ELMONT, N.Y. - Jose Espinoza's first career Grade 1 victory, aboard Mission Approved in last month's Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park, was a long time coming for the 41-year-old jockey and made him that much more desirous of competing in top-level races.
"I was very excited," Espinoza said in a recent interview. "I'd like to ride more horses and better horses."
The pared-down racing calendar that Texas tracks and horsemen agreed to for 2011 in the face of declining handle could be in place again for 2012. The state’s recent legislative session provided no alternative form of gaming to aid racing operations in Texas, and while date requests are not due to the Texas Racing Commission until July 15, early indicators are the tracks will seek meets similar to their 2011 seasons, some with a few more dates for Thoroughbreds.
The main overseas infiltration of Arlington Park comes next month, for the Million, the Beverly D., and the Secretariat on Aug. 13, but dollops of international flavor have been thrown into this year’s Million Preview Day.
MIAMI – If you want to talk to a trainer who speaks his mind, Eric Guillot is your man. If you want to bet on a trainer who knows a thing or two about shipping a horse into a tropical climate like south Florida during the dead of summer for a stakes race, once again Guillot is your guy.
SUMMIT OF SPEED: Calder past performances, Smile Sprint video preview »
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Inhisglory will be heading to Northlands Park to prepare for the Grade 3, $300,000 Canadian Derby, to be run Aug. 20. Trainer Craig MacPherson was happy and impressed with the way Inhisglory won the $50,000 Chris Loseth last Friday. It was the first time the Kentucky-bred son of Pure Prize had gone a middle distance and he passed the important test with flying colors.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Dance With Gable’s win in a $35,000 claimer for turf sprinters on June 12 produced a milestone for the 7-year-old gelding – the first time he won consecutive races in his 33-race career.
Dance With Gable has a chance at a third consecutive win in an optional claimer over six furlongs at Hollywood Park on Friday evening, and trainer Mike Machowsky said this is an opportunity that cannot be skipped considering the circuit’s racing schedule in coming months.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The last time that Boxeur des Rues ran on the main track at Hollywood Park, he failed to complete the course.
On the turn of the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes last October, Boxeur des Rues bolted under jockey Rafael Bejarano and was pulled up. The same drama is not expected when Boxeur des Rues starts in Saturday’s $150,000 Swaps Stakes, the top race of the meeting for 3-year-olds.
Facing in-state competition from Churchill Downs over the three-day Fourth of July holiday weekend, Ellis Park was expected to struggle to fill races during its opening few days.
Yet with the Churchill Downs meet now complete, short fields are again the norm Friday at Ellis, including in the featured seventh race, in which just six were entered in a $28,000 allowance at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds who have not won two races.
To remain eligible for a $4 million bonus, Silver For Me will have to be among the 10 fastest qualifiers to the Rainbow Futurity for Quarter Horses when 22 trials for the race are run Friday at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico.
The bonus is tabbed for the horse who can sweep Ruidoso’s three Grade 1 races for 2-year-olds, the $500,000 Ruidoso Futurity, the $700,000 Rainbow Futurity, and the $2.4 million All American Futurity. Silver For Me is the lone 2-year-old eligible for the All American Triple Crown bonus by virtue of his win in the Ruidoso Futurity on June 12.
