Ball Four, a multiple graded stakes-winning son of Grand Slam, has been retired from racing and on Friday was sent by van to Old Friends, a retirement facility in Lexington, Ky.
Ball Four, now 10, had gone from multiple graded stakes winner to low-level winner, winning for $4,000 at Penn National in February. Ball Four was entered in a $5,000 claimer at Penn National on March 4, but scratched with the idea of running at Aqueduct.
Rescind the Trade came out of his last-place finish in the Whirlaway Stakes with a foot problem, according to trainer Rick Violette, but the 3-year-old returned to the work tab earlier in the week. On Wednesday, Rescind the Trade breezed four furlongs in 49.88 seconds over Belmont’s training track.
Rescind the Trade won his first two starts in New York before shipping to south Florida, where he didn’t appear to acclimate well to the warmer weather. He returned to New York for the Whirlaway, where he set the pace before fading. He was beaten 10 3/4 lengths by Toby’s Corner.
Preachintothedevil, another New York-bred 3-year-old, has seemingly recovered from a foot bruise that forced him to scratch out of the Grade 3 Gotham on March 5 and is now being considered for the Grade 3, $500,000 Vinery Racing Spiral on March 26 at Turfway Park, trainer Gary Contessa said.
“I want to continue on the Triple Crown trail with him, it makes a lot of sense,’’ Contessa said about the Spiral. “He’s got interesting action for the Polytrack; it’s an interesting spot to go to and it’s a lot of money.’’
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Eminent Tale and Tap Attack won races approximately 30 minutes apart on the Feb. 18 Aqueduct card. While Eminent Tale won a better race in a faster time, Tap Attack may be worth backing when the two meet in Sunday’s $60,000 Sweet Envoy Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds at Aqueduct.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Based on a solid 2-year-old campaign in Europe, the shipper Singapore Lilly will be among the favorites Sunday when she makes her U.S. debut in the $75,000 China Doll Stakes at Santa Anita.
Seven entered the mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies, including Grade 3 La Habra winner Cambina, 5-for-9 Cathy’s Crunches, and lightly raced European invader Up In Time. If the China Doll was more than just a prep race for the Grade 2 Providencia on April 9, Singapore Lilly would be easy to endorse.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Furthest Land gave trainer Mike Maker some indication he might be returning to his Breeders’ Cup-winning form when he opened his 2011 campaign with a game optional claiming and allowance win on the turf here earlier in the meet. Maker will be looking for a further clue the hero of the 2009 Dirt Mile is heading in the right direction when he starts among the favorites in Sunday’s fifth race, a one-mile allowance event that has attracted a stakes-caliber field.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The list of Oaklawn-based horses seeking to defend their home turf against potential shippers The Factor and Sway Away in next Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Rebel is growing. Glint and Bluegrass Jam are headed that direction, and will be sharing a gate with locals Archarcharch, J P’s Gusto and Elite Alex, the first three finishers from last month’s Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest.
Zazu, the winner of the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes in February and the runner-up in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on March 5, will make her next start in the $1 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 6, trainer John Sadler said.
Sadler said he does not plan to start Zazu in the April preps for the Kentucky Oaks, such as the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park or the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland.
“We’ll wait for the Kentucky Oaks,” Sadler said. “I think she’ll like Churchill Downs, too, especially if it’s muddy.”
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Highlighting the Todd Pletcher stable’s assault on Aqueduct’s inner track this winter has been the fact it has won 13 stakes races with nine different horses. The barn figures to add to those totals in Sunday’s $60,000 Out Ruled Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
But handicappers will have to decide whether Pletcher will win the race with Buster’s Ready or R Holiday Mood, who comprise 40-percent of the field. The Out Ruled, run at a mile and 70 yards, shares billing with the $60,000 Sweet Envoy Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-old males.
Led by the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 9, Hollywood Park will run seven Grade 1 races during its upcoming 54-day spring-summer meeting, which runs from April 21 to July 17.
The schedule of 49 stakes was released on Thursday, and includes a few changes from the 2010 meeting. The $300,000 Shoemaker Mile on turf, has been moved from Memorial Day to July 2 with a $50,000 purse increase. The $150,000 American Handicap, which was run on Fourth of July weekend in the past, will be run on May 28, at one mile on turf, a furlong shorter than past runnings.
