Fri, 02/11/2011 - 13:16

Tar Heel Mom, Hilda's Passion go at it again in Hurricane Bertie

Adam Coglianese
Tar Heel Mom,who narrowly held off Hilda's Passion in last month's Sugar Swirl, will face her arch-rival again in the Hurricane Bertie.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Round one of Gulfstream Park’s filly and mare sprint series went to Tar Heel Mom in a tight decision over Hilda’s Passion in the six-furlong, Grade 3 Sugar Swirl. Round two goes Sunday when Tar Heel Mom and Hilda’s Passion square off again, this time at 6 1/2 furlongs, in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie.

Fri, 02/11/2011 - 10:47

Rosemary Homeister pregnant, will take break from riding

Keeneland/Photos by Z
Jockey Rosemary Homeister celebrates a victory in the 2009 Sycamore at Keeneland aboard Cloudy's Knight.

Rosemary Homeister, second on the all-time wins list among female riders in North America, has gone on maternity leave and will be out for an indefinite period, according to her agent, Steve Elzey.

Currently the third-leading rider at the Tampa Bay Downs meet in Oldsmar, Fla., Homeister lives with fellow jockey Irwin Rosendo. Contacted Friday morning, she said she was “just not up to talking right now.”

Thu, 02/10/2011 - 17:03

Evening Jewel works on turf for Buena Vista Handicap

Benoit & Associates
Evening Jewel is on target for the Buena Vista Handicap at Santa Anita.

Evening Jewel, preparing to return to the turf in the Grade 2, $150,000 Buena Vista Handicap on Feb. 21 at Santa Anita, worked five furlongs on the grass on Thursday morning in 1:02.40 for trainer Jim Cassidy.

Eclair de Lune, last year’s Beverly D. winner, worked the same distance in 1:02 for trainer Ron McAnally. She also could end up in the Buena Vista.

Orange cones, known as dogs, were put up past the middle of the course.

Thu, 02/10/2011 - 16:58

Albergatti heads deep field of maidens at Santa Anita

A strong group of maiden 3-year-olds are in Saturday’s third race at Santa Anita, most notably Albergatti, a highly regarded Steve Asmussen-trained colt who finished second in a fast maiden race on Jan. 16 in which the victorious Da Ruler sped 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.42. That was Albergatti’s first start. He stretches out to seven furlongs on Saturday.

Thu, 02/10/2011 - 16:49

Bella Medaglia may win her first stakes in first start for a new barn

After Bella Medaglia sustained an injury that led to a long layoff, and returned with a modest Dec.  13 comeback race wearing front bandages for the first time, it seemed fair to wonder if the 4-year-old filly had hit her career peak early in 2010, when she finished second in the Tiffany Lass Stakes. One start later, after a sharp Jan. 21 allowance win, it seems fair to wonder if there might be a graded stakes somewhere out there that will prove to be within Bella Medaglia’s scope.

Thu, 02/10/2011 - 16:29

Motion has Silver Reunion ready for the Endeavour despite layoff

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Grade 3 Endeavour - Tampa Bay Downs - Race 11
Est. Post Time: 4:52 p.m. Eastern - Feb. 12, 2010

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Entering a horse in a graded stakes going a middle distance off a more than five-month layoff would normally draw more than a fair share of skeptics and naysayers.

Thu, 02/10/2011 - 16:08

Pletcher looks to continue monopoly of Sam Davis with Brethren

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Grade 3 Sam F. Davis - Tampa Bay Downs - Race 10
Est. Post Time: 4:25 p.m. Eastern - Feb. 12, 2010

Thu, 02/10/2011 - 15:58

Migliore takes on duties for NYRA

Barbara D. Livingston
Richard Migliore will begin working for NYRA on Feb. 22.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Richard Migliore is returning to the New York racing scene.

The former jockey will join the New York Racing Association in a multi-faceted capacity that will include television work, participating in the track’s apprentice rider program, and conducting seminars for new and prospective Thoroughbred owners. Migliore will be permitted to continue his current role as an analyst for HRTV.

Thu, 02/10/2011 - 15:51

Grandacious appears well-suited to ship in for Martha Washington

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Grandacious got the call to travel to Oaklawn Park for Saturday’s $75,000 Martha Washington for a handful of different reasons. Her trainer, Bret Calhoun, said he believes the Louisiana-based Grandacious will take to both the local racing surface and the configuration of the one-mile stakes that will end at the sixteenth pole.

Thu, 02/10/2011 - 15:36

Tornado Betty comes out of top effort into Sunland stakes

Even though Tornado Betty ran seventh by eight lengths in her most recent start, it was arguably the best race of her career. She set a hot pace in the Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 then was overtaken by Switch, who is one of the top female sprinters in North America.