LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Churchill Downs is trying to keep it real – and keep it a novelty, too. The night-racing concept that has become such a phenomenon in the last couple of years comes unchained again Friday, the second of four such spring programs in a carefully calculated move not to give beer-swilling twentysomethings too much of a good thing.
No Hesitation will try to get back on track when he runs in a $40,000 optional claiming race at Northlands Park on Friday. The six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew nine horses, but most of the attention will be zeroed in on No Hesitation, the 2010 horse of the year in Alberta who has gone winless in three starts since he won the Grade 3 Canadian Derby last August.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Jockey Rajiv Maragh on Sunday will begin serving a seven-day suspension for a careless riding infraction for the incident at the start of last Saturday’s Belmont Stakes. The suspension, handed down by the three New York stewards, was originally 10 days but was reduced to seven after Maragh waived his right of appeal.
The suspension will run through June 25, unless Maragh rides the New York Stakes that day. Under the designated race rule, Maragh could ride the New York but would then have to serve an additional day, June 26.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Prominent New York trainer Chad Brown has shipped four horses to Woodbine this year. Two of them finished second in a stakes, most notably Bowman’s Causeway in the Plate Trial, and the other two bombed. He sends out Sovereign Crisis in Friday’s headliner, and it will be interesting to see how she does in the first-level allowance for 3-year-old fillies that is scheduled for nine furlongs on the grass.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Preakness winner Shackleford has been sent to WinStar Farm in Versailles, Ky., for a two-week break before gearing back up for a run in the $1 million Haskell Invitational on July 31 at Monmouth Park, said trainer Dale Romans.
“He’s just going to get some rest he deserves,” said Romans. “He might go into a round pen on some grass, maybe hand-walk a little bit. I’m really, really happy with him. He gave us a great Triple Crown, and I’d have to think he’s right in the thick of it for champion 3-year-old this year.”
Versatile 4-year-old Parx shipper Golddigger's Boy extended his winning streak to four races when he successfully stretched outfrom 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles to capture Tuesday night's $75,000 Docent Stakes for Pennsylvania-breds at Penn NationalRace Course.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - At respective odds of 63-1 and 68-1 in the Kentucky Oaks, Street Storm and Suave Voir Faire ran to expectations, which weren't much. Still, everyone involved had a good time, and more importantly, the fillies survived to fight another day.
Street Storm was eighth and Suave Voir Faire was ninth behind the victorious Plum Pretty in the May 6 Oaks, and they will make their next starts in back-to-back races Thursday at Churchill Downs.
LOUISVILE, Ky. - Capt. Candyman Can, most recently third in the June 4 Aristides at Churchill Downs, exited the race with what appears to be a shoulder injury and most likely will miss the rest of the year, according to trainer Ian Wilkes.
Capt. Candyman Can, a 5-year-old gelding, has been a model of consistency throughout his career, winning half of his 16 starts and earning more than $760,000.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – After game second-place finishes in April and May, Screaming Regal and Lucky Mr. K will start favored in optional claiming races at Hollywood Park on Thursday. The outcome of those races could push the two 3-year-olds closer to stakes races later this summer.
Shocktime put up the year’s highest Beyer Figure for a 2-year-old filly last Saturday, when she earned an 83 for her 12-length romp in a division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity at Lone Star Park. It was the second blowout win for the filly, who could run next at either Churchill Downs, Louisiana Downs or Prairie Meadows. “There’s some options,” said Bret Calhoun, who trains Shocktime.
