Suffolk Downs will open its 2010 meet two weeks later than recent seasons to allow returning horsemen to make their way north for the summer.
Since taking over as the only Thoroughbred track in New England in 2004, Suffolk had opened on Kentucky Derby Day. It will wait two more weeks this year, starting on Preakness day, promising 101 days of racing for its 75th anniversary season.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Lady Shakespeare powered past front-running Changing Skies in the final furlong to post her first graded stakes victory Thursday in the 49th running of the Grade 3, $150,000 Bewitch Stakes at Keeneland.
With John Velazquez riding for trainer Roger Attfield, Lady Shakespeare had good position throughout the 1 1/2-mile turf race before prevailing by 2 1/2 lengths and returning $5.60 as the favorite in a field of seven fillies and mares in the Bewitch. Lady Shakespeare finished in 2:31.42 over a firm course.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Not looking a day over 81 years old - which he turned Wednesday - Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens was back in familiar territory on the Belmont Park backstretch Thursday morning.
Well, somewhat familiar territory.
For after spending a couple of decades in Barn 30 at Belmont, Jerkens has been moved to Barn 32 to accommodate what has become a smaller stable. Barn 32 has 14 stalls, which coincidentally is the number of horses Jerkens will have when all are back from Florida. Allen's son, Jimmy, is now in Barn 30.
Jockeys Jason Eads and Hector Santiago have each been suspended six months by the Delta Downs board of stewards for "giving money to the clerk of scales," in a case that will come before the Louisiana Racing Commission on Monday.
Both riders have appealed their rulings and have had their penalties stayed, according to Larry Munster, the assistant executive director of the Louisiana Racing Commission. The rulings were issued on April 16, and stem from the Thoroughbred meet at Delta that ended in late March.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Malcolm Pierce usually enjoys his winters in New Orleans, but he won't have fond memories of the recent Fair Grounds meeting.
"Cold, wet, off the turf," he said. "I think we are going to come back with some horses who are going to benefit from winter training. But obviously, we didn't get a whole lot accomplished that we wanted to."
Misremembered, the winner of the Santa Anita Handicap last month, will be pointed for a two- or three-race campaign in the second half of the year, trainer Bob Baffert said on Thursday.
Misremembered has been based at Churchill Downs recently, but will be sent back to California. Baffert hopes to have Misremembered ready by the end of Del Mar in early September, with the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 7.
"I'm pointing him for the Breeders' Cup," Baffert said. "I don't want to run him too many times."
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Taro should win her first start in 10 months in Saturday's $70,000 Warren's Thoroughbred Stakes at Hollywood Park.
"If she doesn't, I'll be very disappointed," trainer Clifford Sise said on Thursday. "I think she's a very good filly."
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - The director of racing, Paul Ryneveld, was all smiles after closing entries for the first two days at Hastings on Wednesday. Ryneveld was planning on running eight races on each day. When an abundance of horses were entered, however, he added an extra race both days. A total of 153 horses made the overnight for the weekend and the shortest field is seven horses. That is a welcome relief to handicappers who have been fed a steady stream of short fields on the West Coast.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - There should be no shortage of early speed when a field of seven convenes for the $75,000 Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes at Fonner Park on Saturday.
The meet's showcase event each year and the richest race run in Nebraska, the 1 1/16-mile Bosselman/Gus Fonner has attracted shippers Shadowbdancing and Calm and Collected. Both horses are confirmed front-runners and local runner Roaring Home should just add fuel to the fire on the front end.