Sat, 04/16/2011 - 15:27

Parx Racing: Quantum Miss back on home track

After regaining her confidence by winning the Grade 3 Cicada Stakes at Aqueduct as the 9-5 favorite, the 3-year-old filly Quantum Miss should be even more comfortable racing at her home track in Tuesday’s $75,000 Trevose Stakes at Parx Racing.

Although she trains regularly at Parx, where she is based with trainer Tony Dutrow, Quantum Miss has not raced locally since winning her maiden by 5 1/4 lengths last Oct. 29.

Sat, 04/16/2011 - 14:54

Aqueduct: Rodriguez gets seven-day ban for medication violation

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez will serve a seven-day suspension beginning with the April 29 opening of the Belmont Park meet after one of his horses tested positive for an overage of flunixin, a nonsteroidal inflammatory that is not permitted for use on raceday.

The suspension was reduced from 15 days after Rodriguez waived his right of appeal. Rodriguez also was fined $1,000, according to the stewards.

Sat, 04/16/2011 - 14:33

Gulfstream Park: Jockey Lopez receives 10-day suspension

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jockey Paco Lopez has been handed a 10-day suspension by the stewards for his ride aboard Exclusive Strike who was disqualified from first and placed last for causing interference that led to jockey Luis Saez falling from his mount, He’s Alright, in Thursday’s ninth race.

Sat, 04/16/2011 - 14:19

Kentucky Oaks: R Heat Lightning drills bullet half-mile

Bob Coglianese
R Heat Lightning is scheduled to fly to Kentucky Monday along with her stablemate Uncle Mo.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Uncle Mo may have lost his status as the favorite for the Kentucky Derby, but his stablemate, R Heat Lightning, continues to look every bit the horse to beat in the Kentucky Oaks.

Saturday, in her first workout since romping to an 8 1/4-length victory in the Gulfstream Oaks on April 2, R Heat Lighting drilled four furlongs in 47.20 seconds over the Belmont Park training track. It was the fastest of 94 works at the distance.

Sat, 04/16/2011 - 13:51

Indiana Downs: Barns are full as meet opens

Indiana Downs begins its eighth season Monday and although its parent company, Oliver Racing LLC, filed for bankruptcy last month, everything will remain pretty much the same as in 2010.

Daily purse distribution at the Shelbyville, Ind., track will remain approximately $200,000 a day. Maiden special weight events will continue to be worth $35,000, with open allowance purses in the $45,000 range. There was plenty of interest from horsemen wanting to stable at the track.

Sat, 04/16/2011 - 13:09

Santa Anita: Cassidy sets sights on bigger goals

ARCADIA, Calif. – The last week has been the best of trainer Jim Cassidy’s year at Santa Anita, with Surrey Star winning the La Puente Stakes on April 10 and Fifth Ave pulling an upset in her American debut in Friday’s seventh race.

Cassidy is banking on that success continuing in coming weeks as the stable has runners in major stakes at Churchill Downs on May 6, Kentucky Oaks Day.

Sat, 04/16/2011 - 11:47

Sunland Park: It's My Party turns back for closing-day stakes

Sunland Park Derby alum It’s My Party will be making a significant turnback in distance Tuesday when he goes from 1 1/8 miles to six furlongs for the $50,000 KHEY Sprint. The race for 3-year-olds closes out the Sunland meet, along with the $50,000 Getaway at 870 yards for Quarter Horses.

Sat, 04/16/2011 - 10:38

Kentucky Derby: Mucho Macho Man has strong work, ships to Churchill Sunday

Barbara D. Livingston
Mucho Macho Man will have two more works before the Derby.

HALLANDALE BEACH,Fla. - Risen Star winner and Kentucky Derby hopeful Mucho Macho Man zipped seven furlongs in 1:23.66 on Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park in his final work before his scheduled departure for Churchill Downs on Sunday.

KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS: Track all the 3-year-olds on the Triple Crown trail

Fri, 04/15/2011 - 20:32

Oaklawn Park: Havre de Grace reels in Switch in Apple Blossom

Oaklawn Park/Coady Photography
Havre de Grace (left) drives to the lead under Ramon Dominguez in the Apple Blossom.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Havre de Grace overcame a modest pace to run down a determined Switch and become both a Grade 1 winner and millionaire Friday in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park.

Havre de Grace won by three-quarters of a length, while Switch was a clear second, finishing a length and a quarter in front of Absinthe Minded. The Apple Blossom continued the Racing Festival of the South, when Oaklawn groups a number of major stakes together over the final week of its meet. The season will wrap up on Saturday with the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.

Fri, 04/15/2011 - 18:17

Keeneland: Maker's Mark a wire-to-wire score for Get Stormy

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Get Stormy (right), with Javier Castellano up, wins the Maker's Mark

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Get Stormy and Workin for Hops were one-two under the wire the first time around Friday in the Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland - and the second.

With six others in futile pursuit, Get Stormy shook off Workin for Hops turning for home and sped clear to prevail by 2 3/4 lengths for his seventh stakes victory - but first in a Grade 1 - in the 23rd running of the Grade 1, $300,000 turf race.