Sat, 03/12/2011 - 16:56

Kentucky Derby favorite Uncle Mo wins 3-year-old debut, remains undefeated

Uncle Mo, last year’s juvenile champion, kicked off his 3-year-old campaign in style with an approximate four-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Timely Writer Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Sat, 03/12/2011 - 16:41

Laurel: Fascinatin' Rhythm reaches peak form in Conniver

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
Forest Boyce guides Fascinatin' Rhythm to a convincing victory in the Conniver.

Fascinatin’ Rhythm was no match for either Five Diamonds or Sweet Goodbye when they met two months ago in the six-furlong What a Summer. But after turning in one of the fastest races of her career in last month’s Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap, followed by a bullet four-furlong workout last week, the 6-year-old Fascinatin’ Rhythm was in peak form for Saturday’s $75,000 Conniver Stakes at Laurel Park.

Sat, 03/12/2011 - 16:25

Florida Derby candidate Gourmet Dinner surprisingly ships to rural Ocala

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The Gulfstream Park stall office reported Saturday that Gourmet Dinner, runner-up in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes here on Feb. 26 and a possible candidate for the Grade 1 Florida Derby on April 3, shipped off the grounds early Friday evening with the destination on the transit slip listed as Ocala, Fla.

Sat, 03/12/2011 - 16:13

Gulfstream Oaks prospects tune up

Dancinginherdream and I's Tricky, a couple of talented 3-year-old fillies and potential candidates for the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks, formerly the Bonnie Miss, worked Saturday at Palm Meadows.

Sat, 03/12/2011 - 15:40

The Factor, Sway Away work for Rebel at Santa Anita

Shigeki Kikkawa
The Factor worked a bullet six furlongs at Santa Anita Saturday for next weekend's Rebel Stakes.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Factor and Sway Away, who finished one-two in last month’s San Vicente Stakes, kept on similar itineraries Saturday morning here at Santa Anita when they turned in final workouts in preparation for scheduled starts in the Rebel Stakes for 3-year-olds next Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

Sat, 03/12/2011 - 15:40

Blue Grass rather than Louisiana Derby next for Santiva

Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography
In a change of plans, Santiva will not run in the Louisiana Derby, but will instead be pointed to the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.– Trainer Eddie Kenneally worked his Derby candidate Santiva an easy five furlongs in 1:02 at Palm Meadows on Saturday, then confirmed his intention to point the Grade 2 winner for the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland rather than the $1 million Louisiana Derby as originally planned.

Sat, 03/12/2011 - 13:55

Parx: Grade 3 winner Despite the Odds rounding back into shape

Tom Keyser
Despite the Odds will be seeking his first win since taking the Grade 3 Hill Prince in June 2009 when he runs in Tuesday's Bensalem.

As a 3-year-old, Despite the Odds was good enough to win the Grade 3 Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont Park, finish second in a pair of two-turn stakes at Monmouth Park, and place fourth despite a troubled trip in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga.

Not much has gone right for Despite the Odds since then, but the now 5-year-old seems to be rounding back into form for the second start of his current form cycle in Tuesday’s $75,000 Bensalem Stakes at Parx Racing.

Sat, 03/12/2011 - 13:46

Jockey Michael Baze fined after failing breathalyzer at Oaklawn

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Jockey Michael Baze has been fined $500 by the Oaklawn Park board of stewards for failing a breathalyzer test on Friday. He was taken off all his Friday mounts. The ruling was issued on Saturday.

Jay Fedor, who is Baze’s agent, said neither he nor Baze had a comment.

Baze is scheduled to ride at Oaklawn on Saturday, among his mounts is Rigoletta in the Grade 3, $125,000 Honeybee Stakes and It Happened Again in the Grade 3, $125,000 Razorback Handicap.

Sat, 03/12/2011 - 13:04

Turf or dirt, Cannon Man will play role in Fair Grounds feature

As of Saturday, March 12, when the grassy Grindstone Stakes was scheduled to be contested, Fair Grounds hadn’t run a turf race since Feb. 28, but a sustained spell of dry weather has turned the turf course viable again, and Monday’s featured eighth race stands a good chance of actually staying on grass.

Sat, 03/12/2011 - 12:41

Fairmount: Tough times persist as 88-day meet begins

Of all the distress cries heard throughout Illinois racing – and there are plenty right now – the most plaintive come from Fairmount Park. Fairmount has cut fat and trimmed excess for years, and the track opens its doors for a 2011 racing season Tuesday still hoping for some kind of financial lifeline.