Crown of Thorns, the winner of the Grade 2 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap at Hollywood Park on May 7, will make his next start in the $500,000 Metropolitan Handicap, a Grade 1 race over a mile, at Belmont Park on May 30.
“That’s a serious consideration,” trainer Richard Mandella said on Friday. “I just started him back to the track and he looks fine.”
ELMONT, N.Y. – On Monday morning, two days after the Kentucky Derby, John Velazquez walked into the kitchen of his Long Island home, grabbed a cup of coffee, and sat down next to his wife Leona. He thought he had just accomplished something very important in his career, but just to make sure he sent a text message to his friend, trainer Graham Motion.
“I think I won the Derby for you,” Velazquez’s message read.
Motion, still in Louisville at the time, replied, “Yes, I think it really happened.”
The Texas Racing Commission on Friday approved the transfer of 100 percent ownership in Lone Star Park from MI Developments to Global Gaming. The deal is scheduled to close on Monday.
The action taken by the commission on Friday clears the way for Global Gaming to operate a second racetrack in the region. Global, a Chickasaw Nation subsidiary, owns Remington Park in Oklahoma City.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Practicality returns Sunday at Hollywood Park for a handful of good 3-year-old sprinters who either survived the Kentucky Derby trail, or dodged it altogether.
A favorable pace scenario stamps Bench Points as most likely winner of the Grade 3 Lazaro Barrera, a seven-furlong stakes that is his first start since finishing seventh in the Santa Anita Derby.
“He basically told us he’s not a mile and one-eighth horse,” trainer Tim Yakteen said. “Right now, we’re going to concentrate on going one turn. This is the logical spot.”
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – So far, the outfits Arlington Park is counting on to make its 2011 race meet go have been delivering, at least in terms of their quantity of starters.
John Haran, an owner-breeder turned trainer this meet, had sent out 10 runners through Wednesday’s action, the same number as trainers Manny Perez and Roger Brueggemann, both of whom were given larger Arlington stall allotments this year than ever before. Mike Maker, another Arlington newcomer, had logged six starters.
Don Pettinger is moving down a new career path. But it’s not that far removed from the more than 30-year riding career he retired from last year. Pettinger, in the last two weeks, has begun working as a jockey agent at Lone Star Park.
“So, I’m back to being a bug boy, I guess,” he said Friday.
Pettinger, 49, represents Rita Helton and apprentice Ronald Richard, who broke his jaw in a spill May 7 but is expected to be back riding by next month. Pettinger rode his final race at Lone Star Park last May, in large part because of a nagging knee injury.
There is little doubt that there will be a full field in the Pimlico starting gate for next Saturday’s $1 million Preakness Stakes. Eight days out from the race, there are at least 16 horses under consideration for the Preakness, which is limited to 14 starters.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – It’s official. The 50-cent pick five has supplanted the $2 pick six as the most popular bet in Southern California.
The latest evidence occurred at Hollywood Park on Thursday when bettors poured $799,629 into the pick five in pursuit of a carryover of $107,487 from the preceding Sunday. Thursday’s pick six had a handle of $564,092, which was swelled by a carryover of $91,681 from the preceding Sunday.
OCEANPORT, N.J. – The fact that Edgar Prado is giving up a day’s business at Belmont Park to ride Successful Song is an endorsement of the filly’s chances on Sunday in the $75,000 Monmouth Beach Stakes.
“His name speaks for itself,” said Eddie Plesa, her trainer. “Having him come down was a bonus, no if, ands, or buts.”
Prado picked up several mounts on the Monmouth Park card but the main lure was clearly Successful Song. He was aboard for her last two races, both at Gulfstream Park against some of the toughest fillies and mares on the grounds.
FORT ERIE, Ontario – A large and enthusiastic crowd was on hand for opening day, Derby Day, last Saturday as the Fort Erie Race Track began its 114th season.
A survey of all track areas, including the new betting parlor located in the ontrack slots casino, found all of them to be full and very busy.
Rick Cowan, chief operating officer at the track, was extremely pleased with the crowds on Saturday’s opening day and again on Mother’s Day, Sunday.
