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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
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ARCADIA, Calif. - Tom Quigley, the publisher of The HorsePlayer Magazine, on Thursday was named to the newly appointed position of VIP Player Concierge at Santa Anita. According to a press release, his responsibilities include serving “as a liaison between Santa Anita and out-of-state players” who come to Santa Anita. Those players will be provided with “VIP personal concierge services and benefits based solely on their level of daily play,” the release said.
