Mon, 05/17/2010 - 00:00

Golden Gate giving five-day weeks a shot

ALBANY, Calif. - Golden Gate Fields is embarking on a five-day racing week beginning Wednesday, and the track's general manager, Robert Hartman, says that plans are to continue with five-day weeks until the conclusion of the meet on June 13.

Northern California's reduced horse population prompted the track to run four-day weeks during the winter months, and, when Hollywood Park opted to begin its meet with four-day weeks, Golden Gate followed suit.

Hartman believes Golden Gate will be able to fill its races despite adding an extra day of racing each week.

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 00:00

Much Rejoicing tunes up for Acorn

ELMONT, N.Y. - Much Rejoicing, a winner of her first two starts, worked a strong five furlongs in 1:00.44 Monday morning over Belmont's main track in preparation for a start in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes.

Much Rejoicing is a daughter of Distorted Humor out of the champion turf mare Soaring Softly. James Toner, who trained Soaring Softly, is also the trainer of Much Rejoicing.

On Feb. 14, Much Rejoicing won her debut at Gulfstream by three-quarters of a length. On April 3, she won a first-level allowance race going about seven furlongs over Keeneland's synthetic surface.

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 00:00

Drosselmeyer works, Make Music for Me arrives

ELMONT, N.Y. - Drosselmeyer, the runner-up to Fly Down in the Dwyer Stakes here on May 8, worked four furlongs in 47.64 seconds Monday morning as he continues preparation for a start in the $1 million Belmont Stakes on June 5.

Trainer Bill Mott caught the final quarter of the work in 23.60 seconds.

"For him being solo he worked very good," Mott said.

While disappointed Drosselmeyer was beaten six lengths by Fly Down in the Dwyer, Mott thought it was a useful prep race.

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 00:00

NYRA calls Belmont meet in jeopardy

ELMONT, N.Y. - The New York Racing Association reiterated on Monday that if it does not receive financial assistance from the state, it will be unable to complete the Belmont Park spring/summer meet. The meet runs through July 18.

"NYRA's current cash position will not allow us to make it through the entire Belmont Park race meet," NYRA's president and CEO, Charles Hayward, said in a press release issued late Monday afternoon. "We are in discussions with the state regarding potential avenues for us to acquire funding."

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 00:00

Super Saver getting bit of a break

ELMONT, N.Y. - Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, whose Triple Crown hopes were dashed by an eighth-place finish in Saturday's Preakness Stakes, arrived at Belmont Park Sunday morning and will get a brief freshening before being pointed for a summer/fall campaign.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said Monday that Super Saver will be in light training for the immediate future with the idea of freshening him up for the $500,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga on July 31 or the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Aug. 1 at Monmouth Park.

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 00:00

Queen's Plate unlikely for Essence Hit Man

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Last Saturday's Queenston was billed as an important stepping-stone to the July 4 Queen's Plate.

But when the dust had cleared, it was Essence Hit Man, who currently is not nominated to the Queen's Plate and is not considered a likely participant, who stole the show in the $150,400 Queenston for Ontario-foaled 3-year-olds.

"He ran great, really," said Audre Cappuccitti, who trains Essence Hit Man and is his co-owner and breeder in partnership with her husband, Gord

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 00:00

Acclamation staying long on turf

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Acclamation's first stakes win in Saturday's Grade 2 Jim Murray Handicap may define the rest of his career.

Acclamation made his first start over 1 1/2 miles on turf in the Murray and took to the new distance easily, leading throughout and winning by 7 1/2 lengths. Jockey Christian Santiago Reyes was under strict instructions not to strike Acclamation with his whip. It was not a factor. The other runners never posed a threat.

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 00:00

Zenyatta works toward Vanity

Zenyatta, the undefeated two-time champion, worked six furlongs in 1:13.20 at Hollywood Park on Monday in preparation for the $250,000 Vanity Handicap over 1 1/8 miles on June 13.

Ridden by Mike Smith, her regular rider, Zenyatta started two lengths behind stablemate Aitcho and finished slightly in front. Zenyatta ran the last three furlongs of the workout in 35.80 seconds, according to Hollywood Park clocker Russell Hudak.

"I thought she worked very well," trainer John Shirreffs said. "Aitcho is a good work horse."

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 00:00

Rachel Alexandra breezes in slop

Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year, breezed a very easy five furlongs Monday morning at Churchill Downs, marking her second straight slow workout since the filly incurred her second straight defeat in the April 30 La Troienne Stakes at the Louisville, Ky., track.

With Shaun Bridgmohan aboard at about 6:30 a.m. Eastern, Rachel Alexandra went in 1:04.20 over a sloppy surface, with her clocking being the 12th fastest of 13 at the distance for the morning. Her gallop-out time for six furlongs was 1:17.80.

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 00:00

Noosa Beach ties track record in Seattle Cap

AUBURN, Wash. - Noosa Beach tied Atta Boy Roy's six-furlong track record of 1:07 and ran his sprint record to 6 for 6 with a one-length victory Sunday in the $50,000 Seattle Handicap at Emerald Downs.