It has been a winter of discontent in New Orleans for Clark Hanna, but thankfully for him, it’s nearly over.
Hanna entered Friday action with a 1-for-27 record at the Fair Grounds meet, but the 42-year-old trainer is looking to depart for his home track, Churchill Downs, on a positive note when he sends out Maximus Ruler in the Friday feature.
“He’s doing well, breezing well, and looks fantastic,” Hanna said.
It’s probably fitting that a Quarter Horse named Duke Kahanamoku spent a month over the winter swimming three times a week to prepare for his comeback in Friday’s time trials for the El Primero Del Ano Derby at Los Alamitos.
Duke Kahanamoku, the man himself, was an Olympic gold medalist in swimming a century ago, and helped make surfing famous.
Duke Kahanamoku, the 3-year-old colt, has won 2 of 3 starts for Muniz Quarter Horses and trainer Juan Aleman, a co-owner. The colt’s only loss was a seventh in the Golden State Million Futurity at Los Alamitos last November.
Beulah Park canceled the final two races on its nine-race card Tuesday after a tractor pulling a harrow broke down on the backstretch.
A rear wheel of the tractor locked up, making it impossible for any of the other tractors at Beulah to tow it off the track. The track was forced to bring in a tow truck from off the grounds to remove the tractor.
Racing is scheduled to resume on Friday, first post 1:15.
Movin’ Out set wickedly fast fractions, but still had plenty left In his tank during the stretch run to dominate Tuesday’s $75,000 Bensalem Stakes at Parx Racing.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn is putting on two preps for the Apple Blossom this week. The glamour race is Saturday, when champion Blind Luck meets Havre de Grace in the Grade 3, $150,000 Azeri. The prelude is Thursday, with Grade 2 winners Payton d’Oro and Distinctive Dixie returning from layoffs in a $50,000 optional claimer for fillies and mares at a mile.
Trainer Larry Jones said Joyful Victory emerged from her Grade 3 Honeybee win last Saturday in good order and is headed next to the Grade 2, $300,000 Fantasy at Oaklawn on April 10. The race is expected to be her springboard to the Kentucky Oaks.
Joyful Victory closed as the co-second choice in the Oaks future pool last weekend. She stalked the pace and looped the field in the Honeybee, winning by 8 3/4 lengths. For the effort, the Fox Hill Farm-owned Joyful Victory earned a Beyer of 82. Mike Smith was aboard and has the mount in the Fantasy, said Jones.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The luck of the Irish will be put to the test in race 7, a second-level optional claimer that serves as the St. Patrick’s Day feature at Aqueduct, when Ricoriatoa heads a short but salty field of six older sprinters, all but one of whom are eligible to be claimed for $50,000.
Ricoriatoa came up a neck short at 4-5 after a race-long duel last Friday, and has been entered right back by Gary Contessa, who claimed the gray gelding for $35,000 on behalf of new owner Sean Shay – whose silks are dotted with green shamrocks.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Richard Mandella put Champ Pegasus on a plane to Dubai on Tuesday and will leave himself for the Middle East on Thursday, but he’ll still be in action here Saturday, with Blue Maiden and Calla Vista being considered for the Grade 2, $150,000 Santa Ana Stakes and Chalulu One definite for the $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark.- Despite a record in which he has won two stakes in four career starts, Archarcharch finds himself needing a big effort Saturday in the Grade 2, $300,000 Rebel at Oaklawn to be looked upon as one of the nation’s top 3-year-olds. And he probably won’t be the favorite in the 1 1/16-mile race that serves as a springboard to the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.
