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ARCADIA, Calif. – The perfect record that Turbulent Descent amassed in three starts in 2010 will be at risk when she makes her 3-year-old debut in Saturday’s $250,000 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita.
Well, technically, it will be at risk, though trainer Mike Puype perceives little danger of Turbulent Descent not extending her unbeaten streak in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes, run over a mile for fillies.
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ARCADIA, Calif. – Before his disappointing race in the Goodwood Stakes last fall, it appeared that Twirling Candy was headed to the Breeders’ Cup, with either the Dirt Mile or the Classic a viable option. But his camp regrouped after that setback, setting their goals farther down the road.
Full Moon Blues and Red’s Round Table, a pair of Laurel Park-based fillies whose most noteworthy achievements have come out of town, will return to their Maryland roots when they meet for the first time in Saturday’s $75,000 Marshua Stakes at seven furlongs.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Gary Contessa doesn’t feel the same kind of pressure entering this year’s Whirlaway Stakes as he did last year.
A year ago, Contessa watched in horror as his 1-4 favorite Eightyfiveinafifty bore out entering the first turn of the 1 1/16-mile race, unseated jockey Jorge Chavez, crashed through two fences, and ran loose through the Aqueduct barn area. Save for a few nasty cuts, Eightyfiveinafifty was generally okay and would eventually go on to win the Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – J W Blue has emerged as the newest candidate for the 3-year-old stakes program at Oaklawn Park after closing from last to win a 1 1/16-mile allowance on Saturday.
“We sent J W Blue to Oaklawn in hope that he was a 3-year-old of quality enough to make it on the Derby trail,” said Tony Dutrow, who trains the horse. “So, we’re hoping he’s on his way.”
Dutrow said J W Blue is now targeting one of two local preps for the Arkansas Derby, either the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest on Feb. 21, or the Grade 2, $300,000 Rebel on March 19.
Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., has canceled Friday’s nine-race card due to a frozen racing surface. The decision comes a day after the track called off Thursday’s program. They are the third and fourth cancellations of the meet that opened Jan. 15.
More than three inches of rain fell in Hot Springs on Tuesday and subsequent freezing temperatures have kept the track from being open for training on both Wednesday and Thursday. It was in the high teens in the early morning hours Thursday in Hot Springs, and it is not expected to get above freezing until Friday.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Aqueduct canceled Thursday’s live racing program after track superintendent Glen Kozak told New York Racing Association officials that he needed more time to get the track in better condition following Tuesday’s winter storm.
It was the second straight card that was canceled and sixth of the winter meet.
Aqueduct and Belmont Park were to be open for simulcasting on Thursday.
J P’s Gusto, a four-time stakes winner last year, is expected to make his 3-year-old debut in the $250,000 Southwest Stakes over a mile at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 21 and will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez, according to Steve Bajer, racing manager for owner John Waken.
Trainer David Hofmans said last week that he was leaning toward the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Feb. 20, with the Southwest Stakes as a back-up. Bajer said the priority of the two races has been reversed.
Ron the Greek will be an outsider for trainer Tom Albertrani in Saturday's Grade 1 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
A late-running son of Mandate, he became a major player on the Triple Crown trail this time a year ago following his victory in the Grade 3 Le Comte at the Fair Grounds but was stopped on for the remainder of his 3-year-old campaign after finishing sixth in the Louisiana Derby. Ron the Greek returned from a 10-month layoff here two weeks ago to finish second under high-priced optional claiming and allowance conditions behind Our Dark Knight.
