Tue, 02/14/2012 - 11:37

Aqueduct: Superior Sarah looks sharp for New York-bred sprint

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Superior Sarah, who has run well in both of her starts at the current meet, breaks from the outside post and heads a field of seven New York-bred fillies and mares in Thursday’s six-furlong, $54,000 optional claiming feature, which carries second-level allowance conditions.

Superior Sarah returned from a short layoff with a trainer change to Tom Albertrani and was not fully extended to win her first-level condition Dec. 11.

Tue, 02/14/2012 - 10:48

Oaklawn: Now I Know retired after fracturing knee

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Now I Know, the winner of the Grade 3, $500,000 Delta Downs Princess in December, has been retired after coming out of the $75,000 Martha Washington on Saturday with a fractured left knee, according to her trainer, Don Von Hemel.

Now I Know, 3, finished second in the Martha Washington, which was her first loss. She retires with a record of six wins from seven starts and earnings of $461,721. She won three stakes during her career, the Princess, the $50,000 Dixie Belle at Oaklawn on Jan. 14, and the Oklahoma Classics Lassie last fall at Remington Park.

Mon, 02/13/2012 - 14:58

Aqueduct: Singlet may stretch out in Comely

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Singlet wins the $75,000 Dearly Precious Stakes at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Tony Dutrow said that he is “strongly considering” stretching Dearly Precious Stakes winner Singlet out to a mile in the Grade 3, $250,000 Comely Stakes on April 7.

The Dearly Precious was Singlet’s fourth win from five career starts, all at six furlongs or shorter. Singlet has the pedigree to suggest she’ll go further, and the Comely, a one-turn mile race over the main track, fits in nice timing-wise.

Mon, 02/13/2012 - 14:54

Aqueduct: Brown 3-year-olds step up

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Chad Brown will be weighing options for a couple of 3-year-olds who won here last week.

Hardened Wildcat took a first-level allowance sprint Friday by three-quarters of a length, earning an 83 Beyer Speed Figure in the process.

“I was proud of him the way he dug in,” Brown said from Florida. “It was the second time he was on the outside and trying to lay on horses. He was a little green, and it took a while on the right lead, but when he did, I thought he accelerated nicely.”

Mon, 02/13/2012 - 14:25

Aqueduct: Strong group at top of N.Y.-bred handicap division

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Stormy's Majesty holds off Inherit the Gold in the $75,000 Mr. G.J.G. Stakes.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – It appears as if there will be plenty of depth in the New York-bred handicap division this year.

Stormy’s Majesty ended a 10-month drought – absent for most of it due to foot issues – with a front-running victory over favored Inherit the Gold in Sunday’s Mr. G.J.G. Stakes at Aqueduct.

Mon, 02/13/2012 - 13:56

Gulfstream: No alibis for Shackleford's lackluster performance in Donn

Tom Keyser
Trainer Dale Romans said he's puzzled as to why Shackleford could do no better than seventh as the favorite in the Donn Handicap.

Trainer Dale Romans said he remains a bit puzzled over Shackleford’s seventh-place finish as the tepid 3-1 favorite in last Saturday’s Grade 1 Donn Handicap.

“He came out of the race fine and I really don’t have any major excuses,” Romans said on Monday. “I thought he acted real well before the race. He really seems to be maturing. It could have been the track. He’s never run good in the mud before. He’ll bounce back. We’ll just train on a little bit and then figure out where to go next.”

Mission Impazible points to New Orleans

Mon, 02/13/2012 - 13:32

Aqueduct: Klesaris shippers well spotted to have impact on pick six

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Steve Klesaris, who spent several years stabled on the New York circuit before moving to the Mid-Atlantic region, is plotting a return later this spring. For now, he is picking and choosing when to ship horses here from his base at Parx Racing.

Last week, he chose wisely, winning with both of his starters at Aqueduct – Mark It Man on Feb. 8 and Aba Dabbler on Friday. On Wednesday, Klesaris is back with two more runners at Aqueduct, and horseplayers chasing the $36,518 pick-six carryover will have to strongly consider using both.

Mon, 02/13/2012 - 13:24

Gulfstream: Royal Delta will launch campaign in Sabin

Barbara D. Livingston
Ladies' Classic candidate Royal Delta had one of the most impressive workouts Sunday, going a half-mile in 47.59 seconds.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Barring any complications, Royal Delta will make her much anticipated 2012 debut in the Grade 3 Sabin here at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 25.

Trainer Bill Mott confirmed that’s the race he has picked out for Royal Delta’s first start since her easy victory in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic and to use as a prep prior to her current goal, the $10 million Dubai World Classic, on March 31. The Sabin is carded at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

Mon, 02/13/2012 - 13:09

Gulfstream: Leparoux gets familiar with Union Rags prior to Fountain of Youth

Tom Keyser
Union Rags, ridden for the first time by Julien Leparoux, works five furlongs in 1:03.03 Monday at Palm Meadows.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Union Rags, Algorithms, and Discreet Dancer, the three leading contenders for the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth here at Gulfsream Park a week from Sunday, all turned in their penultimate works for the race on a very chilly Monday morning at Palm Meadows.

Union Rags, with his new rider Julien Leparoux aboard, worked an easy five-eighths in 1:03.08, according to track clocker Bryan Walls, much to the delight of trainer Michael Matz. Union Rags has not started since finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Mon, 02/13/2012 - 13:00

Gulfstream: Cumulonimble seeks second straight in turf feature

Adam Coglianese
Trip for A.J., winning the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf, adds a touch of class to the Capital Request on Gulfstream's closing-day card.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Wayne Catalano pulled off one of the better feats of his outstanding training career when he brought Cumulonimble back from a 19-month layoff to win a high-level optional claiming race earlier this winter. He will try to make it two in a row with Cumulonimble when he moves her up another level for Wednesday’s $64,000 feature at Gulfstream Park.