Wed, 03/09/2011 - 15:30

Santa Anita Handicap runner-up Setsuko may target Charles Town Classic

Setsuko, second by a nose in a roughly-run Santa Anita Handicap last Saturday, has emerged from the race without injury and is being considered for the $1 million Charles Town Classic in West Virginia on April 16, trainer Richard Mandella said.

There was concern after the Big Cap about Setsuko’s left foreleg, which showed swelling. Mandella said the 4-year-old Setsuko suffered a cut that responded well to antibiotic treatments.

“We were afraid he might have cracked a splint bone,” Mandella said.

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 14:51

Oaklawn's Honeybee draws diverse group of 3-year-old fillies

Benoit & Associates
Rigoletta has shipped to Oaklawn Park from Southern California for Saturday's Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – With Gulfstream Park-based Salty Strike arriving at Oaklawn Park over the weekend and Rigoletta touching down in Arkansas late Wednesday morning from Southern California, the Grade 3, $125,000 Honeybee will have coast-to-coast representation Saturday.

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 14:37

Aqueduct: Unbeaten fillies try two turns in Proud Puppy

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Ava K. and Midnight Visit both have won their first two starts impressively and will now test each other when they meet in Friday’s $60,000 Proud Puppy Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct.

The Proud Puppy, a mile-and-70-yard race which also drew stakes winner Queen’s Harbor and three others, will be the first race around two turns for Ava K. and Midnight Visit.

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 14:18

Uncle Mo will face five in Gulfstream’s Timely Writer

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

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A field of six 3-year-olds, led by Eclipse Award winner Uncle Mo, is tentatively scheduled to run in Saturday’s $100,000 Timely Writer, according to the Gulfstream Park racing office.

Along with Uncle Mo, the field for the one-mile Timely Writer is expected to include Madman Diaries, Schoolyard Cat, Gallant Dreams, Rattlesnake Bridge, and Rocking Out. Four of the six horses in the race will be supplemented into the Timely Writer at a cost of $600.

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 14:02

Blind Luck switching from Santa Margarita to Azeri at Oaklawn

Barbara D. Livingston
Blind Luck is using the Azeri at Oaklawn to prep for the Apple Blossom.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Blind Luck, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2010, will make her next start in the $150,000 Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 19, and will not start in Saturday’s $300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational at Santa Anita, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said on Wednesday

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 13:54

Fair Grounds feature can keep Margolis rolling

A little more than a decade after he hung out his own shingle, Steve Margolis officially has broken through. The 2010-11 Fair Grounds meet marks the best yet for the 47-year-old New York City native, as he entered Friday action at the New Orleans track with career highs of 27 wins and nearly $840,000 in purse earnings.

“It’s been a heck of a meet, for sure,” said Margolis. “We’ve got more numbers, and the horses have really run for us. We’ll leave out of here happy.”

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 13:14

Belle Watling auditons for Rampart in Gulfstream's feature

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Chilean sensation Belle Watling disappointed her followers in her U.S. debut here last month in the Grade 3 The Very One. As a result, trainer Patrick Biancone has tweaked a few things for her second start by changing the surface, distance, rider, and most important the level of competition for Belle Watling when she attempts to rebound in Friday’s feature, an optional $100,000 claimer for fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park.

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 12:35

Penn National sees Potts ride 3,000th winner

Clinton Potts rode two winners for trainer Todd Beattie on Tuesday night’s card at Penn National Race Course to reach 3,000 for his career.

Potts, 39, got the milestone victory aboard Forever Tango ($11.60) in the featured seventh race, an allowance route for filies and mares.

Potts, who began his career riding Quarter Horses and won his first Thoroughbred race at Blue Ribbon Downs in 1990, moved into second place in the Penn National riding standings with his two wins. He now has 18 wins, 10 behind leader Dana Whitney.

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 11:09

Churchill Downs: Kentucky Derby, Oaks Future Wager fields set

Barbara D. Livingston
If Uncle Mo wins his 3-year-old debut this weekend he will challenge the field for favoritism in pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Only four new names are in the lineup of 23 separately listed wagering interests in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, marking quite possibly the fewest changes since Churchill Downs first began offering parimutuel futures in 1999.

Pool 2, which opens its three-day run Friday at noon Eastern, comes three weeks after Pool 1 was offered Feb. 18-20. Pool 2 coincides with the only futures pool being offered this year on the Kentucky Oaks.

Tue, 03/08/2011 - 18:23

Mardi Gras Stakes goes to Street Storm by a neck

Lynn Roberts/Hodges Photography
Street Storm (left), Jesse Campbell up, wins the Mardi Gras.

Street Storm wore down favored Aide to win an off-the-turf edition of the $59,400 Mardi Gras Stakes on a special Tuesday card in New Orleans.