Wed, 03/02/2011 - 11:04

Gotham candidate Crossbow is sidelined with ankle chip

Barbara D. Livingston
Crossbow scratched out of Saturday's Grade 2 Hutcheson Stakes after drawing post 1.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.- Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin confirmed Wednesday morning that Crossbow has suffered a small chip in his ankle and will be sidelined indefinitely.

Crossbow, who was scratched Saturday morning from the Grade 2 Hutcheson at Gulfstream Park, is in Lexington, Ky., where he will undergo surgery to remove the chip.

Tue, 03/01/2011 - 23:57

Jockey Vicky Baze rides her 2,000th winner at Turf Paradise

Vicky Baze came rolling home late to guide Decarchy Park to victory for trainer Doug Oliver in Tuesday's ninth race at Turf Paradise, notching career win 2,000 in the process.

“Wow! What a wonderful feeling this is,” said the 46-year-old Baze. “I thank all the good people and horses who helped me get here. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Baze, who rode her first winner in 1985 at the now-defunct Longacres Park near Seattle, admitted to doubts about reaching this milestone.

Tue, 03/01/2011 - 16:57

Rebel Stakes a possible target for flashy Oaklawn winner Uncle Brent

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- Uncle Brent ran the Oaklawn meet’s fastest six furlongs on Saturday when he won his debut in 1:09.41, and he could be headed next to the Grade 2, $300,000 Rebel at Oaklawn on March 19. The 1 1/16-mile arace for 3-year-olds is being discussed for the horse, said Eric Reed, who trains Uncle Brent for Westwind Farms and his assistant, Brent Taylor.

Tue, 03/01/2011 - 16:13

Razorback attracts Thiskyhasnolimit to Oaklawn

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Thiskyhasnolimit is headed to Oaklawn Park for the Grade 3, $125,000 Razorback Handicap on March 12, said his trainer, Steve Asmussen. The horse, who is a multiple stakes winner, is based at Santa Anita.

“The timing is really good,” Asmussen said.

Thiskyhasnolimit last raced on Jan. 15, and finished fourth as the favorite in the Grade 2 San Fernando at Santa Anita. Since then, he has turned in some strong works, including six furlongs in a bullet 1:11.60 on Feb. 22. Asmussen said the horse is scheduled to fly in on March 9.

Tue, 03/01/2011 - 15:39

Square Eddie eyes Santa Anita's Kilroe Mile

Benoit & Associates
Square Eddie is being pointed to a start in Saturday's Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita.

Absent an invitation to the lucrative races in Dubai later this month, Square Eddie will start in Saturday’s $300,000 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf , trainer Doug O’Neill said on Tuesday.

Owner Paul Reddam and O’Neill hoped to send Square Eddie to Dubai but have yet to receive any word from Dubai officials, O’Neill said.

“We’re going to take down the Kilroe Mile,” O’Neill said.

Tue, 03/01/2011 - 15:25

Darley maidens look to run to their pedigrees at Aqueduct

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The two richest races on Thursday’s card are a pair of $43,000 maiden special weight routes, and Darley Stable-owned 3-year-olds figure prominently in both.

In race 3 at a mile and 70 yards, Tom Albertrani will send out a pair of uncoupled fillies by A.P. Indy – Darley Stable’s Bernardette and Mark Spitzer’s Bella Regina – who together account for 40 percent of the field.

Tue, 03/01/2011 - 14:51

Top barns key to Santa Anita carryover

ARCADIA, Calif. – For just the fifth time at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, there is a pick six carryover, of $126,305, on Thursday.

Getting through the pick six will include sorting through the chances of leading trainers such as Bob Baffert, Jerry Hollendorfer, Mike Mitchell, Doug O’Neill, and John Sadler, who through Sunday occupied five of the top six places in the standings.

PICK SIX: Brad Free's video preview and selections for the sequence

Tue, 03/01/2011 - 14:33

Martinez, paralyzed rider, to appear at fund-raiser

Michael Martinez, left paralyzed from a September spill at Golden Gate Fields, will make his first public appearance since then at a fund-raising dinner for him Sunday at the Moose Lodge at 13233 San Pablo Ave. in San Pablo, Calif.

A $20 donation includes dinner and live musical entertainment by Jun Simundo and Band. Reservations and further information are available from Johnny Palmer at (510) 734-5469.

Donations can also be made to “Michael Martinez Fund” at First Bank, 13830 San Pablo Ave., Suite A, San Pablo, Calif 94806.

Tue, 03/01/2011 - 14:26

Charles Town handle jumps

Average daily all-sources handle has skyrocketed 27.9 percent at Charles Town Races in West Virginia this year, according to figures provided by the track.

Tue, 03/01/2011 - 13:38

Hallelujah Trail near-perfect at Golden Gate

Her name is Hallelujah Trail, but she’s known as the Queen of Golden Gate Fields.

As if there were any doubt, she proved her superiority in a $50,000 optional claimer Sunday, winning the six-furlong sprint by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:09.89. The victory was her seventh in eight starts at Golden Gate Fields, where she won her maiden. She has won the last six times she has raced over the Golden Gate Tapeta.

All those victories have come sprinting, and trainer Blaine Wright says that he will “toy with the idea of two turns” for her next start.