Wed, 03/09/2011 - 16:55

Autrey gains major client in Midwest Thoroughbreds

Midwest Thoroughbreds, the leading owner in North America by wins in 2010, has joined up with trainer Cody Autrey to open a division racing in Louisiana and Texas.

Midwest, whose principal is Rich Papiese, won 310 races in 2010, 52 more than the second-highest total by an owner. So far in 2011, Midwest has won 37 races to rank second in terms of victories, but as of Wednesday was leading the country in earnings, with $545,206.

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 16:52

Bridgmohan losing out on mounts for Asmussen

The longstanding relationship between trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Shaun Bridgmohan has been put on at least a temporary hold.

Bridgmohan last rode a horse for Asmussen in the second race on March 5, and was not aboard any Asmussen-trained starters during races at Fair Grounds from March 6-8. Bridgmohan was named to ride Awesome Bet in a maiden race on Friday, but was not named to ride any of Asmussen’s other horses entered at Fair Grounds on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 16:44

Dubai: Godolphin Mile next for I Want Revenge

Barbara D. Livingston
I Want Revenge will run in the Godolphin Mile instead of the Dubai World Cup.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – I Want Revenge is going to Dubai after all. Unfortunately for trainer Rick Dutrow and an ownership group headed by the IEAH Stable, he won’t be going into the race they’d hoped for.

I Want Revenge will compete in the $1 million Godolphin Mile at Meydan on the evening of March 26 rather than the main event, the $10 million Dubai World Cup. He’ll be accompanied on the flight by stablemate Stradivinsky, who’ll run in the $1 million Al Quoz going five furlongs on the turf.

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 16:37

Chamberlain Bridge won't travel to Dubai for Al Quoz Sprint

Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography
Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Chamberlain Bridge has been unable to find suitable travel arrangements to Dubai for the $1 milliion Al Quoz Sprint.

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Chamberlain Bridge probably would have been favored to win the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint on the March 26 Dubai World Cup card, but trainer Bret Calhoun said that the Dubai race, long considered a goal for Chamberlain Bridge, had been called off.

“He is not going to Dubai,” Calhoun said Monday. “Mainly, it’s just because of shipping arrangements.”

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 16:34

Sam Houston handle averages $1.2M daily

Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, which ran a consolidated Thoroughbred meet for the first time this winter, handled an average of $1,240,156 a day on its races from all sources. The 26-date meet concluded Monday.

Sam Houston raced 62 days last meet, and handled an average $1,264,263 a day on its races from all sources. During the recent meet, offtrack patrons bet an average $1,134,875 a day on races from Sam Houston, while another $105,281 a card was bet ontrack.

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 16:25

San Felipe outsider Jakesam tries to help P. Val get back into stakes groove

Patrick Valenzuela is the first to admit the balance is out of whack. Of his 39 wins at the winter-spring meeting through Sunday, only three have come in stakes.

The 39 wins are enough to give Valenzuela, 48, a secure position in third place in the standings behind Rafael Bejarano and Joel Rosario, who are tied with 63 wins and have won 12 and nine stakes, respectively, at the meeting.

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 16:18

Santa Anita comeback for the fragile Lucky Primo

ARCADIA, Calif. – Injuries have kept Lucky Primo on the sidelines more than once in his career, and forced owner-trainer Joshua Litt to take a highly cautious approach to his 2011 campaign. Friday at Santa Anita, Lucky Primo returns from a layoff of more than eight months in an optional claimer over a mile on the main track, a race that Litt considers to be a prep.

“He’ll need a race, for sure,” Litt said. “We’ll probably take him back and make one run. I’d like to get him on grass sometime.”

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 16:17

Kings Point has Yawanna Twist to spice up Aqueduct card

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The true migration of horses to New York from south Florida is still several weeks away, but one Sunshine State shipper has made Saturday’s $65,000 Kings Point Stakes for New York-breds a bit more interesting.

Yawanna Twist, who was beaten less than two lengths when fourth to Lookin At Lucky in the 2010 Preakness Stakes, heads a field of six entered for the Kings Point, run at 1 1/8 miles over Aqueduct’s inner track. The Kings Point is one of six races restricted to New York-breds run on Saturday’s 10-race card.

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 16:01

Oaklawn: Honey Bunch will try to keep alll four shoes on in allowance sprint

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The fillies that Southern California-based owner John Waken has shipped east to run on dirt have excelled. Harissa picked up her first graded stakes win last month in the Barbara Fritchie at Laurel, while Nicole H became a stakes winner this winter at Aqueduct.

The latest Waken filly to make the move is Honey Bunch, who heads an entry-level allowance sprint for fillies and mares on Friday at Oaklawn Park. She had raced on synthetic surfaces up to last month, when she shipped to Arkansas and ran third in the $60,000 Spring Fever.

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 15:58

Uncle Mo tops Timely Writer; Brethren heads Tampa Bay Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Uncle Mo will make his 3-year-old debut in Saturday's Timely Writer at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – As expected, reigning juvenile champion and current Kentucky Derby favorite Uncle Mo will kick off his 3-year-old campaign going one mile Saturday in Gulfstream Park’s $100,000 Timely Writer.