starlight Partners.
“I’ve sat down and talked to Jack and we’re knocking around a lot of options, including the Spiral at Turfway Park,” said Pletcher. “The synthetic surface makes a lot of sense for him since he’s by Giant’s Causeway and has worked well on the turf.”
More than anybody, trainer Mark Casse was anxiously awaiting Wednesday’s post position draw for Saturday’s Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. After all, his Prospective had been parked out wide in each of his previous two starts this winter at Tampa, including the Grade 3 Sam Davis, in which he finished second after racing very wide throughout.
When informed Prospective had drawn the rail in a full field of a dozen 3-year-olds entered for the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby, all Casse could do was let out a little laugh.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Mucho Macho Man looked a picture of health parading around the paddock between races here at Gulfstream Park on Wednesday, just minutes before his name was pulled out of the box along with only five others for Saturday’s Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Ingrid Mason will be making some key changes with Apprehender for the featured eighth race Friday at Oaklawn Park. He will be returning to both the overnight ranks and a sprint distance for the first-level allowance for 3-year-olds. Apprehender will also add blinkers, equipment he wore when he won his career debut in January.
Daisy Devine could make her next start in the New Orleans Ladies on March 17 at Fair Grounds. Could, because she likes the Fair Grounds main track and is good form, but won’t, because doing so would be crazy.
Trainer Andrew McKeever took a look at the conditions for the New Orleans Ladies and made the easy call: Daisy Devine’s next race will come over the Fair Grounds turf course in the $100,000 Bayou Handicap on March 31.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Bodemeister has replaced Fed Biz on trainer Bob Baffert’s team for Saturday’s $300,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita, a race that will clarify the Hall of Famer’s approach to the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 7.
