Fri, 05/20/2011 - 14:27

Kegasus draws attention to Preakness infield once again

Maryland Jockey Club
This year's Preakness mascot is described as a "party manimal."

One of the main events was affectionately called the “Running of the Urinals,” where inebriated patrons dashed across the top of Porta Potties while other drunken fans pelted them with beer cans. Through 2008, this behavior and other raunchy acts were typical for the infield at Pimlico on the day of the Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown.

Fri, 05/20/2011 - 14:26

Woodbine: Dancingall Theway goes for repeat in New Providence

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Dancingall Theway ran the race of his life to capture the 2010 New Providence Stakes, and he will try to win that six-furlong event again Sunday at Woodbine.

Dancingall Theway came wide from third to beat a good field of Ontario-sired sprinters in last year’s New Providence, earning a big but seemingly inflated Beyer Speed Figure of 102. He missed the board in each of his next three outings before getting the winter off.

Fri, 05/20/2011 - 14:05

Los Alamitos: Kindly Fellow up against it in Kindergarten

Recent history is working against Kindly Fellow in the $339,600 Kindergarten Futurity for Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos on Sunday.

Four of the last five winners of the Kindergarten entered the race unbeaten, with wins in a maiden race and a time trial for the Kindergarten, annually the season’s first futurity at Los Alamitos.

Fri, 05/20/2011 - 13:58

Monmouth Park: Rush Now stretching out in Spend a Buck

Rush Now, who has settled for minor shares of two stakes purses since he was given a confidence boost by dropping into a claiming race for the first time in his career, tries to get over the hump and back into the winner’s circle in Sunday’s $75,000 Spend a Buck Stakes for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park.

Fri, 05/20/2011 - 13:56

Woodbine: Daniel Be Good can boost Gonzalez stable

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Nick Gonzalez stable has endured more than its share of bad luck here this spring, winning with just one of its first 36 starters while watching nine end second and seven third heading into Friday’s program.

But a breakout can’t be long in coming, and the barn could get a big boost on Sunday from Daniel Be Good, who will start in the $125,000 New Providence Stakes.

Fri, 05/20/2011 - 13:36

Hastings: Mizz Shakin may be due

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Vancouver Canucks fever has taken a firm hold on the city, and because of the noon starting time for the Canucks-San Jose Sharks playoff game, post time at Hastings on Sunday has been moved to 3:20 p.m. Pacific.

Trainer Harold Barroby is hoping Mizz Shakin is due for some luck when she runs in a first-level $30,000 optional claiming race that will serve as the feature race. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares drew six horses and appears to be wide open. It has been scheduled to run at 6:16 p.m.

Fri, 05/20/2011 - 13:22

Belmont Park: Clement has sharp pair for stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – A forecast of improved weather is good news for a Sunday card that features a pair of overnight stakes scheduled for turf.

Christophe Clement sends out contenders in both $60,000 stakes. Longhunter will be favored in the A Gift for 3-year-olds on the Widener, and Grassy is a solid threat in the Three Coins Up for older horses on the inner turf.

Fri, 05/20/2011 - 13:19

Fort Erie: Speed to spare for dashes

FORT ERIE, Ontario – A rainy three days and a sloppy track greeted Fort Erie patrons last week. In the short sprints, speed was the danger, but closers fared better as the races stretched out.

The first two-furlong dash of the year was run Monday afternoon, and the Robert Johnson-trained Minkredible led from start to finish. Chris Griffith, the meet’s leading rider with nine wins, cleared early as a number of rivals had trouble at the break, losing all chance.

Fri, 05/20/2011 - 12:48

Northlands Park: No Hesitation returns to best track

No Hesitation, the 2010 Alberta horse of the year, returns to Northlands Park on Sunday, where he figures to be favored over Heavenly Chorus in a $40,000 optional claiming race for 3-year-olds and up that attracted six horses.

Thu, 05/19/2011 - 17:40

Preakness Stakes 2011 handicapping chat

Highlights from Friday's Preakness Stakes 2011 chat with DRF handicappers Dan Illman, Mike Beer and Marcus Hersh. Their top 3 picks for the Preakness are in bold below:

Dan Illman Like Midnight Interlude to improve a bit. Can't throw him out. Don't think Flashpoint will stay the trip.

Mike Beer I don't care who rides MidniteInterlude, don't like him this time

Mike Beer i'd be shocked if Flashpoint was around at the end