Wed, 06/16/2010 - 00:00

Winning Machine still under radar

AUBURN, Wash. - Apparently, Winning Machine is easy to overlook. He paid $14 upon exiting the maiden ranks as a 2-year-old in 2008, $34.20 when he won an allowance in his first start at 3, and $19.60 when he took the British Columbia Derby at Hastings in his final outing last summer.

Wed, 06/16/2010 - 00:00

Jonesboro gets rest; may be retired

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Jonesboro is being freshened at his Lone Star Park base and will not be defending his title in the Grade 2 Cornhusker later this month at Prairie Meadows. Trainer Randy Morse said Wednesday that owner Mike Langford is starting to make some decisions about the horse's future and retirement is a possibility. Another option is a fall-winter campaign for Jonesboro, who has had some problems handling the heat in his last two starts at Lone Star.

"The horse is fine physically, other than the heat," Morse said.

Wed, 06/16/2010 - 00:00

Lenclud will give Saratoga a try

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Freddie Lenclud will try to use the considerable momentum he has built this spring at Churchill Downs to make an impact on an even bigger stage: the Saratoga summer meet that starts July 23.

Lenclud is easily the top apprentice at the Churchill spring meet, having won with 20 of 178 mounts through the first 30 cards here. The 23-year-old Frenchman has impressed horsemen with his saddle skills.

Wed, 06/16/2010 - 00:00

Hollywood hopes to avoid date reduction

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - After canceling Thursday's races because of insufficient entries, Hollywood Park officials were guardedly optimistic Wednesday that they will get through the final month of the spring-summer meeting without losing another day of live racing.

Thursday's cancellation was the second day of scheduled racing lost in the last month because of a circuit-wide horse shortage. The Wednesday, May 24 program also was canceled.

Wed, 06/16/2010 - 00:00

Take the over on Plate field

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Protocol had delayed the Woodbine Entertainment Group from announcing Queen Elizabeth II's intention to attend the July 4 Queen's Plate. But now that it has been announced, it could have an impact on the size of the field for the Queen's Plate's 151st running.

The last time Queen Elizabeth II was here for the Queen's Plate was 1997, when Awesome Again prevailed over 13 rivals. That was the queen's first visit here since 1973, when Royal Chocolate was best in a 17-horse field.

Wed, 06/16/2010 - 00:00

Whitney next up for Blame

Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography
Blame will race three more times leading up to the Breeders' Cup Classic in November.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Al Stall Jr. said going into the Stephen Foster Handicap that he had Blame ready to run "in the 90th percentile." So in light of how Blame raced to an electrifying victory last Saturday in the Grade 1 Foster at Churchill Downs, it's not hard to understand Stall's enthusiasm as he plots out the rest of the year.

Tue, 06/15/2010 - 00:00

Pica Slew shows star potential

MIAMI - Trainer Joe Calascibetta lost one potential star when unbeaten 2-year-old Cheyann Belief was sold privately shortly after winning his career debut for Calascibetta by 10 lengths here earlier this spring. But it didn't take long for the veteran horseman to find himself another potential star, the 3-year-old filly Pica Slew, who stole the show on Saturday's Summit of Speed Preview card.

Tue, 06/15/2010 - 00:00

Sheppard rethinking Arlington stakes

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Reductions in Arlington Park stakes purses has trainer Jonathan Sheppard thinking twice about his participation in upcoming stakes here, Sheppard said Monday.

Tue, 06/15/2010 - 00:00

Horse shortage forces Hollywood to cancel

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Hollywood Park officials canceled racing Thursday due to insufficient entries for its scheduled eight-race card. Live racing will resume Friday.

The cancellation is the second at the meeting due to insufficient entries. Racing was also scrapped Wednesday, May 24. Considering the shortage of horses, two cancellations is less severe than many expected for a meet scheduled for 60 days. One year ago, the track raced 55 days.

Tue, 06/15/2010 - 00:00

Cronin, Bredar out at Gulfstream

Mike Cronin, Gulfstream Park's assistant to the president of marketing, and Caton Bredar, the track's executive producer of media development, have been dismissed by Gulfstream's management as part of a "restructuring," track officials said on Tuesday.

Cronin and Bredar, who were brought aboard by the track's former general manager, Ken Dunn, in December of last year, said they were informed last Thursday by the track's current general manager, Steve Calabro, that they would not be retained for next year's meet, which runs from early January to late April.