INGLEWOOD, Calif. - It was a big weekend for Rail Trip. Not as big for Zenyatta. Rail Trip raced, and Zenyatta merely practiced. But even if they do not meet in a race this summer at Hollywood Park, the microscope is always on the top horses in California.
Rail Trip scored a solid comeback win Saturday, a 3 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap that was his seventh win from 10 starts. It was his first start since September, and a race he was expected to win at 1-2 odds.
Super Saver won't be the only favorite who will be coming off a mere two-week layoff when he runs back this weekend with Calvin Borel aboard in a big race at Pimlico. Tidal Pool will be doing the same when Borel rides her as the favorite in the $175,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, the highlight of a 13-race Friday card at the Baltimore track.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Terry Jordan is back in the spotlight, with no small thanks due to Hollywood Hit's explosive performance in Sunday's $153,500 Vigil.
Stretching out to seven furlongs in the Grade 3 Vigil, and coming off a win here in the six-furlong Jacques Cartier - for which he was saddled by trainer Danny O'Callaghan - Hollywood Hit did what he did best under regular rider Jim McAleney.
Horsemen and riders at Mountaineer Park in West Virginia have reached a tentative agreement on a new scale for losing mount fees, and jockeys have agreed to ride until the horsemen's organization has a chance to vote on the deal, according to a representative of the riders.
Heriberto Rivera Jr., a regional manager for the Jockeys' Guild, said that the Mountaineer Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association agreed to vote on the new scale for mount fees by May 27. The new scale will raise the minimum losing mount fee at the track to $65, up from $50.
Pimlico Race Course, the Baltimore track that will host the Preakness Stakes this Saturday, has received full accreditation from the racing industry's Safety and Integrity Alliance, one year after alliance officials told the track that some of its rules and regulations needed to be updated to comply with the terms of the program.
Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year, breezed an easy half-mile Monday morning at Churchill Downs in 52 seconds, marking her first workout since incurring her second straight defeat in the April 30 La Troienne Stakes at the Louisville, Ky., track.
With Shaun Bridgmohan aboard, Rachel Alexandra went in the day's second set, around 6:25 a.m., and went "very easy on a nice, cool morning," said trainer Steve Asmussen, who was on hand.
AUBURN, Wash. - Feeling Fancy ran her record at Emerald Downs to 3 for 3 with a victory Sunday in the $50,000 Federal Way Handicap for 3-year-old fillies. Ridden by Francisco Duran for trainer Frank Lucarelli, the Sky Mesa filly ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.20 and paid $5 and a narrow favorite over Knight Raider, who finished 2 1/2 lengths behind in second.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Tanda picked up where she left off Sunday at Hollywood Park, where she scored her second consecutive sprint stakes victory. With an aggressive ride by Alex Solis, Tanda won the a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies.
After breaking from the rail in a field of nine, Tanda might have been stuck. But when Solis sensed a slow pace, he cut her loose early. She made the lead nearing the half-mile pole and never looked back. Tanda ($6) won by a half-length over 8-5 favorite Switch.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Hollywood Hit ($7.80) shattered the seven-furlong Polytrack record Sunday at Woodbine with his decisive score in the
Hollywood Hit went right to the front the Grade 3 event and set wind-aided fractions of 22.08 and 43.72 while being stalked by Fatal Bullet, the 2008 Canadian Horse of the Year and champion sprinter.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Lou Lou Larue and Cherishistheword both gained hard-earned victories in divisions of the Fonner Park Special Stakes for 3-year-olds to give trainer Chuck Turco a sweep as Fonner Park closed out its season Saturday afternoon.