Vamoose ran down a series of pacesetters to win the third stakes race of his career Sunday in the $50,000 Curribot at Sunland Park. The 1 1/16-mile race was part of Sunland’s route series for older horses, serving as a stepping-stone to the $100,000 Sunland Park Handicap on April 15.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the 14th time in as many years, the mutuel field is the favorite in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which closed Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern following a three-day run that set a record for highest handle since Churchill Downs first began offering parimutuel futures in 1999.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Beautiful But Blue got to the front easily under Junior Alvarado and was allowed to dawdle on the lead through slow early fractions en route to a two-length victory in Sunday’s $75,000 Windswept Wings Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct.
Peggy Jane, the 6-5 favorite, chased Beautiful But Blue all the way around the racetrack, but had to settle for second, 2 1/4 lengths clear of Mischief Maker.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Princess Arabella won a $58,000 allowance race with such ease Sunday that trainer Bob Baffert compared it to a morning exercise.
“That was a good work, huh?” Baffert asked jockey Martin Garcia in the winner’s circle.
Garcia guided Princess Arabella to a win by 3 1/2 lengths in the allowance race over seven furlongs. The win left Princess Arabella unbeaten in two starts, preceded by a maiden race win by the same margin here Dec. 31.
Garrett Gomez, sidelined since Jan. 8 with a heel injury, has targeted the Santa Anita Handicap program on March 3 for a comeback, he said Sunday.
Gomez spent Sunday morning at Clocker’s Corner, a popular gathering point at Santa Anita, visiting with friends. Walking with crutches, Gomez said he started more extensive physical activity over the weekend, including swimming and riding a stationary bicycle. He began a physical therapy regiment in late January.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Creative Cause will make his first start since November in the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita next Sunday, and the two-time stakes winner is more than ready, trainer Mike Harrington said.
The winner of the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes in October and third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November, Creative Cause worked six furlongs in 1:11.40 at Hollywood Park on Sunday, his final major exercise before the Grade 2 San Vicente over seven furlongs.
“I think he’s on his game,” Harrington said.
A poor start cost compromised Stormy’s Majesty when he finished fifth in the Alex M. Robb six weeks ago. A sharp start was the key to victory for Stormy’s Majesty in Sunday’s $75,000 Mr. G.J.G. Stakes for New York-breds at Aqueduct.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – After agonizing over the decision for several days, jockey Javier Castellano and his agent, Matt Muzikar, have chosen to ride Algorithms, not Union Rags, in Gulfstream Park’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on Feb. 26. Union Rags will be ridden by Julien Leparoux in the Fountain of Youth.
Trainer Dale Romans was to begin serving a seven-day suspension Monday as a result of one of his horses testing positive for phenylbutazone , a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, following a race last November at Aqueduct.
The suspension was reduced from 10 days for Romans waiving his right of appeal. Romans also was fined $1,000 by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board.
Great Mills won the third stakes of his young career Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park, when he raced with the pace throughout on his way to a to a three-quarter-length win over Solar Charge in the $75,000 Champion Energy Services. It was another length back in third to Trelawny.
The Champion Energy was a five-furlong turf sprint for older horses. Great Mills ($11.20) was prominent from the start, rolling through fractions of 22.01 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.12 for the half-mile, before covering the distance on firm turf in 57.06.
