LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Nehro might well be picking up that label as the “buzz” horse for the 137th Kentucky Derby, and trainer Steve Asmussen isn’t all that happy about it.
“I don’t want any ‘Mushes’ on the bandwagon,” Asmussen said slyly. “I don’t want them bringing any of their bad luck around.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – John Good learned at the foot of Bob Baffert, working in various capacities for the three-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer for seven years. So when Good sent out a colt named China to win an allowance early on the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup undercard at Churchill Downs last fall, defeating the Baffert-trained Solar Rocket in the process, Good was beyond ecstatic.
“I love this little horse,” said Good. “He gave me the rare chance to pull one over on my old boss. Bob did a lot for me, so that was a tremendous thrill.”
R. Heat Lightning will not run in the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, trainer Todd Pletcher said Monday.
Pletcher said heat in a knee was detected, forcing her withdrawal.
R. Heat Lightning won the Gulfstream Oaks by 8 1/4 lengths in her last start and was considered one of the leading contenders for the Oaks.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Roxy Gap was undefeated in three starts here at Woodbine last year and was looking to use the Natalma as a stepping-stone to a Breeders’ Cup appearance.
But fate intervened, and Roxy Gap did not revisit the winner’s circle until she prevailed by three-quarters of a length here in last Saturday’s $150,000 Fury Stakes with jockey Patrick Husbands aboard for the first time.
“It’s been a struggle,” said Mark Casse, who conditions the homebred Roxy Gap for Eugene Melnyk. “It’s taken us a long time, to get this win out of her.”
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Another day in Louisville and another torrential downpour to greet the early arrivals at Churchill Downs on Monday morning for the beginning of a very busy training session which featured the final workouts of five potential Kentucky Derby starters, including Grade 1 Derby prep winners Midnight Interlude and Brilliant Speed, both of whom went out during the special Derby-Oaks training session at 8:30 a.m.
LOUISVILLE, Ky - Heavy showers greeted the horses when the racetrack opened for training but did not keep three likely Kentucky Derby starters from working before dawn Monday morning at Churchill Downs.
With the racetrack sealed and sloppy, Santiva worked a half-mile in 49.99 seconds, Watch Me Go five furlongs in 1:02.00, and Nehro four furlongs in 50.72.
INGLEWOOD, Calif.- Saint Isabelle won her first stakes in Sunday’s $73,100 Time to Leave Stakes at Hollywood Park, giving the Little Red Feather Racing syndicate its third winner of the day.
Earlier on the nine-race program, Little Red Feather won a $40,000 claimer on turf with Russian River and a $25,000 claimer on the main track with Achak. All three horses are owned in partnerships.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Castinette Dancer got up in the final few jumps to edge Overvalued by a half-length in the $50,000 Boulevard Casino Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Hastings on Sunday.
Juan Vazquez wasn’t kidding when he told people he was gearing up his stable for the start of Delaware Park’s season.
Vazquez, 36, who won his first training title at last year’s Delaware meet when he sent out 89 winners for earnings of $1.3 million, got off the 2011 meet with a bang by saddling three winners last Saturday.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario—Check Your Soul stamped himself as a contender for the June 26 Queen’s Plate on Sunday at Woodbine with a decisive score in the $115,000 Wando Stakes.
With Patrick Husbands aboard, Check Your Soul ($3.20) went five-wide on the first turn in the 1 1/16-mile route for 3-year-olds, before racing three lengths off a sleepy pace set by Something Extra.
