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.
ELMONT, N.Y. – After a winter of discontent, one in which the weather was its harshest, the quality of racing was at its lowest, and the rate of winning favorites seemed at its highest, the New York Racing Association gets a much-needed change of scenery beginning Friday with the opening of Belmont Park’s spring/summer season.
The 11-week meet, which will include 56 cards of racing, runs through July 17 before the move to Saratoga on July 22.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Evening Jewel, the winner of two Grade 1 stakes for 3-year-old fillies last year, will not start in Saturday’s $100,000 Wilshire Handicap at Hollywood Park.
Trainer Jim Cassidy said on Wednesday that he would prefer to give Evening Jewel more time between starts, following a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland on April 14.
The top three finishers from last Saturday’s Jerome Stakes all appear headed in different directions. The winner, Adios Charlie, is likely to make his next start in the Grade 2, $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont on May 14. Astrology, the runner-up, is being considered for the Preakness at Pimlico on May 21, while third-place finisher Justin Phillip is being pointed to the Woody Stephens here on June 11.
Mike Repole, the owner of Kentucky Derby candidates Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty, is appealing the disqualification of one of his other horses from first-place in a race at Aqueduct in March and says if he loses, that horse should be placed lower in the order of finish than the stewards put him.
AUBURN, Wash. – Seattle Sniper, runner-up in two stakes races in 2010, headlines a 5 1/2-furlong, first-level optional claimer Friday at Emerald Downs, and while the speedy 3-year-old will be popular in the betting, he’s liable to have his hands full with seven promising rivals in his 2011 debut.
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.
