The $100,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown in suburban Cleveland will be held this year on June 4, the track announced on Wednesday as part of its full stakes schedule.
The Ohio Derby is the only open stakes on the 17-stakes schedule. The remainder are restricted to Ohio-registered or Ohio-accredited horses, and many serve as preps for the track’s Oct. 15 “Best of Ohio” card that features five stakes for Ohio-breds.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.- Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin confirmed Wednesday morning that Crossbow has suffered a small chip in his ankle and will be sidelined indefinitely.
Crossbow, who was scratched Saturday morning from the Grade 2 Hutcheson at Gulfstream Park, is in Lexington, Ky., where he will undergo surgery to remove the chip.
Vicky Baze came rolling home late to guide Decarchy Park to victory for trainer Doug Oliver in Tuesday's ninth race at Turf Paradise, notching career win 2,000 in the process.
“Wow! What a wonderful feeling this is,” said the 46-year-old Baze. “I thank all the good people and horses who helped me get here. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Baze, who rode her first winner in 1985 at the now-defunct Longacres Park near Seattle, admitted to doubts about reaching this milestone.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- Uncle Brent ran the Oaklawn meet’s fastest six furlongs on Saturday when he won his debut in 1:09.41, and he could be headed next to the Grade 2, $300,000 Rebel at Oaklawn on March 19. The 1 1/16-mile arace for 3-year-olds is being discussed for the horse, said Eric Reed, who trains Uncle Brent for Westwind Farms and his assistant, Brent Taylor.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Thiskyhasnolimit is headed to Oaklawn Park for the Grade 3, $125,000 Razorback Handicap on March 12, said his trainer, Steve Asmussen. The horse, who is a multiple stakes winner, is based at Santa Anita.
“The timing is really good,” Asmussen said.
Thiskyhasnolimit last raced on Jan. 15, and finished fourth as the favorite in the Grade 2 San Fernando at Santa Anita. Since then, he has turned in some strong works, including six furlongs in a bullet 1:11.60 on Feb. 22. Asmussen said the horse is scheduled to fly in on March 9.
Absent an invitation to the lucrative races in Dubai later this month, Square Eddie will start in Saturday’s $300,000 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf , trainer Doug O’Neill said on Tuesday.
Owner Paul Reddam and O’Neill hoped to send Square Eddie to Dubai but have yet to receive any word from Dubai officials, O’Neill said.
“We’re going to take down the Kilroe Mile,” O’Neill said.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The two richest races on Thursday’s card are a pair of $43,000 maiden special weight routes, and Darley Stable-owned 3-year-olds figure prominently in both.
In race 3 at a mile and 70 yards, Tom Albertrani will send out a pair of uncoupled fillies by A.P. Indy – Darley Stable’s Bernardette and Mark Spitzer’s Bella Regina – who together account for 40 percent of the field.
ARCADIA, Calif. – For just the fifth time at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, there is a pick six carryover, of $126,305, on Thursday.
Getting through the pick six will include sorting through the chances of leading trainers such as Bob Baffert, Jerry Hollendorfer, Mike Mitchell, Doug O’Neill, and John Sadler, who through Sunday occupied five of the top six places in the standings.
PICK SIX: Brad Free's video preview and selections for the sequence
Michael Martinez, left paralyzed from a September spill at Golden Gate Fields, will make his first public appearance since then at a fund-raising dinner for him Sunday at the Moose Lodge at 13233 San Pablo Ave. in San Pablo, Calif.
A $20 donation includes dinner and live musical entertainment by Jun Simundo and Band. Reservations and further information are available from Johnny Palmer at (510) 734-5469.
Donations can also be made to “Michael Martinez Fund” at First Bank, 13830 San Pablo Ave., Suite A, San Pablo, Calif 94806.
