OCEANPORT, N.J. – Feel That Fire has the least experience among the eight fillies and mares in the $75,000 Red Cross Stakes on Sunday at Monmouth Park, a byproduct of design and happenstance.
While the 4-year-old lacks seasoning, Feel That Fire has the most upside potential in the six-furlong race.
MONMOUTH PARK: Live video for every race day of the 2011 meet »
FORT ERIE, Ontario – The first month of the Fort Erie season comes to a close this weekend, and a new condition book has been issued that sets out the upcoming races.
Racing secretary John Whitson was in a buoyant mood as he passed over a copy of the new book.
“The first month went well enough, considering the number of rainy days,” said Whitson. “We hope Mother Nature will cooperate as turf races are now on the schedule.”
Forest Mouse will have to run down Oops and a Half in order to win his fifth straight race Sunday in the $40,000 Inaugural at Arapahoe Park in Aurora, Col. The six-furlong race for 3-year-olds is the first Thoroughbred stakes of the mixed meet that runs through Aug. 21.
Average daily handle on races at Pimlico Race Course during the track’s recently concluded 29-day meet fell 24.1 percent compared to average daily handle during a 20-day live meet last year, according to figures distributed by the track.
Average daily handle fell from $5.85 million in 2010 to $4.45 million, according to the figures. As a result of the increased number of live racing days however, total handle on the track’s races rose from $117.1 million over 20 days to $128.9 million over 29 days this year.
MIAMI – The lives of Juan Arias and Kathleen O’Connell have returned to normal again after the pair experienced the rush that comes with participating in their first Kentucky Derby earlier this month. Now the two locally based trainers must decide on what will be next for their Derby participants, Decisive Moment and Watch Me Go.
Northlands Park has announced the appointment of Chris Roberts to the post of venue director.
For the past five years Roberts has been director of Great Canadian Gaming’s Ontario operations at Georgian and Flamboro Downs. Great Canadian is also the parent company of Hastings.
“Chris brings valuable industry experience that will complement Northlands collaborative work in the community to create a balanced and sustainable gaming program,” said Richard L. Andersen, Northlands president and CEO.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Broken Dreams returns Sunday to her preferred surface – grass – in the $70,000 Great Lady M. Stakes for fillies and mares at Hollywood Park.
With only five entrants and minimal wagering appeal, Hollywood opted to get the six-furlong turf race out of the way early. The Great Lady M. goes as the first race on a nine-race card. Broken Dreams is not the only filly or mare back on her best footing.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – When Steve Asmussen has his Hall of Fame plaque enscribed in the near future, it probably won’t include how many times he won the Churchill Downs training title. There’s just too much other stuff to cram onto limited bronze, such as his deeds with Curlin and Rachel Alexandra and his thousands of victories at tracks throughout North America.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Robby Albarado knows all too well about being listed on the program on a horse, then being replaced, having suffered the indignity of losing Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom in that way.
A similar scenario unfolded here Thursday involving Albarado and trainer Mike Maker, although the circumstances apparently were not what they seemed – and the mount lost by Albarado wound up being defeated as an odds-on choice.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Anthony’s Cross, who won the Grade 2 Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita in February, was sent to Calumet Farm in Kentucky earlier this week for a 30-day break.
Trainer Eoin Harty said he hopes to have Anthony’s Cross ready for the $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 27.
“I gave up on chasing the Triple Crown,” Harty said. “I was fighting it. Hopefully I can get him ready for the Travers.”
