After lucking out with weather during November and most of December, Fair Grounds has hit one of its drawn-out off-the-grass periods. Races were rained off turf four of five days last week, and grass racing was canceled again Friday. But rain or shine, turf or dirt, Sunday’s first race should showcase a strong 3-year-old prospect.
OZONE PARK, N.Y._–When John Parisella decided to take a three-month hiatus from training, his assistant, William Younghans, was basically out of a job. Having had some previous experience training horses himself, Younghans opted to try and go back out on his own again.
His three children – sons Jack and William and daughter Kristine – lent him some money to claim a horse and Younghans went shopping. On Nov. 6, he claimed Close to the Vest for $10,000 from David Jacobson. Close to the Vest won by 6 1/4 lengths, running six furlongs in 1:09.93 while finishing in hand at the wire.
ARCADIA, Calif. – A strategic miscalculation that contributed to the defeat of May Day Rose one month ago in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet will not be repeated Sunday in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.
The 1 1/16-mile race drew five entrants; Zazu is expected to scratch. Win or lose, trainer Bob Baffert said May Day Rose this time will assert her speed. In the Starlet, May Day Rose pulled while rated in second position, made the lead into the lane, then faded.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainers Tom Bush and Gregory Fox, who send out favorites Get Stormy and Battle of Hastings in Sunday’s $100,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream Park, both agree on one thing. The first graded turf stakes of the meet has come up one tough affair.
“My goodness gracious it’s a strong race,” said Bush, whose Get Stormy makes his first start since finishing 11th and last in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. “It’s the real deal.”
Haynesfield, the most accomplished horse stabled in New York this winter, is in light training with no immediate plans, assistant trainer Toby Sheets said Thursday.
“He’s doing very well and he’s happy about it,’’ said Sheets, who oversees trainer Steve Asmussen’s Belmont Park string.
Jockey Omar Berrio, who suffered a mild stroke last week, was already back on horses on Thursday morning during training hours at Santa Anita, galloping a pair of runners for trainer A.C. Avila.
“He still needs to go back to the doctor to get cleared to ride races,” said Avila, who is Berrio’s biggest booster. “He’s going to have to change his diet, cut out all the salt and junk food. He has high blood pressure. But thank God he’s going to be okay.”
World Renowned should improve
ARCADIA, Calif. – Santa Anita’s main track closed for training at 8:30 on Thursday morning because of drainage issues just past the finish line, an area track superintendent Richard Tedesco wanted to address prior to Thursday’s races. By noon, the track was back to normal, all set for the day’s races, which began at 1 p.m. Pacific.
The area of concern was largely from the middle of the track to the outer rail, and from the finish line to the seven-furlong pole. Heavy equipment removed the wet material, new material was added, and then the track was harrowed.
Desert Wheat will try to win his first race since 2009 and recapture the form that made him a five-time Fair Grounds grass course winner when he starts in the $60,000 Dixie Poker Ace for Louisiana-bred on Saturday, but he is hardly the only horse in the hunt Saturday for faded Fair Grounds glory. Later on the card, a high-end dirt-sprint allowance includes Cash Refund, a perfect 4 for 4 on the Fair Grounds main track, and Grasshopper, who makes his first start since March 13.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – When Dance Quietly runs in Saturday’s $65,000 Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct, it will mark the first starter from owner/breeder Edward P. Evans’ stable since he died on Dec. 31 at the age of 68.
Dance Quietly will run under the banner of the Edward P. Evans Foundation, which has a board of trustees with Chris Baker retaining his position as farm and racing manager for Evans.
OLDSMAR, Fla. – See I A is one of many recent success stories for Midwest Thoroughbreds, the nation’s’ winningest owners last season. See I A will seek his fifth straight win on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs when he makes his stakes debut in the $60,000 Pelican Stakes at six furlongs.
Huber Villa-Gomez will handle See I A at 116 pounds under the allowance conditions of the Pelican Stakes
