When Kentucky-based trainer Joe Woodard brings a horse to Mountaineer Racetrack in West Viginia, he means business.
Woodard, a phenomenal 12 for 28 (43 percent) with his Mountaineer imports already this season, stands an excellent chance of improving on those impressive statistics when he sends out the 4-year-old Whatthecatdrugin for Tuesday night’s featured ninth race, a second-level allowance at a mile and 70 yards on the main track.
BALTIMORE – Ventana not only survived a fierce challenge from longshot Immortal Eyes to prevail by a neck following a stretch-long duel, but also a stewards’ inquiry and a jockey objection in capturing the Grade 3, $100,000 Maryland Sprint Handicap on the Preakness undercard Saturday at Pimlico.
Ventana, the favorite in a field of nine older horses, returned $5.20 after finishing six furlongs in 1:09.88 over a fast track.
Trainer Mark Hennig calls his 3-year-old Chinglish a slow-learner. But, after watching him win Saturday’s $100,000 James Murphy Stakes for 3-year-olds at Pimlico, Hennig said the son of War Front is finally “getting it together.”
BALTIMORE – Vengeful Wildcat wore down Chipshot for a popular victory as the 2-1 favorite Saturday in the second running of the $100,000 Chick Lang Stakes for 3-year-olds at Pimlico Race Course.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Senor Rojo, the local horse of the year in 2010, and Teide, who won the same honor the year before, headline the $50,000 John Longden 6000 for 3-year-olds and up at Hastings on Monday. The 6 1/2-furlong feature drew seven horses and it appears to be a wide-open event.
BALTIMORE – On a day when Life At Ten showed she is still far away from her Grade 1-winning form of a year ago, trainer Todd Pletcher may have found someone to take her place in the distaff division as Super Espresso, an 11-1 outsider, rallied four wide in the stretch to win Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Allaire duPont Distaff Stakes by three-quarters of a length at Pimlico.
Odds as of 2:30 p.m. Eastern
136th Preakness
Purse: $1 million, 1 3/16 miles; Grade 1
Post time: 6:18 p.m.
1. Astrology, 15-1
2. Norman Asbjornson, 35-1
3. King Congie, 17-1
4. Flashpoint, 21-1
5. Shackleford, 12-1
6. Sway Away, 14-1
7. Midnight Interlude, 12-1
8. Dance City, 11-1
9. Mucho Macho Man, 9-2
10. Dialed In, 3-1
11. Animal Kingdom, 3-1
12. Isn't He Perfect, 24-1
13. Concealed Identity, 24-1
14. Mr. Commons, 40-1
Trainer Tim Rycroft is off to a hot start, with five wins from his first nine starters at the Northlands Park meet that began May 6, and he could add to his totals Monday, when he saddles Deja Vroom Vroom in a $15,000 claiming race that will serve as the feature on the nine-race card holiday card. The six-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds attracted nine horses and goes as the eighth race.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Bear It’s Time will try to win Monday’s $125,000 Lady Angela Stakes off a five-month layoff, and she should be prominent in the seven-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies at Woodbine.
Bear It’s Time graduated with authority in her second start in December, receiving a 72 Beyer Speed Figure in that six-furlong maiden special for Ontario-sired types.
Trainer Reade Baker failed to nominate Bear It’s Time to the Lady Angela, which tops Monday's holiday card, but ended up supplementing her to the race at a cost of $2,500.
If you believe in patterns or that history tends to repeat itself, then Rockaby Bay is due to win Monday’s feature at Delaware Park, a second-level optional $40,000 claimer scheduled for a mile and 70 yards on turf.
Every year since 2007, the now 8-year-old Rockaby Bay has run exceptionally well in a turf race while making his second start following an extended layoff.
