Tue, 01/24/2012 - 17:29

Gulfstream: Two headed to Tampa for Sam F. Davis

There will be at least two south-Florida based Kentucky Derby prospects heading to Tampa next week for Tampa Bay Downs' Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes. Trainer Ian Wilkes is pointing his Neck 'n Neck in that direction, as is Jimmy Toner with his recently acquired Chief Energy.

Tue, 01/24/2012 - 17:23

Palm Meadows: Distorted Legacy goes half-mile

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - Distorted Legacy, beaten three-quarters of a length when fourth in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, worked four furlongs in 51.10 seconds over the Palm Meadows turf course Tuesday.

Before the Breeders' Cup, Distorted Legacy, trained by Angel Penna Jr., finished second to Stacelita in the Flower Bowl.

Penna said he one possible early-season spot for Distorted Legacy is the Bewitch at Keeneland with a likely prep race at Gulfstream beforehand.

Tue, 01/24/2012 - 17:19

Get Stormy gets serious at Palm Meadows

Barbara D. Livingston
Get Stormy is expected to make his 2012 debut in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - Get Stormy, a multiple Grade 1 winning turf horse of 2011, worked five furlongs in 1:03.05 over the Palm Meadows turf course Tuesday morning. He is preparing for his 2012 debut, which is expected to come in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap on Feb. 11.

Get Stormy and several other horses came on the turf just as the skies opened up and dumped some heavy showers. Though the turf course was labeled firm, divots were popping up all over the place.

Tue, 01/24/2012 - 17:14

Palm Meadows: Take Charge Indy nearing return

Barbara D. Livingston
Take Charge Indy ran sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - The only horse to work five furlongs faster than Union Rags here at Palm Meadows on Tuesday was Take Charge Indy, a 3-year-old colt who went five furlongs in 59.78 seconds, pulling away late from a workmate.

Take Charge Indy, a son of Grade 1 winners A.P. Indy and Take Charge Lady, has not run since finishing sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Tue, 01/24/2012 - 17:08

Union Rags has sharp work prepping for Fountain of Youth

Barbara D. Livingston
Union Rags continues his preparation at the Palm Meadows training center.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - While Union Rags won't be participating in Gulfstream Park's first graded stakes for 3-year-olds this year, he took another step Tuesday morning to being ready to go for the second.

Union Rags, the Grade 1 Champagne winner and Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up, worked five furlongs in 1:00.82 over the main track at Palm Meadows Tuesday morning. It was the second-fastest of 28 recorded works at the distance on a warm, cloudy, and sometimes rainy morning.

Tue, 01/24/2012 - 16:43

Arlington Park: Casino windfall boosts stakes schedule; new $400K race added

The release of about $140 million in casino impact fees to the Illinois racing industry late last summer has boosted the Arlington Park 2012 stakes schedule, with Arlington hoping to run four more stakes than it did in 2011 while offering stakes purses worth $5.8 million, $1,325,000 more than the track paid during its 2011 season.

Arlington released a proposed 2012 stakes schedule Tuesday that won’t be finalized until the Illinois Racing Board gives its approval. The schedule will be considered at the IRB’s meeting on Jan. 31.

Tue, 01/24/2012 - 16:38

Oaklawn Park: Devious Intent eyes Martha Washington

Devious Intent, who won the $75,000 Genesis at Delta Downs in her last start Jan. 14, was to ship to Oaklawn on Wednesday to begin preparations for the $75,000 Martha Washington, trainer Bret Calhoun said. The one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies will be run Feb. 11.

“We want to get up there and train over that track,” Calhoun said.

Tue, 01/24/2012 - 15:58

Santa Anita: Unusual Heatwave looks like the one to beat

Shigeki Kikkawa
Unusual Heatwave uses a late-running style.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Miss Alphie lost all seven starts before she was retired from racing. Zoom Zip Zoom lost twice and was finished. Thank goodness for residual value.

Though neither filly made it to the winner’s circle, both succeeded as broodmares. Miss Alphie produced multiple stakes winner Alphie’s Bet and recent maiden winner Unusual Heatwave, while Zoom Zip Zoom’s first foal is the flashy maiden winner Tenacious Thomas.

Tue, 01/24/2012 - 15:57

Oaklawn Park: Majestic Stride targets Southwest Stakes after maiden win

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Majestic Stride has put himself in the picture for next month’s Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park, following his flashy maiden special weight win here Sunday. Majestic Stride defeated mostly older rivals and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 83.

“He’s a talented horse,” trainer Jeff Bonde said Tuesday.

Tue, 01/24/2012 - 15:31

Santa Anita: Midnight Transfer to go long in San Felipe

Benoit & Associates
Midnight Transfer is being pointed to the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Midnight Transfer has run in his last sprint race for the foreseeable future after winning Sunday’s San Pedro Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.

Trainer Carla Gaines said after the race that Midnight Transfer will make his next start in the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on March 10. The Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes is the final major prep for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 7.

“He just loves this track,” Gaines said.