Mon, 04/19/2010 - 00:00

Apprentice suffers concussion

Leading apprentice rider Alex Gonzalez suffered a mild concussion and bruised left knee when his mount in the 10th race on Sunday, Dianne Do, crashed through the inner rail just after turning into the backstretch. Dianne Do was leading the one-mile turf race at the time. Precautionary X-rays proved negative, and Gonzalez hoped to return to riding Wednesday.

Dianne Do frolicked in the infield, even taking a dip in one of the infield pools before she was caught. She was apparently unscathed by the misadventure.

Mon, 04/19/2010 - 00:00

Bold Chieftain looks to plug hole in resume

Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 San Francisco Mile will be a rematch of an April 2 allowance prep that Bold Chieftain won over comebacking Monterey Jazz.

The Mile will be on the turf, while the allowance race was at a mile over the Tapeta. Monterey Jazz is a Grade 2 winner on turf, but Bold Chieftain has done well on grass, too, having earned nearly $500,000 of his $1.4 million bankroll on the surface. Bold Chieftain is the only horse to have won the grassy California Dreamin' at Del Mar twice.

Mon, 04/19/2010 - 00:00

Dublin eager in five-furlong drill at Churchill

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The task of attempting to shed a little light on the way the contenders are training up to the Kentucky Derby became a little easier this year after Churchill Downs decided to allow only Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses on the racetrack during a 15-minute window between 8:15 and 8:30 a.m., immediately after the renovation break. Horses are only allowed on the track during that period if they are wearing their personalized saddle towels.

Mon, 04/19/2010 - 00:00

A 108 Beyer. Next up: Steeplechase.

Researcher achieved millionaire status and matched his career-best Beyer Speed Figure with a 108 for winning the for the second consecutive year last Saturday night. As a 6-year-old gelding, he can only continue to race. But his new owners intend to point him in a new direction.

The Kinross Corporation, owned by Zohar Ben-Dov, is best known in racing for its success on the steeplechase circuit. By this fall, Researcher could switch to jumping.

Mon, 04/19/2010 - 00:00

Melancon gets Deputiformer home by nose

OPELOUSAS, LA. - Under clever handling by Gerard Melancon, Deputiformer slipped through along the hedge when straightened for home and prevailed by a gritty nose to capture Saturday night's $50,000 John Henry Stakes at Evangeline Downs. The longshot And Music Came lodged a furious rally down the lane to narrowly miss, followed by favored Snakebite Kit, who suffered his first career defeat in five starts.

Mon, 04/19/2010 - 00:00

Rachel fires off fast work

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Rachel Alexandra blazed through another Churchill Downs workout early Monday morning, going six furlongs in 1:11.22 over a fast track. Trainer Steve Asmussen once again declined to commit the superstar filly to a specific upcoming race.

With regular exercise rider Dominic Terry aboard, and according to Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch, Rachel Alexandra went in splits of 12.56, 24.28, 36.16, 47.67, and 59.29 seconds before galloping out seven furlongs in 1:24.41 and a mile in 1:37.76.

Sun, 04/18/2010 - 00:00

As expected, Santa Anita ends with handle dip

ARCADIA, Calif. - Santa Anita concluded its four-month winter-spring meeting on Sunday with sharp declines in handle and attendance compared to the corresponding meeting in 2008-09.

According to limited data released by the track, all-sources daily handle was down 11 percent. The figure includes betting ontrack, at satellites in California, and nationwide, and account wagering through telephone and Internet.

Sun, 04/18/2010 - 00:00

Bourbon Bay completes turf stakes triple

ARCADIA, Calif. - Bourbon Bay had a perfect meeting at Santa Anita this winter and spring, going undefeated in four races, and his win in Sunday's was the race that left trainer Neil Drysdale most happy.

The trainer said after the race that the San Juan Capistrano's distance of about 1 3/4 miles on turf had him concerned.

"I think a mile and three-quarters is stretching him a little bit," Drysdale said.

Sun, 04/18/2010 - 00:00

Red Lead again shows love for Sunland

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - Red Lead stalked the pace under Jorge Bourdieu before challenging and drawing clear late to capture Sunday's Pacesetter Quiet Again finished 2 1/4 lengths back in second followed by a rallying Dumar. Highweight and 17-10 favorite Going Ballistic could manage only a tepid bid and finished fifth.

Sun, 04/18/2010 - 00:00

She Be Wild injured and out of Oaks

Barbara D. Livingston
She Be Wild will recuperate on a farm in the Lexington area and is not necessarily retired, trainer Wayne Catalano said.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - She Be Wild, the 2-year-old filly champion of 2009, underwent a 30-minute surgery Sunday to repair a fracture in her left front pastern and is out of action indefinitely, although not necessarily retired, said trainer Wayne Catalano.

She Be Wild apparently suffered the injury in a routine gallop Sunday morning at Keeneland in Lexington, said Catalano. "Dr. Gary Priest inserted a screw in the leg, and everything went well," said Catalano. "The filly's fine now, and that's the main thing. Obviously we're very sad about it, but it's part of the game."