Fri, 04/15/2011 - 13:15

Keeneland: Jaycito on target for Lexington

Benoit & Associates
Jaycito, with Mike Smith up, wins the Norfolk.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The big-money chances to make the 137th Kentucky Derby thin out considerably once the $1 million Arkansas Derby and $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes have been run Saturday. A handful of lesser preps remain, perhaps most notably at Keeneland next Saturday, April 23, with the $200,000 Coolmore Lexington, a 1 1/16-mile Polytrack race for which Jaycito figures to be favored.

Fri, 04/15/2011 - 12:36

Woodbine: Field Commission sidelined for months

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Field Commission, who has been a stalwart in the sprint division here through his last two campaigns, is on the shelf and may miss the entire season.

“He had some problems after his last race last year,” said Danny Vella, who trains Field Commission and owns the 6-year-old Ontario-bred horse in partnership with Edward Seltzer. “We started him up this spring, but he just wasn’t himself.

Fri, 04/15/2011 - 12:34

Woodbine: Fatal Bullet better prepared for season debut in Jacques Cartier

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Fatal Bullet, the 2008 Canadian Horse of the Year, returns from a winter layoff Sunday at Woodbine in the $150,000 Jacques Cartier Stakes.

Fatal Bullet has been among the leading local sprinters since his memorable 2008 campaign, during which he wound up second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The now 6-year-old Fatal Bullet failed to find the mark in six starts last year, but managed to finish second in his season opener in the quick Vigil Stakes behind reigning Canadian champion sprinter Hollywood Hit, who has bypassed this six-furlong event.

Fri, 04/15/2011 - 12:29

Hastings champion Victory With Class in for $75K

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Terry Clyde, and her father, the owner Doug Clyde, are realists. So it isn’t a big surprise that they are willing to part with Victory With Class, the local 2-year-old filly champ in British Columbia last year. The Clyde’s have Victory With Class entered for the price in a six-furlong money allowance race that carries a $75,000 claiming option at Hastings Sunday.

Fri, 04/15/2011 - 12:21

Woodbine: Sports Select to pinch-hit in Cartier

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Hollywood Hit, Canada’s champion male sprinter of 2010, had been expected to make his seasonal bow here in Sunday’s $150,000 Jacques Cartier Stakes. But when trainer Terry Jordan decided that Hollywood Hit wasn’t quite ready for a return to prime time, he went to the bench and entered Sports Select for the Jacques Cartier, a six-furlong race for 4-year-olds and upward.

“He’ll run as good as he’s capable of,” said Jordan, who conditions Sports Select for owner James Redekop. “He runs well fresh, and he isn’t going to get any better than he is right now.”

Fri, 04/15/2011 - 11:27

Calder to offer pick five with 12 percent takeout

MIAMI - Continuing a horseplayer-friendly trend, Calder Race Course will have an industry-low takeout of 12 percent on its late pick five during the 2011 meet, which opens on April 25, the track has announced.

Gulfstream Park offered a 15-percent takeout on the pick five during its 2011 meeting, only to be trumped by Hollywood Park, which will have a 14-percent takeout on its pick five when its meet opens next week.

Fri, 04/15/2011 - 10:44

Fonner cancels Friday card

Fonner Park track officials canceled live racing for Friday as a powerful weather system moves through the area. Over an inch of rain had fallen overnight into Friday morning with 30-40 mph sustained winds and temperatures in the low 30s.

Rain and snow were forecast for the remainder of the day with winds gusting over 50 mph throughout the day. The decision was made to cancel at 9 a.m. Friday morning. The forecast for Saturday calls for temperatures to rebound into the 50s and a quick return to spring weather.

 

Thu, 04/14/2011 - 20:18

Keeneland: Chamberlain Bridge back to try Shakertown again

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Chamberlain Bridge found glory last year in Kentucky, although not at Keeneland. The millionaire gelding lost three times in eight 2010 races, with two of those defeats coming here.

Thu, 04/14/2011 - 19:57

Oaklawn: Smiling Tiger dominant in Count Fleet

Coady Photography
Smiling Tiger, with Joel Rosario riding, wins the Count Fleet.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Smiling Tiger reiterated his standing as one of the nation's most elite sprinters Thursday at Oaklawn Park, when he swept to a commanding, 2 1/2-length win in the Grade 3, $200,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap.

"That was beautiful," said Jeff Bonde, who trains Smiling Tiger for Alan Klein and Lebherz Racing.

Thu, 04/14/2011 - 17:41

Premier Pegasus to stay in stable two months before evaluation

Benoit & Associates
Premier Pegasus, with Alonso Quinonez up, wins the San Felipe.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Premier Pegasus, the winner of the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes in March who was withdrawn from the Sana Anita Derby on April 9 two days before the race because of injury, will remain at trainer Myung Kwon Cho's stable for at least two months and then have his injured foreleg reevaluated, according to assistant trainer Maria Ayala.

Premier Pegasus underwent surgery to have a stabilizing screw placed in the injured leg on April 8. "In two months, we'll see the X-ray and if everything is good, we can take out the screw," Ayala said.