Wed, 05/12/2010 - 00:00

Much riding on one horse in trainer's reprise

AUBURN, Wash. - As a little fish in a small pond, Greg Moore has learned to manage expectations. Good thing, too, because the 50-year-old trainer has only one race-ready horse at Emerald Downs. But that horse, Moore says with guarded optimism, has a chance, a chance, to be exceptional.

Wed, 05/12/2010 - 00:00

Fatal Bullet will give two-turn Eclipse a shot

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - No match for Hollywood Hit in last Sunday's seven-furlong Vigil, Fatal Bullet will be taking his game into a new arena.

Trainer Reade Baker said he plans to send Fatal Bullet around two turns for the first time in the 1 1/16-mile Eclipse here June 5.

"It's something we've wanted to try for a long time, and here's our chance," he said.

Fatal Bullet, who was Canada's champion sprinter and older horse in 2008, has recorded his nine wins on synthetic surfaces at distances ranging from five to seven furlongs.

Wed, 05/12/2010 - 00:00

Slew's Tizzy training for a comeback

MIAMI - Among the intriguing names on the Calder workout tab over the last couple of weeks was Slew's Tizzy, a multiple graded stakes winner at 3 whose resume included starts in the Breeders' Cup and Belmont Stakes.

Now 6, Slew's Tizzy is in training locally with Terry Oliver, who said Slew's Tizzy was sent here from California by owner-breeder Joseph LaCombe in early April. Slew's Tizzy has not started since winning Hollywood Park's Grade 3 Native Diver Handicap on Dec. 6, 2008.

Wed, 05/12/2010 - 00:00

Campbell looks to bolster Southern ties

BOSSIER CITY, La. - When jockey Jesse Campbell began searching for a new place to call home during the summer, he did so with an eye on the future. A longtime regular on the Chicago circuit, Campbell eventually settled on Louisiana Downs.

"I just felt it was time to make a change," Campbell said. "Things had gotten a little stale at Arlington and there are some issues with the racing surface, but the primary reason I'm here is to develop relationships with some Louisiana outfits. That should really help when we make the transition to Fair Grounds in the fall."

Wed, 05/12/2010 - 00:00

Mythical Power shipping back for handicap

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Mythical Power will be looking to complete a sweep of Lone Star Park's three most prestigious dirt races later this month, when he ships in from Southern California to headline the Lone Star Million Day program of stakes on May 31.

"He's going back for the Lone Star Park Handicap," said Bob Baffert, who trains Mythical Power.

Tue, 05/11/2010 - 00:00

Douglas files suit over injuries

A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of injured jockey Rene Douglas and his wife, Natalia, seeking damages from Arlington Park, Arlington's parent company, Churchill Downs Inc., as well as two entities associated with the Polytrack racing surface used at Arlington - the Keeneland Association and Martin Collins Surfaces and Footings.

The suit was filed Tuesday in the Circuit Court of Cook County by the Chicago firm Power, Rogers, and Smith P.C. The defendants have 30 days to file an answer to the suit with the court.

Tue, 05/11/2010 - 00:00

Haskell to be shown on ABC

The $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park will be broadcast nationally on ABC from 5 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 1. The telecast will be the first time that the Haskell will have appeared on a major national television network.

In addition to the Haskell, the show will feature the $200,000 Oceanport Stakes for 3-year-olds and up on the turf.

Monmouth Park's 2010 season gets under way on May 22 and runs through Nov. 21. Purses are expected to average nearly $1 million a day through Sept. 11.

Tue, 05/11/2010 - 00:00

Tizdejavu looks rejuvenated in win

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - In his last two starts over the Arlington Park grass course, Tizdejavu was badly beaten as the even-money favorite in the 2009 Sea O'Erin Handicap and as a similarly popular choice in the 2008 Secretariat Stakes. On Sunday, Tizdejavu wasn't even favored to beat five foes in a turf allowance race, but this time he came through, winning for the first time in almost a year.

Tue, 05/11/2010 - 00:00

Lots of options for Keertana's next

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In winning Sunday's featured third race at Churchill Downs, a $58,800 money allowance on grass, Keertana earned herself a stakes engagement. It just remains to be seen where that engagement will come.

Trainer Tom Proctor said Tuesday he is leaning toward bringing Keertana back in the Grade 3 Mint Julep Handicap at Churchill on June 5, although other more lucrative options also are under consideration. Also that day, on the Belmont Stakes undercard, is the Grade 1 Just a Game Handicap, and that same afternoon in Canada at Woodbine is the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes.

Tue, 05/11/2010 - 00:00

Game On Dude joins list of Belmont hopefuls

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Game On Dude's name can be added to the list of Belmont Stakes starters to emerge in the last week. On Saturday, Game On Dude won the Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Derby.

Others who have recently been mentioned for the Belmont include Ice Box, Fly Down, and Uptowncharlybrown.

In the Lone Star Derby, which was run at 1 1/16 miles, Game On Dude closed strongly for a 4 1/2-length win. He earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 95.