Tue, 01/17/2012 - 16:06

Oaklawn: Hartlage unsure what's next for On Fire Baby

Barbara D. Livingston
Pocahontas winner On Fire Baby is the filly to beat in Saturday's Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill Downs.

On Fire Baby, the multiple Grade 2-winning filly who finished third as the favorite in the Smarty Jones, cleaned up all her feed following the race, trainer Gary Hartlage said on Tuesday. Plans for her next start have not yet been decided. On Fire Baby faced males in the Smarty Jones, but also has upcoming stakes options against fillies at her Oaklawn base.

“I’m just going to see how she trains and then we’re going to decide what we do,” said Hartlage.

He said he thought On Fire Baby ran a good race, but looks for an improved effort next time.

Tue, 01/17/2012 - 15:45

Fair Grounds: Infrattini avoids having to jump into stakes company

NEW ORLEANS – Not to get all misty-eyed, but there was a time when a trainer could expect to run an improving, developing horse through logically spaced allowance conditions.

Tue, 01/17/2012 - 15:40

Gulfstream Park: Hansen to return in Holy Bull

Tom Keyser
Hansen, the 2011 champion juvenile male, will make his 3-year-old debut in the one-mile, Grade 3 Holy Bull on Jan. 29.

Newly crowned Eclipse Award winner Hansen is expected to make his 3-year-old debut in the one-mile, Grade 3 Holy Bull on Jan. 29. The race closed with 52 nominations, but as of Monday, Bork said only four of those appear committed to the event, a group that along with Hansen includes Algorithms, Consortium, and My Adonis.

Trainer Stanley Gold, who guided Awesome Feather to her Eclipse Award-winning campaign in 2010, said he is considering the Holy Bull for Fort Loudon who has not started since finishing a wide-running seventh behind Hansen in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Tue, 01/17/2012 - 15:39

Gulfstream Park: Awesome Feather set for Florida Sunshine Millions Distaff

Barbara D. Livingston
Awesome Feather will put her perfect record to the test in the $300,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Distaff.

The $300,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Distaff attracted only a dozen nominations, led by the undefeated, 2010 Eclipse Award winner Awesome Feather, who won the first five starts of her career in south Florida at Calder but has never raced at Gulfstream. Awesome Feather ran just twice in 2011, capping the brief campaign with her easy victory in the Grade 1 Gazelle.

Tue, 01/17/2012 - 15:38

Gulfstream Park: Mucho Macho Man tops Florida Sunshine Millions nominations

Barbara D. Livingston
Mucho Macho Man will make his 4-year-old debut in the $400,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Classic.

Nominations have been released for the Florida Sunshine Millions card on Jan. 28, and from the looks of things, it should be a very special day.

Tue, 01/17/2012 - 15:35

Oaklawn: Allowance winner Atigun, maiden grad Najjaar may take shot at Southwest

Coady Photography/Oaklawn Park
Junebugred, on the rail with Joe Bravo riding, wins the Smarty Jones.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The first-, second-, and fourth-place finishers from Monday’s Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park were not the only 3-year-olds to put themselves in the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest Stakes picture over opening weekend in Hot Springs. The winners of a couple of overnight races last Saturday and Sunday are also mulling starts in the first of the meet’s two graded preps for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.

Tue, 01/17/2012 - 15:11

Gulfstream Park: Animal Kingdom works on turf, still eyeing Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap

Barbara D. Livingston
Animal Kingdom could make his 2012 debut in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap on Feb. 11.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Just 12 hours after being named the 2011 3-year-old champion at Monday’s Eclipse Awards dinner, Animal Kingdom turned in his first workout since arriving in south Florida when going a very easy half-mile in 53.44 seconds over the Palm Meadows turf course Tuesday morning.

The dogs were out more than 100 feet on the inner course, according to the official track clocker.

Tue, 01/17/2012 - 14:46

Aqueduct: Bourbonstreetgirl back quick for Biogio's Rose Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Bourbonstreetgirl is back on short rest for Thursday's Biogio's Rose Stakes.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Money makes the mare go, and it prompts a quick turnaround for Bourbonstreetgirl, who figures to be a slight favorite over Pennsylvania invader Love Contract in Thursday’s $75,000 Biogio’s Rose overnight stakes at a mile and 70 yards. Four others entered the Biogio’s Rose, restricted to 3-year-old fillies that have started for a claiming price.

Tue, 01/17/2012 - 13:43

Santa Anita: Pick six bettors chase $107,326 carryover

Benoit & Associates
After three days lost to drainage problems, Santa Anita gets back in action on Thursday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The feature race at Santa Anita on Thursday is the second, an allowance race for California-bred 3-year-old fillies. The feature for bettors is a pick six carryover of $107,326.

Thursday’s pick six covers the third through eighth races. The first two races have six horses, followed by fields of 8, 11, 8, and 10. The temporary rails on turf will be set 30 feet from the permanent rail for Thursday’s card.

Tue, 01/17/2012 - 13:31

Gulfstream Park: Eternal Ruler gets a fresh start in turf allowance

Barbara D. Livingston
Eternal Ruler will make his first start since Oct. 6 on Thursday at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Eternal Ruler did not win his 3-year-old finale. But considering what the two horses that defeated him accomplished in their next starts, it bodes well for Eternal Ruler’s chances when he finally returns against a full and well-matched field of first-level allowance horses going one mile on the turf in Thursday’s $53,500 feature at Gulfstream Park.