Fri, 03/11/2011 - 12:35

Gulfstream: Dynamic Holiday will get vacation after Herecomesthebride

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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.– Dynamic Holiday has won her last three starts, two of those victories coming in stakes. Excited has finished second in each of her last three starts, two of those close calls coming in stakes. The two promising 3-year-old fillies will bring those streaks into Sunday’s $100,000 Herecomesthebride at Gulfstream Park, a Grade 3 race carded at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

Fri, 03/11/2011 - 09:26

Dubai World Cup invite for Game On Dude; Sutherland to ride

Shigeki Kikkawa
Game On Dude, Chantal Sutherland aboard after his Big Cap victory, will be sent to Dubai for the World Cup. Sutherland will be aboard for the $10 million race.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Game On Dude, the winner of the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 5, is bound for the United Arab Emirates after receiving an invitation on Thursday for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 26, according to trainer Bob Baffert and Dubai racing officials.

Chantal Sutherland, who became the first woman jockey to win the Santa Anita Handicap, will ride Game On Dude in an attempt to become the first woman jockey to win the world’s richest race.

“I’m so excited,” Sutherland said on Friday. “How cool is that?”

Fri, 03/11/2011 - 09:00

Brad Free's Santa Anita Derby rankings - March 11

The explosive March 5 debut by Wilburn ranks as one of the meet’s best by a 3-year-old – 1:13.95 was the second-fastest time of the meet for 6 1/2 furlongs; he earned a 91 Beyer. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the Bernardini colt arrived too late for the Derby, but is one to follow as the season unfolds.

Thu, 03/10/2011 - 17:33

NYRA appoints chief of account wagering

The New York Racing Association has hired Andrew DiNovo for its newly created position as director of account wagering.

DiNovo, 46, will develop, implement and oversee all aspects of NYRA's account wagering programs, including its telephone, online, mobile, and ontrack platforms, along with customer acquisition, development and analysis for NYRA Rewards.

Thu, 03/10/2011 - 16:38

Aqueduct: Inherit the Gold vs. Yawanna Twist in Kings Point

Barbara D. Livingston
Yawanna Twist, third in last year's Preakness, eturns to New York-bred competition for the first time since he won his first two starts sprinting over the inner track last winter in Saturday's Kings Point.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – James Hooper knew eventually that his top-flight New York-bred gelding Inherit the Gold would be facing better competition. He just didn’t think it was going to happen in Saturday’s $65,000 Kings Point Stakes for statebreds at Aqueduct.

In Yawanna Twist – who twice placed in graded stakes as a 3-year-old and who was beaten less than two lengths in the Preakness – Inherit the Gold faces his toughest opponent. Hooper, the part-owner, part-breeder and trainer of Inherit the Gold, welcomes the challenge.

Thu, 03/10/2011 - 16:38

Oaklawn Park's Honeybee draws strong cast

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – With five of the nine fillies in Saturday’s Grade 3, $125,000 Honeybee at Oaklawn Park listed in this weekend’s Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, the mile and a sixteenth race should offer some insight into the $1 million big dance to be run at Churchill Downs on May 6.

Thu, 03/10/2011 - 16:31

Tampa Bay Derby has rewarded Pletcher in long run

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The Tampa Bay Derby has produced short-term pain but long-term gain for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Since 2000, Pletcher has run eight horses in the Tampa Bay Derby, winning it in 2004 with Limehouse while running second six times and third once. His last four runners have been defeated by a neck, neck, neck, and nose.

Thu, 03/10/2011 - 16:22

San Felipe gives Bench Points first shot going two turns in a stakes

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ARCADIA, Calif. – He has yet to run around two turns, or in a graded stakes race. He also has yet to lose. It’s gut-check time on Saturday at Santa Anita for Bench Points, who puts his perfect record on the line when he meets such marquee 3-year-olds as Comma to the Top and Jaycito in a compelling edition of the Grade 2, $250,000 San Felipe Stakes.

Thu, 03/10/2011 - 16:16

Sunland: Wiredfortwotwenty streaks into Bill Thomas Memorial

With some of his chief rivals cutting back from two turns, Wiredfortwotwenty appears to have a good chance to keep his win streak intact on Saturday in the $50,000 Bill Thomas Memorial at Sunland Park.

Wiredfortwotwenty will be seeking his fourth straight win. He comes into the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up off a 5 1/4-length romp in the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup at Turf Paradise on Feb. 19. Prior to that race. Wiredfortwentytwo won the $50,000 Budweiser at Sunland on Feb. 5 and a $25,000 optional claiming allowance at Sunland Dec. 29.

Thu, 03/10/2011 - 16:02

Santa Anita just the spot for Always a Princess

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ARCADIA, Calif. – This winter at Santa Anita has been a perfect season for Always a Princess.

Racing over a track that favored front-runners, she was the easy winner of the Grade 2 El Encino Stakes in January. A month later, she won the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes after setting a slow pace. Blind Luck, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2010, was second in both races.