Wed, 07/14/2010 - 00:00

Macho Again headed to stud

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Macho Again, a Grade 1 winner who fell a head short of defeating Rachel Alexandra in an epic running of the Woodward Stakes last September, is in the process of being sold and retired from racing.

Terry Finley, president of the horse's ownership group, West Point Thoroughbreds, said Wednesday morning that a deal with "a large stud farm in Venezuela" had nearly been consummated, with only minor details still to be worked out.

"We have an agreement in principle, and unless something unforeseen happens, the horse will be sold," said Finley.

Wed, 07/14/2010 - 00:00

Three stand out in Delaware Handicap

A millionaire filly who barely missed beating colts in two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown, a two-time graded stakes winner in New York, and a rags-to-riches mare who went from clearing her first allowance condition to Grade 1 winner during a seven-month span head a small but intriguing lineup for Saturday's Delaware Handicap.

The Woodbine-based Milwaukee Appeal, along with New York standouts Funny Moon and Life at Ten, are clearly the three prime contenders among a field of six fillies and mares who will contest the Grade 2, $750,000 Delaware Handicap.

Tue, 07/13/2010 - 00:00

Mor Chances consistent and versatile

ELMONT, N.Y. - A field of nine older New York-breds, headed by multiple stakes winner Mor Chances, will clash in Thursday's featured eighth race at Belmont Park.

Mor Chances, whose six victories since being claimed by Rick Dutrow include five stakes, drew the outside post in the second-level optional $50,000 claimer, scheduled for the Widener turf at seven furlongs. The 6-year-old Mor Chances has trained steadily since a last-to-first win under identical conditions here seven weeks ago.

Tue, 07/13/2010 - 00:00

Coach Jimi Lee closing in on $1 million

The 10-year-old Coach Jimi Lee continues to ignore Father Time. Earlier this month at Prairie Meadows, Coach Jimi Lee won for the first time in 2010, and is less than $2,000 away from his connections' goal of $1 million in career earnings.

And Coach Jimi Lee is not bottom-feeding, either. His victory came in a high-level optional $35,000 claimer.

Tue, 07/13/2010 - 00:00

Hot Cha Cha top-class, yet under the radar

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Yes, Tuscan Evening has turned into the dominant turf female in California, with wins in all five of her 2010 starts, and California being California, we all know about this development. But to take the regional clich s a step further, the quiet, unassuming Midwesterner Hot Cha Cha may give Tuscan Evening all she wants in what is shaping up as an excellent edition of the Modesty Handicap on Saturday at Arlington Park.

Tue, 07/13/2010 - 00:00

Setback delays Daytona's comeback

The comeback of the six-time stakes winner Daytona has been postponed, trainer Dan Hendricks said on Tuesday.

A winner of 8 of 18 starts and $991,690, Daytona resumed training earlier this spring for an intended comeback this summer, but a recent injury has put those plans on hold.

"We were trying to get him back and he had a small issue that came up," Hendricks said. "We'll regroup and try to get him going by the end of the year."

Tue, 07/13/2010 - 00:00

Kinsale King may target Pat O'Brien

Kinsale King's international travels are over for now.

The winner of the $2 million Golden Shaheen sprint in Dubai in March, Kinsale King is scheduled to return to trainer Carl O'Callaghan's Hollywood Park stable next week after mixed results racing on turf in England this summer.

Tue, 07/13/2010 - 00:00

Golden Itiz won't go in Swaps

Barbara D. Livingston
Sidney's Candy figures to be a heavy favorite in a small field for Saturday's Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park.

INGLEWOOD, Calif.- Golden Itiz, the winner of the Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap in June, is unlikely to start in Saturday's $200,000 Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park after trainer Ron Ellis said on Tuesday that he was unsatisfied with the colt's recent training.

Golden Itiz worked five furlongs in 1:02.40 on Sunday, but the exercise left Ellis disappointed.

"He didn't work that well and that's not like him," Ellis said. "I don't think he'll run. We're doing a blood test."

Tue, 07/13/2010 - 00:00

Financial picture not completely bleak

AUBURN, Wash. - Business is down, but not precipitously, as Emerald Downs enters the heart of its summer schedule. A little more than halfway through the 89-day meeting, total betting handle generated on Emerald races, and by Emerald patrons on out-of-state races, is off 7 percent from the corresponding date in 2009, track president Ron Crockett said Monday.

Tue, 07/13/2010 - 00:00

Pierce's stable warming up

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Malcolm Pierce's fortunes took a turn for the better here at Woodbine last week.

Pierce, who had been batting well below his usual percentage this season, was 3 for 5 last week, highlighted by a one-two finish by Mullins Beach and Much Obliged in last Friday's allowance prep for the Grade 3 Royal North Stakes on Aug. 2.

Arrow's Conquest had chipped in with a first-level allowance race earlier on last Friday's card and Posh Sox was a first-out winner in an Ontario-sired maiden race on Saturday.