ELMONT, N.Y. – Toby Sheets stood along the rail of the Belmont Park training track Wednesday morning watching a set of horses gallop by when he was asked how much he was looking forward to finally being able to return Haynesfield to the races, something he will do in Saturday’s Grade 3, $ 100,000 Westchester Stakes at Belmont.
“I’m ready,’’ Sheets, the New York-based assistant to Steve Asmussen said.
Is Haynesfield?
“I think so,’’ Sheets said. “It’s been a long six months. He’s doing good.’’
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Sheer Beauty was a talented filly last year at 3, among her efforts a close third-place finish in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks. At 4, she has stepped up her game. Sheer Beauty dominated last weekend’s $50,000 Irving Distaff at Lone Star Park in a quick time, one start after coming close to equaling a track record at Delta Downs.
“I’m pretty high on her,” said Bernie Flint, who trains Sheer Beauty.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kentucky Derby week at Churchill Downs will start in earnest in the dark - and that's not to poke fun at the thousands of fans who admit to being clueless about which horse might win the 137th Derby here May 7.
On Saturday night, Churchill will showcase the Grade 3 Derby Trial on the opening program of the spring meet under the lighting system that was installed in the spring of 2010. Entries are out for an 11-race card that starts at 6 p.m. Eastern, with nine 3-year-olds having been entered in the Trial (race 8, post time 9:39).
Her Smile – second in the Grade 3 Comely Stakes earlier this month – has been purchased for an undisclosed sum by celebrity chef Bobby Flay and is being sent to trainer Todd Pletcher at Churchill Downs to run next in the $1 million Kentucky Oaks on May 6.
Churchill Downs officials said Pletcher informed them Wednesday afternoon of the transaction. Pletcher already has the likely favorite for the 137th Oaks, R Heat Lightning, in his stable.
OPELOUSAS, La. – After 36 years in the saddle, Kerwin Clark will ride in his first Kentucky Derby this year.
“It’s like a dream come true,” said Clark, who recently celebrated his 52nd birthday. “For something like this to happen at his point in my career, it is truly remarkable.”
The executive board of the union that represents mutuel tellers at the Meadowlands racetrack in New Jersey voted on Tuesday to accept a deal proposed by a potential leaseholder of the track, in a decision that could pave the way to the track resuming live racing within the next two weeks if several other agreements are also struck, according to New Jersey newspapers.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The performance of Informed, a two-time stakes winner in 2009, in an optional claimer at Hollywood Park on Friday evening will determine whether the 7-year-old gelding spends the rest of the year running in claimers or stakes.
Unraced since October, when he finished second in a $50,000 claimer over a mile on turf, Informed will revert to a sprint for the first time on Friday since a sixth-place finish in November 2008.
Jockey Calvin Borel has won the Kentucky Derby three times in the last four years, but not until Wednesday did he line up a mount for this year’s race on May 7. Borel secured the assignment on Twice the Appeal, a horse he has never ridden and who only got into the Derby after scoring a 25-1 upset in the Sunland Derby with jockey Christian Santiago Reyes.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky is regarded as a border state, but not in regards to Canada. Yet when the Keeneland spring meet ends Friday with the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes, it just might be all Canada all over the board.
KEENELAND: Stakes previews and live video for Thursday and Friday cards
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Pender Harbour finished his first campaign with an impressive win in the Kingarvie Stakes and looked to be a good long-term candidate for the Queen’s Plate.
But after undergoing surgery at the end of the season and wintering in Ontario, Pender Harbour’s prospects for making the June 26 Queen’s Plate are far from definite.
“We took a chip out of his knee,” said Mike DePaulo, who trains Pender Harbour for Denny Andrews and Bob Giffin.
