BALTIMORE - Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. had enough confidence in Acting Happy to run her in Friday's at Pimlico even though the 3-year-old filly was twice beaten in the first-level allowance level.
Acting Happy rewarded her trainer's faith with a solid 1 1/2-length victory over No Such Word in the $175,000 Black-Eyed Susan. It was 2 1/4 lengths back to Tidal Pool in third. She was followed in the order of finish by Harissa, Khancord Kid, C.C.'s Pal and Patriot Miss.
BALTIMORE - Vindy City returned from a four-month layoff ready to roll, putting away Argent Affair in midstretch and easily holding off Imanheiress for a one-length victory in Friday's $51,200 Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.
Imanheiress, under Travis Dunkelberger, rallied from last to get second by 1 1/4 lengths over Argent Affair. For Royalty and High Five Gal completed the order of finish. Cuff Me, the 4-5 morning-line favorite, and Starlite Starbrite, the morning-line second choice, both scratched.
Superior Storm breezed five furlongs at Louisiana Downs on Friday morning in her final major prep for Louisiana Cup Day. The program of six statebred stakes will be run next Saturday. Superior Storm is being pointed to the $100,000 Distaff for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, trainer Rick Jackson said.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Christian Santiago Reyes, the champion apprentice jockey of 2009, was given a 10-day suspension by Hollywood Park stewards Thursday for grabbing the reins of a rival horse in Wednesday's second race.
Reyes will appeal the suspension, according to his agent, Tony Matos. It is scheduled to begin Wednesday, the first day in which Reyes will begin riding without the five-pound claim allowed for apprentices. Reyes's apprentice term ends Tuesday, according to Hollywood Park stewards.
MIAMI - Paco Lopez, who ran away with the 2010 Gulfstream Park jockey title, ended his brief tenure at Calder after fulfilling his riding obligations here Friday.
Lopez was named to ride seven horses Saturday at Arlington Park, then he plans to continue on to Monmouth Park, where he will be based during the summer. The 2008 Eclipse Award winner for outstanding apprentice jockey, Lopez was third in the Calder standings and exited with a flourish after posting three wins on Thursday's card.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Trainer Garry Saitz is off to a strong start at the Hastings meet, with two wins from five starts, and he is looking for a big performance from Maximiano in the fourth race Sunday. A 4-year-old gelding by Storm Victory, Maximiano won twice and placed twice from four starts last year, and he is a neck and a head away from being undefeated.
"I think he's the real deal, and he runs hard every time," Saitz said. "He's doing very well right now, and if we're lucky he'll beat a pretty solid group of horses Sunday."
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Gail Cox has got off to an excellent start at the Woodbine meeting, winning with two of the first five horses she sent to the post.
On Sunday, Cox will be looking to keep the ball rolling with stable star Simply Splendid, who is slated to make her seasonal bow in the one-mile turf prep for the Nassau Stakes.
"I've been taking my time with her," said Cox, who also owns Simply Splendid in partnership with John Menary. "There are so many good races later in the year.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - The operator of Fort Erie, the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium, has named Rick Cowan as its chief operations officer.
Cowan has extensive experience in Thoroughbred racing management. He began his career with the Ontario Jockey Club - now the Woodbine Entertainment Group - in 1976, rising to the position of executive vice president before moving on in the mid-1990s.
The signal from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore will be unavailable to customers of New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation after Saturday's Preakness Stakes card because of concerns about OTB's finances raised by the New York regulators, racing officials said Friday.
