Fri, 01/13/2012 - 16:31

Santa Anita: Drill likely to start year in San Vicente

Wendy Chaumoint
Drill has not started since finishing ninth in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park on Dec. 17.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Drill, the winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity last September, but comprehensively beaten in his last three starts, is expected to make his 3-year-old debut in the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs on Feb. 19, trainer Bob Baffert said on Friday.

Friday at Santa Anita, Drill officially worked a half-mile in 48 seconds, although Baffert said the workout started 4 1/2 furlongs from the finish line. Baffert said that Drill galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.40.

“That’s pretty impressive,” he said. “He really likes this track.”

Fri, 01/13/2012 - 16:01

Gulfstream Park: Magoo pulled up during drill

Trainer Wesley Ward was unsure what the prognosis was going to be for his speedster Magoo, who had to be pulled up less than an eighth of a mile into his scheduled half-mile work here Friday.

“There doesn’t appear to be any fractures,” Ward said back at the barn after Magoo underwent an examination by the veterinarian. “It’s really hard to tell at this point just what the issue is, but luckily the rider got him pulled up very quickly, which may have averted anything too serious.”

Fri, 01/13/2012 - 15:49

Oaklawn: Lukas returns to defend meet title

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. − Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas had a memorable meet at Oaklawn Park a year ago, when he won the title in what was his first training championship since 2005. He’s back for the new meet with 40 horses, including Optimizer, who is on deck for the $100,000 Smarty Jones for 3-year-olds Monday.

Fri, 01/13/2012 - 15:48

Gulfstream Park: Mucho Macho Man gears up for return

Barbara D. Livingstion
Mucho Macho Man trains Dec. 31 at Gulfstream. He is targeting the Florida Sunshine Millions Classic.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The local handicap division is as strong as it’s been in years this winter, and many of the stars were out for some major work both locally and up the highway at Palm Meadows over the past two mornings.

Mucho Macho Man, Shackleford. and Boys At Tosconova all worked at Gulfstream Park on Friday. Trickmeister topped the tab here the previous morning, while at Palm Meadows, 2011 Florida Derby winner Dialed In continues to progress toward his expected return later in the meet.

Fri, 01/13/2012 - 14:43

Churchill Downs: Under-the-lights Foster one of many stakes schedule changes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Churchill Downs officials on Friday released the stakes schedule for the 2012 spring meet with a few notable changes, including having the Stephen Foster card as one of four “Downs After Dark” programs on a Saturday night.

As usual, the Kentucky Derby and Oaks anchor the meet, which will run April 28 through July 1. The 138th running of the $2 million Derby is set for May 5, the day after the $1 million Oaks.

Fri, 01/13/2012 - 14:42

Turfway: Injured Castaneda faces long recovery road

Injured jockey Bonnie Castaneda was moved Thursday to the Cardinal Hill rehabilitation center in Lexington, Ky., where she faces a lengthy recovery process primarily from the brain injury she suffered in a Jan. 1 spill at Turfway Park in northern Kentucky.

Fri, 01/13/2012 - 14:41

Santa Anita: Reneesgotzip the one to catch in Santa Ynez

Benoit & Associates
Reneesgotzip will try to build on her big debut victory in Sunday's Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Based on a sparkling December debut that earned the top Beyer Speed Figure (98) of the year by a California juvenile filly, Reneesgotzip might be a slam dunk when she makes the second start of her career Sunday.

But trainer Peter Miller is aware of the potential trap.

“You’re always afraid, when they run that fast the first time, you’re afraid of them bouncing,” Miller said. “When they run those fast numbers, you don’t want to run them right back.”

Fri, 01/13/2012 - 14:18

Santa Anita: Vision in Gold good to go for Ellis

Benoit & Associates
Vision in Gold, with Joel Rosario up, wins the Santa Maria.

ARCADIA, Calif. – There is no time for a warm-up race for Vision in Gold this winter at Santa Anita. When she starts in Sunday’s $75,000 Paseana Handicap for fillies and mares, trainer Ron Ellis insists that the 5-year-old mare will be prepared for both the one-mile race, and graded stakes in February and March.

“In the past, she has taken a race to come along,” Ellis said. “As far as I’m concerned, she’s ready, even for a two-turn race.”

Fri, 01/13/2012 - 14:02

Gulfstream: Great Attack primed for return

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Great Attack has not won a race in 14 months, but he’s still likely to be the favorite when he launches his 2012 campaign in Sunday’s $60,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint.

Fri, 01/13/2012 - 11:21

How to bet $250K guaranteed Ruthless Stakes Aqueduct Pick 4

Here's my race-by-race rundown of Saturday's Guaranteed $250K Pick 4 at Aqueduct. I'm building my wager with TicketMaker, found exclusively on DRF.com.