While the New York Racing Association made tremendous gains in ontrack business during the Aqueduct winter/spring meets of 2011, overall business on the track’s races was down double-digits when compared with the same time period in 2010.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. – Shadowbdancing returns to Fonner Park to defend his title in the $75,000-guaranteed Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes on Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile Bosselman will be run around three turns on Fonner’s five-furlong track and is the highlight of the track’s season.
Shadowbdancing enjoyed a prodcutive season last year for trainer Terrell Gore, winning four of eight starts. In addition to his 4 1/4-length victory in the Bosselman, he won the Cryptoclearance Stakes at Hawthorne, the Grade 2 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows, and the Governors Cup at Remington Park.
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MIAMI, Fla. – If Mambo Meister is going to successfully defend his title in the $125,000 Miami Mile on Saturday he’s going to have to do it the hard way. He is coming back off a 4 1/2-month layoff against a very solid field in the Grade 3 turf fixture that begins the 2011 Calder stakes schedule.
OLDSMAR, Fla. – The Jane Cibelli bandwagon has been clipping right along lately as the stable has sent out 11 winners from their last 17 starters. On Saturday, No Acronyms has a good chance to keep that momentum going when she tops a field of 10 fillies and mares slated to go to the post in a wide-open starter allowance at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.
No Acronyms moved from starter handicap company to the allowance ranks in her last but handled the move nicely as she rallied from last in a field of seven and ran past the leader late to post a length win in the first-level allowance.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The promising Hoi An makes her stakes debut Saturday at Woodbine in the $150,000 Fury, a seven-furlong sprint which is a stepping-stone towards the June 5 Woodbine Oaks.
Hoi An, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Square Eddie, finished second under Alan Garcia when she debuted in a five-furlong maiden special on the grass at Gulfstream. Trainer Julia Carey said she missed the break in that Feb. 23 dash.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Marketing Mix came to hand quickly this year, winning her maiden over seven furlongs at Keeneland in just her second career start.
On Saturday, Marketing Mix will be looking to make the successful transition into stakes company when she starts in the seven-furlong Fury for Ontario-foaled 3-year-old fillies.
“She got there early Wednesday morning, and she’s doing well,” said Tom Proctor, who trains Marketing Mix for Glen Hill Farm.
PHOENIX – The spotlight shines on the local product Saturday at Turf Paradise. Arizona Breeders’ Day is highlighted by five stakes for Arizona-breds, with the $50,000 Gene Fleming Breeders’ Derby leading the way. The nine-race card also includes the Ann Owens Distaff Handicap, the Joanne Dye, the Sandra Hall Grand Canyon Handicap, and the Dwight D. Patterson Handicap, with each worth $25,000.
After watching his versatile Ben’s Cat come from off the pace to take the Mister Diz Stakes while sprinting on dirt three weeks ago, Hall of Fame trainer King Leatherbury said he thought the 5-year-old gelding might be even better running on turf, where he is unbeaten in three starts. Leatherbury will find out for certain when Ben’s Cat faces Grade 3 winner Baletti and four other well-accomplished but perhaps rusty turf runners in Saturday’s $75,000 Henry Clark Stakes at Pimlico.
The World Series of Handicapping at Penn National Race Course, originally scheduled for Saturday, has been postponed because of insufficient entries. The event will be rescheduled for a yet-to-be-announced date in October.
