Mon, 03/29/2010 - 00:00

Schoolyard Dreams set for Wood

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The field for Saturday's $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct underwent a slight revision Monday, with Tampa Bay Derby runner-up Schoolyard Dreams entering the race and Tampa Bay Derby third-place finisher Super Saver exiting the field.

Mon, 03/29/2010 - 00:00

Musket Man targets Carter

Musket Man was talented enough to finish third in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness as a 3-year-old, but trainer Derek Ryan believes the colt's at his best in one-turn races up to a mile.

Musket Man is 4 for 4 in such races, which makes him a prime contender in a deep renewal of Saturday's Grade 1 Carter Handicap at seven furlongs. Musket Man, a son of Yonaguska, was sent to the sidelines for the rest of 2009 following the Preakness last May. He returned in February with a half-length victory over Guam Typhoon in the seven-furlong Super Stakes at Tampa on Feb. 6.

Mon, 03/29/2010 - 00:00

Lookin At Lucky staying home for Derby prep

ARCADIA, Calif. - Lookin At Lucky is happy and healthy, and he will stay home Saturday to face Sidney's Candy and Caracortado in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.

Trainer Bob Baffert confirmed Monday that Lookin At Lucky will prep for the Kentucky Derby at Santa Anita, rather than in the Arkansas Derby one week later at Oaklawn Park. After Lookin At Lucky won the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn on March 13, Baffert was tempted to keep him on a dirt surface.

Mon, 03/29/2010 - 00:00

Kelly Leak targets graded stakes

A promising third-place comeback March 19 by 2009 Sunland Derby winner Kelly Leak sets up the 4-year-old for a shot at graded stakes in the months ahead, according to trainer Mike Machowsky.

"We'll see if we can make him one of the better milers," Machowsky said.

Mon, 03/29/2010 - 00:00

Beautician shipping out for Ashland

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The Grade 2, $300,000 Fantasy lost a major player Monday morning, when trainer Ken McPeek said Beautician is being redirected to the Grade 1, $400,000 Ashland at Keeneland.

"It's a Grade 1 as opposed to a Grade 2, and the decision was made to go there," said McPeek, who trains Beautician for Peter Callahan. "The fields look like they're about equal."

Sun, 03/28/2010 - 00:00

Tanda streaks to Santa Paula victory

ARCADIA, Calif. - Tanda and jockey Alex Solis ran the fastest 6 1/2 furlongs of the Santa Anita winter meet Sunday, powering to a runaway 1:14.36 victory in the for 3-year-old fillies.

Dan Hendricks trains Tanda ($13.80), who won by 4 1/4 lengths over La Nez; favorite Sister Dawn finished third. Crisis of Spirit and Church Camp completed the order of finish; Five Silver Stars and Seriously scratched.

Owned by Tommy Hutton's Dream Stable, Tanda was switching from turf to synthetic for the Santa Paula, her third win from five career starts under regular rider Solis.

Sun, 03/28/2010 - 00:00

Harissa wins first stakes in Sunland Oaks

Harissa became a stakes winner Sunday, when she tracked the pace and went on to a 3 1/2-length win in the . The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies was one of six stakes on a card worth more than $1.4 million. The program was topped by the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby that was won by Endorsement.

Sun, 03/28/2010 - 00:00

Endorsement surprises in Sunland Derby

Shawn Coady/Coady Photography
Endorsement scored by three lengths in Sunday's Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby.

Endorsement put himself in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby after he overtook 3-5 favorite Conveyance in the stretch and went on to a three-length win in the rich, on Sunday at Sunland Park. He is the latest quality 3-year-old colt to emerge on the Triple Crown trail for the WinStar Farm operation of Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt.

"This horse, I think he moved right up there with Rule and Super Saver," Casner said of the farm's top-ranked prospects for the Kentucky Derby.

Sun, 03/28/2010 - 00:00

Comedero pulls away in Rainbow win

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Comedero won his second 3-year-old stakes of the Oaklawn meet on Sunday, when he romped by 10 lengths in the $50,000 Rainbow for Arkansas-breds. Last month, the horse defeated a deep field of open rivals in the $50,000 Mountain Valley.

Both races were at six furlongs.

Sun, 03/28/2010 - 00:00

Speak Easy Gal wires field in Orchid

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Marty Wolfson went on record prior to Sunday's at Gulfstream Park as saying he couldn't wait to run Speak Easy Gal, since she looked like the lone speed in the field and figured to have her own way on the front end.

Wolfson's theory proved 100 percent correct after Speak Easy Gal led throughout before narrowly holding off a final surge from Lady Shakespeare to post a head decision in the 1 1/2-mile Orchid for fillies and mares.