ARCADIA, Calif. - Between a television appearance and riding workouts, jockey Chantal Sutherland was on the move at Santa Anita all morning on Sunday, a day after her milestone, and controversial, win in the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on the longshot Game On Dude.
“I’m having such a good time,” she said, zooming through Clocker’s Corner, the patio adjacent to the racetrack that is a morning hangout for horsemen and racing fans.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla . - Dialed In lost a battle Sunday at Gulfstream Park, one his trainer Nick Zito hopes will help him win the ultimate war, the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 7.
Dialed In finished second, a half-length behind his uncoupled, 4-year-old stablemate Equestrio in Sunday’s fourth race at Gulfstream Park. It was a race Zito desperately wanted as a prep for his next major goal with Dialed In, the $1 million Florida Derby, on April 3.
ARCADIA, Calif.- The Factor, who has won two starts at Santa Anita in electrifying fashion this winter, is being pointed for the $300,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 19, trainer Bob Baffert said on Sunday.
The Factor won the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Feb. 20. Following that race, Baffert mentioned the $800,000 Sunland Derby at Sunland Park in New Mexico on March 27 as a possibility, but was leaning toward a trip to Oaklawn Park on Sunday.
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - Uncle Mo turned in his final work in preparation for his much anticipated 3-year-old debut by breezing an easy half-mile in 48.82 seconds under jockey John Velazquez early Sunday morning at Palm Meadows. The question now remains where Uncle Mo will run, not whe.
KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS: Track all the 3-year-olds on the Triple Crown trail
Stay Thirsty came out of his 3 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct in good order and is tentatively scheduled to return to south Florida on Tuesday for his next probable start in the $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on April 3, his connections said Sunday.
KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS: Track all the 3-year-olds on the Triple Crown trail
Z Humor pushed his career earnings to $970,163 on Saturday night, when he cruised wire to wire in the $150,000 Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston Race Park. It was the fourth career stakes win for Z Humor, a 6-year-old who in 2007 dead-heated for the win in the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot.
The Maxxam was the richest dirt race for older horses at the Sam Houston meet that will close on Monday. Stachys finished 2 ¼ lengths back in second. It was another neck back in third to Join in the Dance.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark.- Archarcharch was one of a handful of Rebel Stakes probables who hit the track for workouts on a chilly Sunday morning at Oaklawn Park. He breezed six furlongs in 1:13.40 in his first drill since winning the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest Stakes on Feb. 21.
The Rebel, a Grade 2, $300,000 race on March 19, is a local stepping-stone to the Arkansas Derby.
KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS: Track all the 3-year-olds on the Triple Crown trail
Positive Response, a Northern California invader sent away the 2-1 choice, dominated from the outset while the rest of the favorites largely disappointed Saturday night in the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park.
With Julien Couton riding for trainer Bill Morey, Positive Response seized the lead heading into the first turn of the 1 1/16-mile Polytrack race, then dictated the running before shaking off a pair of longshots turning for home and prevailing by seven lengths.
ARCADIA, Calif.- Game On Dude won a controversial running of the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on Saturday, giving jockey Chantal Sutherland the distinction of being the first woman rider to win the historic race – and the first woman rider to be booed as she rode into the winner’s circle.
Game On Dude survived a 12-minute inquiry by track stewards into a bumping incident in early stretch involving the 14-1 winner, runner-up Setsuko, and 1-2 favorite Twirling Candy.
ARCADIA, Calif. -- A year ago, Fluke lost the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile by a nose, a result that foreshadowed a frustrating year for his trainer, Humberto Ascanio, who had taken over as Fluke’s trainer after the passing in November 2009 of his mentor, Bobby Frankel.
