HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. –Giant Oak, upset winner of the Grade 1 Donn Handicap last weekend, will not go to Dubai for the World Cup, trainer Chris Block said on Friday.
Giant Oak rallied from to a convincing 2 1/4-length victory over Morning Line and Rule in the 1 1/8-mile Donn. It was the second Grade 1 success in a row for Giant Oak, who closed out his 2010 season being placed first via the disqualification of Successful Dan in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Jaycito, winner of the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes at Hollywood Park last fall, will make his 3-year-old debut in the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 20, trainer Bob Baffert said Friday.
Baffert had considered the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on March 12 for Jaycito’s first start of the year but has pushed the timetable forward.
“He’s ready to go in the San Vicente,” Baffert said.
Jockey Don Simington sustained nine broken ribs and a collapsed lung in a spill Thursday night at Delta Downs in Vinton, La., but was listed in stable condition on Friday, said his agent, Ron Ardoin.
“He’s pretty banged up, but he’s going to be alright,” Ardoin, the retired jockey, said Friday. “They look for a full recovery.”
Red Lead did not have an ideal trip in his last start, but he came within a half-length of winning anyways in an effort that should make him the favorite Sunday in the $50,000 Curribot at Sunland Park.
The 1 1/16-mile race is part of a series for 3-year-olds and up that concludes with the $100,000 Sunland Park Handicap on April 17.
Red Lead found himself farther off the pace than usual in the $50,000 Winsham Lad last month at Sunland. He had one horse beat through a half-mile in 47 seconds, then rallied for second to winner Black Hills, who did not return for the Curribot.
The 2011 Emerald Downs stakes schedule has remained largely intact from last year, with by far the most important race the Grade 3 Longacres Mile. The schedule comprises 29 stakes worth a total of $1.5 million during a meet that runs 82 days, from April 15 to Sept. 25.
Clay Bischoff will never approach the success in racing that his cousin has known, but he’s savoring a recent hot streak nonetheless.
Bischoff, 39, has won with 5 of his 6 starters at the winter-spring meet that began Jan. 1 at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., and if you count the winner he ran on the final night of the holiday meet, Dec. 31, he is 6 for his last 7.
It’s no Triple Crown – which is what his first cousin, Steve Cauthen, won as a jockey on Affirmed in 1978 – but Bischoff will gladly take it.
The lingering affects of the five inches of snow that fell in Hot Springs, Ark., on Wednesday has led Oaklawn Park to call off Friday’s program. It is the eighth cancellation of the meet that opened on Jan. 15.
Oaklawn last raced on Jan. 30 and has now lost six consecutive programs.
Oddly spelled Profesional Grade is correctBy Marty McGee
Mike Stidham is hoping the third time will be a charm on the comeback trail for a 4-year-old named Siente El Trueno. The colt pulled off something of a dubious rarity when being defeated as an odds-on favorite two times in as many starts already at the Fair Grounds meet since returning from a lengthy layoff.
“I was looking to duck after the second time,” joked Stidham, “in case somebody threw a tomato at me or something.”
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Round one of Gulfstream Park’s filly and mare sprint series went to Tar Heel Mom in a tight decision over Hilda’s Passion in the six-furlong, Grade 3 Sugar Swirl. Round two goes Sunday when Tar Heel Mom and Hilda’s Passion square off again, this time at 6 1/2 furlongs, in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie.
