Mon, 02/28/2011 - 13:56

No set plans for Crossbow after Hutcheson scratch

Barbara D. Livingston
Crossbow scratched out of Saturday's Grade 2 Hutcheson Stakes after drawing post 1.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – While drawing post 1 in the 1 1/8-mile Fountain of Youth was perfect for his Soldat, drawing the rail with Crossbow in the seven-furlong Hutcheson was not what trainer Kiaran McLaughlin was looking for. As a result, McLaughlin opted to scratch Crossbow from the Hutcheson and wait for another day.

“The race shape was just wrong for him,” McLaughlin said. “He’s never been behind horses, and the way they ran the Hutcheson, with the pace as fast as it was, I was really glad he was back at the barn eating his afternoon dinner when the race was run.”

Mon, 02/28/2011 - 13:06

Drosselmeyer will not race in Dubai World Cup

Barbara D. Livingston
Drosselmeyer has been ruled out of this year's Dubai World Cup, trainer Bill Mott said Monday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Bill Mott confirmed Monday that 2010 Belmont Stakes winner Drosselmeyer would not run in this year’s $10 million Dubai World Cup as originally planned.

Drosselmeyer, who worked a half-mile in 50 seconds at Payson Park on Monday, missed six days of training after contracting a mild temperature earlier this month, forcing Mott to scratch his horse out of the Mineshaft at Fair Grounds on Feb. 12.

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 19:59

Golden Springs pulls 42-1 shocker in Island Fashion at Sunland

Tommie Morelos/Coady Photography
Golden Springs (No. 2) takes the Island Fashion by a nose.

Golden Springs pulled a 42-1 upset in the $50,000 Island Fashion for 3-year-old fillies on Sunday, when she edged Formal Plan by a nose in the race, which served as a prep for the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks.

Golden Springs, who returned $86.40, raced close to the pace in the one-mile race and went on to cover the distance in 1:41.41. Kelsi Purcell rode the winner for trainer Joyce Salisbury, who on Saturday sent out 22-1 shot Behold de Buy to run second in the $100,000 Borderland Derby.

The Sunland Park Oaks will be run on March 27.

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 19:51

Quick Enough takes advantage of slow pace to win Sensational Star

Benoit & Associates
Quick Enough (right), holds off Amazombie in the Sensational Star. The two sprinters will meet again in Saturday's Tiznow.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Quick Enough proved impossible to catch in Sunday’s $100,000 Sensational Star Handicap at Santa Anita after settling a slow pace in the first half of the race on the hillside turf course.

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 19:20

All About Allie pulls away in Rainbow Miss at Oaklawn

Oaklawn Park/Coady Photography
All About Allie completes a Rainbow sweep for her connections on Sunday at Oaklawn.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - All About Allie dueled for the lead to midstretch and then rebroke to win the

$50,000 Rainbow Miss

by 2 1/4 lengths at Oaklawn Park on Sunday, one day after her owner, Sanders Brothers, and her trainer, David Whited, took the $50,000 Rainbow with longshot Rattlesnake Holler.

The Rainbow races are both restricted to 3-year-olds bred in Arkansas.

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 18:57

Oaklawn Park increases Razorback purse

Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., has boosted the purse for the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap by $25,000, which will lift the total value to $125,000. The 1 1/16-mile race for 4-year-olds and up is to be run on March 12. It serves as a local prep for the Grade 2, $350,000 Oaklawn Handicap on April 9.

Earlier this meet, Oaklawn boosted overnight purses by approximately $10,000 a day. The track has lost eight programs this season due to inclement weather in January and February. Oaklawn also added a card, on April 13.

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 18:21

Little Mike runs 'em off their feet in Canadian Turf at Gulfstream

Ashley Blum
Little Mike holds off Society's Chairman for a wire-to-wire victory under Joe Bravo in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf at Gulfstream.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -  As each successive split was posted on the timer during the running of Sunday’s $150,000 Canadian Turf at Gulfstream Park, it seemed the chances of pacesetter Little Mike winning the race was getting increasing smaller. But despite setting a lightning fast pace, Little Mike had more than enough left in the tank to register a 1 1/2-length victory over Society’s Chairman in the Grade 3 grass fixture.

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 15:38

Harmonius heading back to turf in Santa Ana

Harmonious, a two-time Grade 1 winner in 2010, is being pointed for a return to the grass in the $150,000 Santa Ana Stakes at Santa Anita on March 19, following a third-place finish in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes on the main track, trainer John Shirreffs said.

The Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes is run over 1 1/8 miles on turf. Last year, Harmonious won the Grade 1 American Oaks at Hollywood Park and the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland, both on turf. Her last start came in the La Canada at Santa Anita on Feb. 13.

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 15:22

Twirling Candy topweighted at 122 for Santa Anita Handicap

Benoit & Associates
Twirling Candy will try to follow up his easy Strub win with a victory in the Big Cap on Saturday.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Twirling Candy will carry top weight of 122 pounds when he attempts to win his third consecutive stakes in Saturday’s $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap.

The winner of the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes in track record time on Dec. 26, and the effortless winner of the Grade 2 Strub Stakes on Feb. 5, Twirling Candy will be a strong favorite in the Big Cap, which is run over 1 1/4 miles and is the top race for older horses in California in the first half of the year.