Fri, 04/22/2011 - 13:20

Hastings: Woodbroom Express may be hard to catch in sprint feature

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The connections of Woombroom Express made a prudent move by scratching the speedy 6-year-old gelding out of the $50,000 George Royal Stakes on Friday to run in a first-level optional $35,000 claiming race that will serve as the Hastings feature Sunday. The six-furlong sprint drew seven horses and goes as the sixth race on the seven-race card.

Fri, 04/22/2011 - 13:08

Kentucky Oaks has 18 possible starters to date

Bob Coglianese
R Heat Lightning, with John Velazquez up, wins the Gulfstream Oaks.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Churchill Downs is listing as many as 18 3-year-old fillies as possible for the $1 million Kentucky Oaks on May 6, with R Heat Lightning and Joyful Victory topping a prospective lineup that will be limited to 14 starters.

R Heat Lightning, a sensation in Florida this winter for trainer Todd Pletcher, arrived here Monday and was scheduled to work Saturday at Churchill, weather permitting. A steady rain was forecast to hover over the Louisville area for much of Friday and perhaps into Saturday.

Fri, 04/22/2011 - 12:51

Woodbine: Breeze at Keeneland will help gauge whether Inglorious ready for Fury Stakes

Michael Burns
Inglorious is nominated to next Saturday's seven-furlong Fury, but is currently training in Kentucky at Keeneland.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Inglorious, who is one of the leading candidates for the Woodbine Oaks and was the 3-1 favorite in the hypothetical winter book for this year’s Queen’s Plate, currently is at Keeneland and scheduled to breeze there on Wednesday.

Owned by the Donver Stable of Donna and Vern Dubinsky, Inglorious was undefeated in her two starts here at Woodbine last year, winning the six-furlong Fanfreluche and 1 1/16 mile Ontario Lassie.

Fri, 04/22/2011 - 12:39

Woodbine: Gold Dust Lady has recency edge in optional claimer

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Gold Dust Lady is the only winter-raced runner in Sunday’s Woodbine headliner, which should give her an edge in the second-level optional claimer for fillies and mares.

Gold Dust Lady wintered at Palm Meadows in Florida with trainer Lorne Richards, who ran her once on the dirt at Gulfstream in March. The result wasn’t pretty as she trailed a seven-horse field of optional claimers, but the rival who finished directly in front of her subsequently dusted $25,000 opposition.

Thu, 04/21/2011 - 19:51

Hollywood: Ain't No Other makes it five straight with Henson win

Benoit & Associates
Ain't No Other, with Patrick Valenzuela riding, wins the Harry Henson.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Ain't No Other won his fifth consecutive race, and stakes debut, in Thursday's $94,300 Harry Henson Stakes at Hollywood Park, the colt's first win in Southern California and first win on turf.

Ridden by Patrick Valenzuela, Ain't No Other ran six furlongs in 1:08.52, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of pacesetter Robie the Cat. Gig Harbor, who entered the race unbeaten in two starts at Golden Gate Fields, finished third in the field of seven 3-year-olds.

Thu, 04/21/2011 - 18:11

Keeneland: Winter Memories comes back a winner in Appalachian

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Winter Memories (left) gets up to win the Appalachian in her 3-year-old debut.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Winter Memories proved good enough off the winter break when wearing down longshot Dos Lunas to prevail as an odds-on favorite Thursday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland.

Thu, 04/21/2011 - 17:09

Aqueduct: Astrology using Jerome as Preakness tightener

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OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Astrology has a sufficient bankroll to crack the Kentucky Derby field. But his connections know the horse doesn’t have the sufficient bottom to be at his best for the May 7 Run for the Roses.

Thu, 04/21/2011 - 17:05

Hollywood Park: Thirtyfirststreet back with statebreds

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INGLEWOOD, Calif.- Although Thirtyfirststreet has lost his last two starts, a change in equipment and a return to the statebred ranks will make him a strong favorite in Saturday’s $150,000 Snow Chief Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Thu, 04/21/2011 - 16:35

Hollywood Park: Amazombie, the biggest star on Gold Rush Day, comes out early

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INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Amazombie is the star of the show Saturday at Hollywood Park, even though his contribution to the $845,000 Gold Rush card for California-breds will be complete before the day is even half-over.

Thu, 04/21/2011 - 16:33

Lone Star's Texas Mile a shot at redemption for Gladding

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Coming off a victory in the Grade 2 San Antonio, Gladding started in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 4 as the third choice at 11-1 odds. But as he headed into the first turn of the 1 1/4-mile race, most of his backers probably knew they might as well tear up their win tickets.