Thu, 02/03/2011 - 18:20

Delta cancels Thursday night card

Delta Downs in Vinton, La., has canceled Thursday night's racing program because of a winter storm moving into the region. Delta is located in southwestern Louisiana.

"We canceled because the weather forecast has freezing rains in it, and the bridges are supposed to ice over," said Chris Warren, the director of racing operations at Delta.

Thu, 02/03/2011 - 18:16

Lanerie gets 3,000th victory

Hodges Photography
The Fair Grounds jockey colony celebrates Corey Lanerie's 3,000th win on Thursday.

Jockey Corey Lanerie, a 36-year-old native of Lafayette, La., scored the 3,000th win of his riding career in the third race on Thursday at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Lanerie guided Steve Margolis-trained Native Mambo to a pace-pressing victory in an off-the-turf claiming race for the milestone, which he came up to quickly with a strong recent run at the track.

Thu, 02/03/2011 - 17:01

Persuading and Never Retreat try again in Suwannee River

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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -- The connections of Persuading and Never Retreat should be happy to see Justaroundmidnight running in the Gulfstream Turf rather than coming back against fillies and mares in Saturday’s $150,000 Suwannee River.

Thu, 02/03/2011 - 16:36

Budweiser Stakes may set up for a closer

As many as six of the eight older horses entered in the $50,000 Budweiser at Sunland Park on Saturday could be vying for the lead. It’s a pace recipe that could set the table for either Chuchuluco or Happy Humor.

Both horses have had success coming from off the pace, and both will be shortening up in distance for the five-furlong Budweiser.

Thu, 02/03/2011 - 16:32

Speed-favoring Sam Houston turf may better suit Ice Mist's style

Trainer Bernie Flint is hoping Sam Houston’s turf course will be the perfect fit for Ice Mist in Saturday night’s $50,000 Jersey Lilly. He has sent her in from Fair Grounds for the 1 1/16-mile stakes for fillies and mares, and she looks like the speed of the race.

“She’s got to have her kind of course,” Flint said. “She might like the course and she might not like the course. I don’t know. We decided to go over there and try it.”

Thu, 02/03/2011 - 16:30

Stidham has threats in Black Gold, Tiffany Lass

It was about this time last year that Comedero embarked on a five-race winning streak after being privately purchased by owner Peter Redekop and turned over to trainer Mike Stidham. Inhisglory, purchased since his last start by Redekop and turned over to Stidham, has a long ways to go to follow the half-million-dollar path blazed by Comedero, but he might have as good a chance as any of the six horses entered in the $60,000 Black Gold Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Thu, 02/03/2011 - 16:25

Conchacer well rested for Tampa's Super Stakes

Four-Footed Fotos
Conchacer skipped the Pelican Stakes in favor of Saturday’s $75,000 Super Stakes.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Trainer Dale Bennett sent out his quick sprinter Conchacer to capture a prep for the Pelican Stakes in an eye-catching 1:10.56 on Dec. 18 and in past years most likely would have wheeled him right back in three weeks in the six-furlong Pelican.

But an older and wiser Bennett opted to skip that race and wait for Saturday’s $75,000 Super Stakes at seven furlongs. Conchacer will face nine rivals, including Pelican winner See I A and Capt. Candyman Can, who will be making his first start since running in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Thu, 02/03/2011 - 16:16

Freeze and thaw keeps Aqueduct closed for racing

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – At 10 a.m. Thursday, with dry conditions prevailing and with the foreign object some refer to as the sun beaming down from the sky, Aqueduct’s inner track looked to be in good shape and conditions seemed ripe for a day of racing.

Thu, 02/03/2011 - 16:09

Thunder Road will determine path for Victor's Cry

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ARCADIA, Calif. – The $100,000 Thunder Road Handicap on turf at Santa Anita on Saturday will determine Victor’s Cry’s March itinerary.

A win could lead to a start in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on March 26. Anything else would likely lead to a start in the $300,000 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 5.

Trainer Eoin Harty is thinking of Dubai but has yet to pack a bag.

Thu, 02/03/2011 - 15:39

Star Guitar seeks Premier Night Championship three-peat

Lynn Roberts
Star Guitar will be seeking his third straight Premier Night Championship victory on Saturday at Delta Downs.

Star Guitar bounced back into form winning the Dec. 11 Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds, a race after a surprising fourth-place finish at his typical odds-on favoritism. Now, the king of the Louisiana-breds returns to the scene of that November loss, Delta Downs, for the $200,000 Premier Night Championship.