Wed, 08/18/2010 - 17:06

Runnning Brook Gal fitter for All American Derby trials

Runnning Brook Gal will begin her quest for an All American double on Friday, when she starts in one of seven trials for the Grade 1 All American Quarter Horse Derby at Ruidoso Downs.
She will be making her second start of the year in the fourth race. The trials will run from the third through ninth races on a program that begins at noon Mountain.

Wed, 08/18/2010 - 17:00

A gentler Wigmore Hall stepping up in Secretariat

In the past performances for the Secretariat Stakes, you will see just to the left of the "3" designating Wigmore Hall’s age a "g." That "g," meaning "gelding," is the reason Wigmore Hall has made it as a racehorse in 2010.

Wed, 08/18/2010 - 16:55

Gallant Son, Noosa Beach meet again in Longacres Mile

AUBURN, Wash. – Budding rivals as 2-year-olds in 2008, Gallant Son and Noosa Beach will meet again on a bigger stage Sunday at Emerald Downs in the 75th running of the Grade 3 Longacres Mile.

Gallant Son, now a leading turf miler in Southern California, drew the No. 8 post position in a full field of 12 when entries were drawn Wednesday afternoon. A five-time stakes winner – three times at Emerald, twice in California – Gallant Son was made the 5-2 morning-line favorite by Emerald Downs handicapper Rob Rao.

Wed, 08/18/2010 - 16:37

Lisa's Booby Trap will switch to turf for Riskaverse

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It’s not often a trainer considers a surface change with a horse that’s won all four of her starts on dirt by a combined 42 3/4 lengths. But nothing about Lisa’s Booby Trap has actually been orthodox.

The rags to riches story of a horse nobody wanted trained by a nearly broke horse trainer added another chapter Wednesday when Lisa’s Booby Trap blazed three furlongs over the Oklahoma turf course in 35.27 seconds under jockey Kent Desormeaux.

Wed, 08/18/2010 - 16:14

Baze drops plans for early return to riding

DEL MAR, Calif. – After working a horse at Hollywood Park on Wednesday, jockey Tyler Baze has abandoned plans to resume riding at the current Del Mar meeting less than a month after suffering facial injuries in an accident at the starting gate on July 24.

According to Vic Stauffer, Baze’s agent, the jockey is scheduled to resume riding at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting, which starts Sept. 29. Baze had considered returning as early as next week, but has decided to continue his recovery and postpone his return.

Wed, 08/18/2010 - 16:10

Devil May Care slight favorite over Blind Luck in Alabama

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The match-up is set.

Devil May Care drew post 2 and was made the 7-5 morning-line favorite by New York Racing Association morning-line maker Eric Donovan, and Blind Luck was installed the 8-5 second choice and will break from post 4 for Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Alabama at Saratoga in which supremacy in the 3-year-old filly division is at stake. Acting Happy, Tizahit, Connie and Michael, and Havre de Grace were also entered.

Wed, 08/18/2010 - 15:55

Cleaner trip may be all Fortunia needs in Sandy Blue

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Tony McNeil’s introduction to California racing was a rude encounter aboard Fortunia in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap on July 25. The filly was in trouble throughout the mile and finished last of 10.

“It wasn’t a good trip,” he said.

Wed, 08/18/2010 - 15:47

I Want Revenge will face five in Iselin

OCEANPORT, N.J. – I Want Revenge faces five rivals Saturday in the second start of his comeback, the Grade 3, $300,000 Phillip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Now 4 and in the care of trainer Rick Dutrow, I Want Revenge returned July 3 to run third in the Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park. The Suburban was the culmination of a long road back. The morning-line favorite for the 2009 Kentucky Derby, I Want Revenge was scratched on the morning of the race with a leg injury. The subsequent surgery threatened to end his career.

Wed, 08/18/2010 - 15:20

Fourth Agassiz is Brinello's for the taking

Brinello, now 8, will be seeking a fourth consecutive victory in the $50,000 Agassiz at Assiniboia Downs this Friday evening.

Owned and bred by Dr. Ross McKague, Brinello is coming into the one-mile Agassiz for Manitoba-bred 3-year-olds and upward off a comfortable score in the 7 1/2-furlong allowance prep on July 30.

Brinello finished second in his first crack at the Agassiz, back in 2006, but has taken the last three runnings by an aggregate total of 23  1/4 lengths.

Wed, 08/18/2010 - 15:15

Beverly D. win would be as big as it gets for Duchossois

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Through individual deeds, few people have played larger roles in the remarkable evolution of Arlington Park than Richard Duchossois and Ron McAnally. But when the Beverly D. is run Saturday, the men stand a chance to create what would be one of the most sentimental chapters in track history – as a team.