Fri, 03/25/2011 - 15:15

Gulfstream: Belle Watling gets a shot at Rampart

Trainer Patrick Biancone confirmed Friday that Belle Watling, the Chilean wonder filly who has been a disappointment in two local starts since coming to the U.S. earlier this winter, will return next Saturday in the Grade 3 Rampart. Belle Watling worked five furlongs in 1:00.18 with her regular rider from Chile, Hector Berrios, aboard.

Belle Watling finished fourth after setting a very slow pace in the Grade 3 The Very One to launch her U.S. campaign and tired to be a distant third behind Amazing when switched back to dirt in an optional claiming race earlier this month.

Fri, 03/25/2011 - 14:31

Bowman's Causeway gets green light for Florida Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
The Canadian-bred Bowman's Causeway, whose major goal remains the Queen's Plate, will get a shot at next weekend's Florida Derby.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Add Bowman’s Causeway’s name to the short list of 3-year-olds eyeing the $ 1 million Florida Derby.

Fri, 03/25/2011 - 14:03

Gulfstream getting a look at All Due Respect

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – As if trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.’s stable didn’t already have enough firepower, it got a little stronger earlier this winter with the addition of the Grade 1 placed All Due Respect, who makes her south Florida debut in Sunday’s $60,000 Ocala at Gulfstream Park.

The one-mile Ocala is restricted to Florida-breds and drew a field of 10, including four horses from the barn of trainer Marty Wolfson.

Fri, 03/25/2011 - 13:53

Rushaway has major contender in Crimson China

FLORENCE, Ky. - Given a choice, Barry Irwin might have preferred that Animal Kingdom and Crimson China switch places on the Saturday program at Turfway Park. But due to eligibility criteria, Animal Kingdom runs in the $500,000 Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes while Crimson China settles for a berth in the $100,000 Rushaway Stakes on the undercard.

Fri, 03/25/2011 - 13:47

Riveting Reason off the Kentucky Derby trail

Benoit & Associates
Riveting Reason finished second to Anthony's Cross in the Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Riveting Reason, second in the Grade 2 Robert Lewis Stakes in February in his most recent start, has been turned out for the spring with a hoof injury, according to Maria Ayala, assistant to owner-trainer Myung Kwon Cho.

Riveting Reason was turned out to a local farm in mid-March and is expected to miss two or three months of training, Ayala said Friday. Riveting Reason has had one workout since the Lewis, over five furlongs at Santa Anita on March 5.

“Mr. Cho said it’s better to wait,” Ayala said.

Thu, 03/24/2011 - 18:12

Fair Grounds Oaks sees McPeek's B team

Barbara D. Livingston
Kathmanblu is passing on the Fair Grounds Oaks in favor of the Ashland.

He couldn't get that lucky, could he? Is it really that easy to replace a filly as good as Kathmanblu in the lineup for the Fair Grounds Oaks and still have the winner of the richest race of the meet for 3-year-old fillies?

Ken McPeek sure hopes so.

Saturday, McPeek will run Niji's Grand Girl in the Grade 2, $500,000 Fair Grounds Oaks after having withdrawn the highly regarded Kathmanblu from consideration in favor of the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland in two weeks.

Thu, 03/24/2011 - 17:32

Bourbonette Oaks a showcase for Summer Soiree

Summer Soiree had a largely forgettable 2-year-old campaign, winning one of six starts and just once running a Beyer Speed Figure higher than a 48.

Little about her lone start of 2011 can be so easily forgotten. In a tour-de-force performance Jan. 30 at Oaklawn Park, Summer Soiree shot to the front in an allowance race and won by 9 3/4 lengths, posting an 85 Beyer.

Thu, 03/24/2011 - 17:18

New Orleans Handicap: Giant Oak looks for elusive Fair Grounds victory

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Thu, 03/24/2011 - 17:15

Keeneland's Ashland next target for Dancinginherdreams

Trainer John Ward said Thursday that his stakes-winning 3-year-old filly Dancinginherdreams continues to train forwardly since her second-place finish behind R Heat Lightning in the Grade 2 Davona Dale. Ward did not nominate Dancinginherdreams to the Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks on April 2, opting instead to wait an extra week for the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland.

“That’s been the plan all along, two races here then give her six weeks and run her two turns for the first time down that short stretch at Keeneland in the Ashland,” said Ward.

Thu, 03/24/2011 - 17:12

Florida Derby among options Violette mulling for Economic Summit

Trainer Rick Violette also left the door slightly open that his Economic Summit might run in the Florida Derby after the son of Malibu Moon sizzled five furlongs in 59.80 at Palm Meadows on Wednesday. Economic Summit is coming off a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby.

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