Thu, 05/26/2011 - 18:35

Mullins gets stay of suspension

Trainer Jeff Mullins was granted a stay by a San Diego Superior Court on Thursday, allowing him to avoid thestart of 70-day suspension for a medication violation that was scheduled to begin on Wednesday until further hearings are conducted.

The stay, issued by Superior Court judge Lisa Foster, will allow Mullins to continue operating his Hollywood Park stable.

Thu, 05/26/2011 - 17:58

Fountain of Youth winner Soldat to return to grass in Virginia Derby

Soldat, the winner of the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth who finished 11th in the Kentucky Derby, will return to the grass and make his next start in the $600,000 Virginia Derby on July 16, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Thursday.

As a 2-year-old, Soldat made three starts on turf, winning the Grade 3 With Anticipation at Saratoga as a maiden before running second in both the Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont and second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Thu, 05/26/2011 - 16:50

Hollywood Park: Sidney's Candy should be at his best in American Handicap

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INGLEWOOD, Calif. – From a timing perspective, Sidney’s Candy may be impossible to beat in Saturday’s $150,000 American Handicap at Hollywood Park.

The Grade 2 American, run over a mile on turf, will be Sidney’s Candy’s second race after a four-month break. In the past, Sidney’s Candy has repeatedly won stakes in his second starts after layoffs.

Thu, 05/26/2011 - 16:46

McAnally runners have summer engagements at Arlington

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The performances of Goldwaki and Eclair de Lune in graded stakes at Hollywood Park this weekend are as much about hopes for the summer as they are for the short-term for owner Richard Duchossois and trainer Ron McAnally.

They start the French import Goldwaki in Saturday’s $150,000 American Handicap over a mile on turf and Eclair de Lune in Monday’s $250,000 Gamely Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on turf for fillies and mares.

Thu, 05/26/2011 - 16:43

Belmont Park: Curatolo makes quick impact as apprentice rider

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Ryan Curatolo, a 19-year-old apprentice rider from France, brings home Can't Refuse at 53-1 in last Saturday's eighth race at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Winter time is usually the right time for apprentice riders to shine in New York. Someone forgot to tell that to Ryan Curatolo, a 19-year-old Frenchman who is serving notice this spring that he could be a star on the rise.

Through the first 19 days of the 56-day Belmont spring/summer meet, Curatolo has 14 winners from 76 mounts. By comparison sake, he rode 14 winners from 167 mounts during the entire Gulfstream Park meeting. His success at Belmont has included a four-win day on May 21 and multiple-win days on May 5, 6, and 25.

Thu, 05/26/2011 - 16:29

Calder, horsemen differ over source-market fees from account wagers

MIAMI – South Florida horsemen and management of Calder Race Course are at odds again. This time the dispute centers around the radius of the source-market area from which a portion of advance-deposit wagering revenue for purses are determined.

Thu, 05/26/2011 - 15:58

Woodbine: Black has hand in Eclipse and Connaught Cup

ETOBICOKE, Ontario − Trainer Ian Black will be active on the stakes front here this weekend, with Fifty Proof and Southdale entered in Saturday’s Grade 3 Eclipse and Stormy Lord set for Sunday’s Grade 2 Connaught Cup.

Both races are for 4-year-olds and upward and offer purses of $150,000. The Eclipse is scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the Polytrack, and the Connaught Cup is scheduled for seven furlongs on turf.

Thu, 05/26/2011 - 15:49

Arapahoe: Phone betting one of many positives as meet begins

Arapahoe Park has a good deal of momentum heading into its 39-date mixed meet for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses that opens on Saturday. The Aurora, Colo., track, which will race through Aug. 21, was able to introduce phone betting last September.

The additional stream of revenue came on board a month after Arapahoe wrapped up a highly satisfying meet in which it experienced a double-digit jump in handle. Those numbers were fueled by large fields, said Bill Powers, the plant manager at Arapahoe who is looking forward to 2011.

Thu, 05/26/2011 - 15:43

Belmont Park: Timing right for La Luna de Miel

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ELMONT, N.Y. – It was not trainer Graham Motion’s original intent to run La Luna de Miel in Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Sheepshead Bay Stakes at Belmont Park. But not wanting to give his German-bred filly 10 weeks between starts, Motion looked for a steppingstone to the Robert G. Dick Memorial at Delaware Park on July 9.