OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Remand, a lightly raced 4-year-old who kept tough company in limited action last year, takes on some old pros with considerably more experience but looms the one to catch and beat in Saturday’s $65,000 Stymie Stakes.
The Stymie drew a field of five but may shrink to four because Arson Squad, who was scratched from the John B. Campbell last Saturday due to a foot infection, is iffy to make the 1 1/8-mile race.
OLDSMAR, Fla. – Choragus, whose strong stretch rallies have produced second- and third-place finishes in her first two local starts against stakes company in sprints, moves to a more comfortable distance Saturday, when she tops a field of 11 fillies and mares in the 1 1/16-mile, $50,000 Wayward Lass Stakes.
Leandro Goncalves will be aboard Choragus for trainer Tony Reinstedler as the 6-year-old mare seeks her sixth career win in the Wayward Lass.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The partial sale of Twirling Candy to Marty Wygod and Lane’s End Farm announced on Thursday will not affect the 4-year-old colt’s 2011 racing season, said trainer John Sadler.
Next Saturday, March 5, Twirling Candy, the winner of the Malibu and Strub stakes, will be favored to win the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap.
In the long term, it is likely that Twirling Candy will be pointed for the Pacific Classic in August at Del Mar, which is near the home of owner Jenny Craig, and a track that she enthusiastically supports.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – No trainer is every happy to lose a race, especially a graded stakes. But trainer John Ward said he was happy with what he saw from his Kentucky Oaks hopeful Dancinginherdreams even in defeat here earlier this winter in the Grade 2 Forward Gal.
Special Kid appears to have stepped up his game since he began racing on dirt two races back, which will serve him well on Saturday when he makes his first start outside of Southern California in the $100,000 Borderland Derby at Sunland Park.
But there’s more to the story than a surface switch. Special Kid was gelded two starts ago, and since that point has begun to run to his potential, said his trainer, Doug O’Neill.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The concern surrounding Evening Jewel’s interest in racing and training that was prevalent in January has given way to optimism over her condition as February draws to a close.
On Saturday at Santa Anita, Evening Jewel will be favored to win her second stakes of the year in the $100,000 Valentine Dancer Handicap for statebred females, which is scheduled for a mile on turf. With wet weather forecast, the race could be shifted to the main track, but Evening Jewel will start regardless, trainer Jim Cassidy said.
Blazin Son justified trainer Cody Joiner’s pre-race confidence with an easy win in the Feb. 5 time trials for Saturday’s $138,250 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes for 3-year-old Quarter Horses.
Before the trials, Joiner spoke highly of how Blazin Son had responded to training after being gelded last fall. Blazin Son won his division of the trials by 1 3/4 lengths, setting the fastest qualifying time of 17.37 seconds for 350 yards.
PHOENIX – Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer knew it was going to be tough enough last Sunday sending his crack 3-year-old Indian Winter up against the freakishly fast The Factor in Santa Anita’s Grade 3 San Vicente, and when he determined a speed bias would favor The Factor even further, he opted out, scratching his horse. His fears were confirmed when The Factor ran lights-out again to win the San Vicente.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla - Saturday's seven-furlong Hutcheson at Gulfstream Park drew a competitive field of 10 topped by sensational debut winners Travelin Man and Flashpoint, along with Crossbow and Madman Diaries.
The remainder of the field includes Razmataz, Little Drama, Leave of Absence, Black N Beauty, Manicero, and Royal Currier.
KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS: Track all the 3-year-olds on the Triple Crown trail
