Sun, 04/03/2011 - 15:01

Gulfstream: Travelin Man extends Pletcher's hot hand in Swale

Adam Coglianese
Travelin Man, under John Velazquez, gives trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Joyce Robsham their third stakes win in two days at Gulfstream Park by taking the Swale.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The Todd Pletcher/Joyce Robsham juggernaut continued its magical weekend run at Gulfstream Park when Travelin Man cruised to a two-length victory in Sunday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Swale Stakes.

 The win came one day after Pletcher and Robsham combined to win both the Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks and Grade 3 Rampart with R Heat Lightning and Awesome Maria, respectively. The trainer Pletcher won five races on Saturday’s card.

Sun, 04/03/2011 - 12:32

Turfway: Blushing Dixie gets up by a neck in Fairway Fun

Patrick Lang/Lang Photography
Blushing Dixie, under Shaun Bridgmohan, holds off favored Miss Luann by a neck in the Fairway Fun.

Blushing Dixie notched her first career stakes victory Saturday night when finally getting the best of favored Miss Luann following a lengthy stretch duel in the $50,000 Fairway Fun Stakes at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

With Shaun Bridgmohan riding for trainer Steve Margolis, Blushing Dixie prevailed by a neck, returning $9.80 as third choice in a field of five fillies and mares. Miss Luann, the race-long leader at even money, had another 1 1/2 lengths on La Gran Bailadora, the 9-5 second choice.

Sun, 04/03/2011 - 12:16

Pletcher describes Uncle Mo's last workout before Wood as 'perfect'

Barbara D. Livingtson
There's expected to be no shortage of challengers willing to face Uncle Mo in Saturday's Wood Memorial.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - Early Kentucky Derby favorite Uncle Mo completed his major preparation for Saturday’s $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct by working four furlongs in 48.20 seconds Sunday morning at the Palm Meadows training center in Florida. The time was the second fastest of 36 at the distance.

Sun, 04/03/2011 - 08:22

Turf Paradise: All Saint sets course record winning turf marathon

All Saint pretty much put a bow around his horse of the meet title as the 5-year-old gelding not only dominated Saturday’s $25,000 Wildcat Handicap on the grass at Turf Paradise, but set a course record in the process.

Sat, 04/02/2011 - 19:50

Oaklawn: Comedero hardly looks rusty winning comeback in Nodouble

Oaklawn Park/Coady Photography
Comedero, ridden by Robby Albarado, wins his comeback from a six-month layoff in the restricted Nodouble.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.- Comedero established himself as a 3-year-old sprinter of note last year when he won five stakes, including the Grade 3 Chick Lang at Pimlico. Saturday, he looked as good as ever when he made his first start in six months in the $50,000 Nodouble at Oaklawn Park.

Sat, 04/02/2011 - 19:23

Gulfstream Oaks romp solidifies R Heat Lightning's Kentucky Oaks credentials

Adam Coglianese
John Velazquez caps off a five-win day for trainer Todd Pletcher by riding R Heat Lightning to an easy victory in the Gulfstream Oaks.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -  R Heat Lightning may have established herself as the favorite for next month’s Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs with a dominant 8 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Gulfstream Oaks at Gulfstream Park.

 Island School finished second, by four lengths over Salary Drive. It was another 10 lengths back to Its Tricky, the 8-5 second choice, who was followed in the order of finish by Kindersley, Triune, and Beso Grande.

Sat, 04/02/2011 - 18:41

Gulfstream Park: Awesome Maria lives up to name in Rampart Handicap

Bob Coglianese
Awesome Maria romps in the Rampart Handicap under John Velazquez.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Awesome Maria was just that and then some Saturday at Gulfstream Park, destroying five rivals including reigning Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic winner Unrivaled Belle with a devastating eight-length victory in the Grade 3, $150,000 Rampart Handicap.

Sat, 04/02/2011 - 18:24

Pimlico: D Day ends long drought for herself, owner-trainer Sam Cronk

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
Jeremy Rose guides D Day to her first win since January 2009 in the Shine Again Stakes.

More than two years have passed since the 6-year-old mare D Day visited the winner’s circle prior to Saturday’s $50,000 Shine Again Stakes at Pimlico. But that drought was nothing compared to how long it had been since Day’s owner and trainer, Sam Cronk, had won a stakes.

Sat, 04/02/2011 - 18:21

Aqueduct: Inherit the Gold keeps on rolling in Excelsior

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Inherit the Gold wins the Excelsior under jockey Eddie Castro.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Stop us if you’ve heard this one before, perhaps as recently as last week. The lone New York-bred from a small stable runs in a long-time stakes fixture and beats out Todd Pletcher Inc. in a field of five.

That was the script for last week’s 139th Ladies when the Linda White-trained R Betty Graybull ran down 2-5 Quiet Giant, and it was déjà vu all over again when Inherit the Gold powered to a decisive score in Saturday’s 99th running of the Grade 3, $98,000 Excelsior Stakes.

Sat, 04/02/2011 - 18:01

Santa Anita Derby: Jaycito likely to stay in California

Barbara D. Livingston
Jaycito is likely to run in the Santa Anita Derby, according to trainer Bob Baffert.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Jaycito, second in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita last month and one of trainer Bob Baffert’s best hopes for the Kentucky Derby, is likely to make his next start in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby next Saturday, Baffert said.

SANTA ANITA DERBY DAY: See Brad Free’s video previews and watch full card live on DRF.com