Tue, 02/01/2011 - 14:14

Diva's Gold, Vindy City ship in for Sky Beauty

Barbara D. Livingston
Vindy City won three races last year, including the Miss Preakness at Pimlico.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – A massive storm that wiped out Wednesday’s card at Aqueduct may impact Thursday’s feature as well, because three of the eight fillies and mares in the $60,000 Sky Beauty overnight stakes are out-of-towners. The Sky Beauty is race 8, and the fifth leg of a pick-6 with a two-day carryover of $95,551.

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 14:03

Aggie Engineer coming into his own

Benoit & Associates
Aggie Engineer with owner Roberta Williford and jockey Joe Talamo.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Super Bowl is taking over Dallas-Fort Worth this weekend, but for one Dallas couple the best sporting action is on the West Coast.

Ward and Roberta Williford cannot wait to get out of Big D this weekend. Sunday at Santa Anita, their Aggie Engineer seeks his fourth consecutive win in the $150,000 San Antonio Stakes, and the race’s importance could not be higher.

“We’re not going to miss any of his races for a while,” Ward Williford said last weekend. ”He’s a high priority for us.”

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 13:12

Speedy 6-year-old C Tizz Run gives turf a try at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. – At 6, C Tizz Run is a little old to be making his fourth career start in Thursday’s seventh race at Santa Anita.

A gray gelding, C Tizz Run did not debut until last July, finishing second in a maiden race for statebreds. Following a four-month layoff, C Tizz Run won a maiden race at Hollywood Park in November and was fourth in an allowance race at Santa Anita last month.

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:12

Sherman still unsure how good Jim's No Preacher might be

ALBANY, Calif. – Jim’s No Preacher is off to a perfect start. A 3-year-old Minister’s Wild Cat colt, owned and bred by Robert Bone and Jim Robinson and trained by Steve Sherman, Jim’s No Preacher has won his first three career races.

He won a Dec. 12 maiden race at Golden Gate Fields, captured the first allowance condition in start No. 2 on Jan. 8, and won his third straight last Saturday in an allowance race at the same level.

Mon, 01/31/2011 - 15:46

Fly Down, Morning Line form one-two punch for Zito in Donn

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – After knocking off the first major jewel on the road to this year’s Florida Derby here Sunday with Dialed In’s victory in the Grade 3 Holy Bull, trainer Nick Zito will try to come right back and grab the most coveted prize for older horses to be given away here at Gulfstream Park this winter when he sends out Fly Down and Morning Line on Saturday in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap.

Fly Down and Morning Line are two of the seven or eight older horses expected when entries are drawn for the 1 1/8-mile Donn on Wednesday

Mon, 01/31/2011 - 15:34

Woodbine Mile to be sponsored by Ricoh

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile will be known as the Ricoh Woodbine Mile during a two-year sponshorship agreement announced by the Woodbine Entertainment Group on Monday.

Ricoh, an international technology company, had previously been a sponsor of Woodbine’s Highlander Stakes.

The Ricoh Woodbine Mile, a turf race for 3-year-olds and upward, will be run this year on Sept. 18.

Previous winners of the Woodbine Mile include Eclipse Award turf champion Leroidesanimaux and Canadian horses of the year Soaring Free and Quiet Resolve.

Mon, 01/31/2011 - 15:29

Kid Kate likely headed to Barbara Fritchie

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Kid Kate, Ramon Dominguez up, wins the Correction Stakes.

Having won at a distance her connections feared might be a tad short for her, Correction Stakes winner Kid Kate will most likely stretch out to seven furlongs in the Grade 2, $150,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park for her next start, trainer Chad Brown said.

“That race is 23 days from the day she ran, and it looks like she had kind of a hard race, but I’m leaning toward going to the Fritchie,” Brown said Monday by phone from Florida.

Mon, 01/31/2011 - 15:17

Toby's Corner looks ready to try big time at Aqueduct

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Six years ago, Bellamy Road thrust himself into the role of Kentucky Derby favorite with a dazzling 17 1/2-length victory in the Wood Memorial over Aqueduct’s main track. On Saturday, one of his sons will attempt to take an initial step onto the Triple Crown trail when he runs in the $100,000 Whirlaway Stakes over Aqueduct’s inner track.

Mon, 01/31/2011 - 15:05

Zito mulls what's next for Holy Bull winner Dialed In

Adam Coglianese
Trainer Nick Zito said Dialed In would stay on the Derby trail in Florida.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.– After winning Sunday’s Grade 3 Holy Bull with Dialed In, trainer Nick Zito’s biggest problem now isn’t getting into the Kentucky Derby. It’s figuring out how to get there.

Mon, 01/31/2011 - 14:48

J P's Gusto headed to San Vicente

J P’s Gusto, a four-time stakes winner as a 2-year-old last year, is likely to make his 2010 debut in the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs on Feb. 20, trainer David Hofmans said.

Hofmans said he is considering the Grade 2 San Vicente or the $250,000 Southwest Stakes over a mile at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 21, but is leaning toward the San Vicente. Sunday, J P’s Gusto worked three furlongs in 36.40 seconds, although Hofmans timed him in 1:13.40 for six furlongs.

Kinsale King works half-mile