Tue, 05/25/2010 - 00:00

Gleaves looking to expand stable

MIAMI - When trainer Phil Gleaves originally made the decision that his son Schuyler would be the first priority in his life, he knew the consequences that choice could have on his business. But now that Schuyler has turned 10, Gleaves has started thinking about possibly expanding his stable once again. The stable is led by Mambo Meister, who will attempt to complete a sweep of the first two graded stakes of the meeting when he starts as the highweight and favorite in Monday's $100,000

Memorial Day Handicap.

Tue, 05/25/2010 - 00:00

Quality Road tunes up for Met Mile

Barbara D. Livingston
Quality Road will make his first start since the Donn in Monday's Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Quality Road's spring break is about to end, and all indications are he's ready to resume schooling his opponents in the older male division.

Away from the races since his 12 3/4-length romp in the Grade 1 Donn on Feb. 6,

Tue, 05/25/2010 - 00:00

Dubious Miss out after ankle surgery

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Dubious Miss, winner of the Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes last month at Keeneland and one of the leading prospects for the June 12 Stephen Foster, underwent arthroscopic ankle surgery Tuesday morning and is out of action indefinitely.

Trainer Paul McGee said Dubious Miss came out of a Saturday workout at Churchill Downs with filling in an ankle.

"Obviously, it's very disappointing because he had been doing so well," he said.

Tue, 05/25/2010 - 00:00

Wasted Tears to defend Ouija Board title

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Since winning last year's Grade 3, $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff at Lone Star Park, Wasted Tears has battled her way back from a serious illness and defeated a champion. On Monday, she will be back to defend her title in the Ouija Board and should go favored after upsetting Forever Together in last month's Grade 2 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland.

Tue, 05/25/2010 - 00:00

Bold Chieftain nearing career's end

ALBANY, Calif. -- "This may be the last time, maybe the last time, I don't know."

No, that's not Bill Morey Jr. doing a little Mick Jagger karaoke. It's Morey talking about millionaire Bold Chieftain's future in Northern California.

The popular 7-year-old will run in Monday's Grade 3, $100,000 Berkeley Handicap in what may be his farewell appearance on a Northern California racetrack.

Tue, 05/25/2010 - 00:00

Jones keeping up with best

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Trainer Marty Jones could not stop moving.

Last Sunday seemed like a hectic morning at his Hollywood Park stable, with seemingly every aspect of the 40-horse stable needing attention. Horses such as Compari, who starts in Monday's Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile, were coming and going from the racetrack. There was constant communication with stable staff, occasional calls from owners, and a visit from the official veterinarian for an inspection of a horse racing that afternoon.

Mon, 05/24/2010 - 00:00

Jesters Jazz rallies to upset Lady Angela Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Jesters Jazz edged by pacemaker Oistins in deep stretch to post a 13-1 upset in the $126,200 Lady Angela Stakes on a holiday Monday at Woodbine.

Oistins, the even-money favorite in the seven-furlong sprint, set honest fractions on an uncontested lead in her first start since taking the Oct. 3 Victorian Queen Stakes. Jesters Jazz began to mount a wide rally on the turn and took dead aim at Oistins in the final furlong before going on to a 1 1/4-length win in a time of 1:25.73.

Mon, 05/24/2010 - 00:00

Ellis, Truman fined for drug violations

Ellis and Eddie Truman have each been fined $1,500 for two recent medication violations apiece at Santa Anita earlier this year.

Ellis was cited after Vision in Gold, the winner of the first race on March 11, and Golden Itiz, the winner of the seventh race on March 20, tested in excess of the permitted levels of flunixin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory.

Truman was cited after Poker Dave, the winner of the seventh race on March 21, and Tis, the winner of the third race on April 4, tested in excess of the permitted levels of Butazolidin, an analgesic.

Mon, 05/24/2010 - 00:00

Del Mar will offer 50-cent pick four

Del Mar has received approval from the California Horse Racing Board to reduce the minimum bet for its pick four from a dollar to 50 cents at its upcoming summer meeting from July 21 to Sept. 8.

There will be one pick four per day, on the final four races, and the reduced minimum cost could drive handle by allowing bettors to select more combinations for more affordable sums.

Track president Craig Fravel said a similar move at Keeneland resulted in higher handle.

"We are optimistic that we will see a handle increase on the pick four," Fravel said in an e-mail. "

Mon, 05/24/2010 - 00:00

Gamely distance suits Well Monied

INGLEWOOD, Calif. Trainer Howard Zucker is hoping that Well Monied can run to his expectations Saturday in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Hollywood Park and everyone on hand can appreciate it.

That certainly was not the case when Well Monied stormed home from sixth to win a one-mile allowance race on turf at Santa Anita on April 4. About the same time the field of seven reached the backstretch, the region was hit by an earthquake based in northern Mexico that registered 7.2 on the Richter Scale.

"My crew didn't feel it," Zucker said.