ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Nick Gonzalez stable has endured more than its share of bad luck here this spring, winning with just one of its first 36 starters while watching nine end second and seven third heading into Friday’s program.
But a breakout can’t be long in coming, and the barn could get a big boost on Sunday from Daniel Be Good, who will start in the $125,000 New Providence Stakes.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Vancouver Canucks fever has taken a firm hold on the city, and because of the noon starting time for the Canucks-San Jose Sharks playoff game, post time at Hastings on Sunday has been moved to 3:20 p.m. Pacific.
Trainer Harold Barroby is hoping Mizz Shakin is due for some luck when she runs in a first-level $30,000 optional claiming race that will serve as the feature race. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares drew six horses and appears to be wide open. It has been scheduled to run at 6:16 p.m.
ELMONT, N.Y. – A forecast of improved weather is good news for a Sunday card that features a pair of overnight stakes scheduled for turf.
Christophe Clement sends out contenders in both $60,000 stakes. Longhunter will be favored in the A Gift for 3-year-olds on the Widener, and Grassy is a solid threat in the Three Coins Up for older horses on the inner turf.
FORT ERIE, Ontario – A rainy three days and a sloppy track greeted Fort Erie patrons last week. In the short sprints, speed was the danger, but closers fared better as the races stretched out.
The first two-furlong dash of the year was run Monday afternoon, and the Robert Johnson-trained Minkredible led from start to finish. Chris Griffith, the meet’s leading rider with nine wins, cleared early as a number of rivals had trouble at the break, losing all chance.
No Hesitation, the 2010 Alberta horse of the year, returns to Northlands Park on Sunday, where he figures to be favored over Heavenly Chorus in a $40,000 optional claiming race for 3-year-olds and up that attracted six horses.
Highlights from Friday's Preakness Stakes 2011 chat with DRF handicappers Dan Illman, Mike Beer and Marcus Hersh. Their top 3 picks for the Preakness are in bold below:
Dan Illman Like Midnight Interlude to improve a bit. Can't throw him out. Don't think Flashpoint will stay the trip.
Mike Beer I don't care who rides MidniteInterlude, don't like him this time
Mike Beer i'd be shocked if Flashpoint was around at the end
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Trainer Graham Motion on Preakness favorite Animal Kingdom bouncing back from the Kentucky Derby. "I'm pleasantly surprised with how he's handled it."
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BALTIMORE - On paper, Life At Ten towers over her six rivals in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Allaire DuPont Distaff at Pimlico. But based on her last two races, Life At Ten still has something to prove.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The last time Pleasant Prince started, he faced Blame and Zenyatta in the Nov. 6 Breeders’ Cup Classic, finishing ninth of 12.
Suffice to say he isn’t racing against the same level of competition Saturday at Churchill Downs when Pleasant Prince begins his 4-year-old season in a $56,000 third-level allowance with an $80,000 claiming condition that goes as the featured ninth on the card.
Russell Road doesn’t fit the mold of a horse who excels in ultra-short sprints, races in which pure speed often dominates.
So handicappers must ask themselves whether Russell Road’s classy résumé, which includes 16 wins in 25 starts, is enough to compensate for the cutback to 4 1/2 furlongs in the $50,000 It’s Only Money Stakes for West-Virginia-breds at Charles Town.