Mon, 05/10/2010 - 00:00

Pimlico fully accredited for safety

Pimlico Race Course, the Baltimore track that will host the Preakness Stakes this Saturday, has received full accreditation from the racing industry's Safety and Integrity Alliance, one year after alliance officials told the track that some of its rules and regulations needed to be updated to comply with the terms of the program.

Mon, 05/10/2010 - 00:00

Easy work for Rachel Alexandra

Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year, breezed an easy half-mile Monday morning at Churchill Downs in 52 seconds, marking her first workout since incurring her second straight defeat in the April 30 La Troienne Stakes at the Louisville, Ky., track.

With Shaun Bridgmohan aboard, Rachel Alexandra went in the day's second set, around 6:25 a.m., and went "very easy on a nice, cool morning," said trainer Steve Asmussen, who was on hand.

Mon, 05/10/2010 - 00:00

Feeling Fancy continues Emerald run

AUBURN, Wash. - Feeling Fancy ran her record at Emerald Downs to 3 for 3 with a victory Sunday in the $50,000 Federal Way Handicap for 3-year-old fillies. Ridden by Francisco Duran for trainer Frank Lucarelli, the Sky Mesa filly ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.20 and paid $5 and a narrow favorite over Knight Raider, who finished 2 1/2 lengths behind in second.

Sun, 05/09/2010 - 00:00

Tanda rewards Solis's confidence in Railbird

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Tanda picked up where she left off Sunday at Hollywood Park, where she scored her second consecutive sprint stakes victory. With an aggressive ride by Alex Solis, Tanda won the a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies.

After breaking from the rail in a field of nine, Tanda might have been stuck. But when Solis sensed a slow pace, he cut her loose early. She made the lead nearing the half-mile pole and never looked back. Tanda ($6) won by a half-length over 8-5 favorite Switch.

Sun, 05/09/2010 - 00:00

Hollywood Hit sets Woodbine mark

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Hollywood Hit ($7.80) shattered the seven-furlong Polytrack record Sunday at Woodbine with his decisive score in the

Hollywood Hit went right to the front the Grade 3 event and set wind-aided fractions of 22.08 and 43.72 while being stalked by Fatal Bullet, the 2008 Canadian Horse of the Year and champion sprinter.

Sun, 05/09/2010 - 00:00

Turco closes Fonner meet with stakes sweep

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Lou Lou Larue and Cherishistheword both gained hard-earned victories in divisions of the Fonner Park Special Stakes for 3-year-olds to give trainer Chuck Turco a sweep as Fonner Park closed out its season Saturday afternoon.

Sun, 05/09/2010 - 00:00

Rail Trip wins comeback in Mervyn LeRoy

Benoit Photo
Rail, Trip, with Rafael Bejarano up, wins the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap Saturday while making his first start since September.

A sharp comeback win by Rail Trip ($3) on Saturday at Hollywood Park reestablished the 5-year-old gelding as the top handicap horse in California and early favorite to win his second straight Hollywood Gold Cup on July 10.

Making his first start since September against a nondescript field in the Grade 2 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap, Rail Trip and jockey Rafael Bejarano pressed slow early fractions set by Tres Borrachos (48.70 seconds and 1:12.66), took command into the stretch and won by 3 1/4 lengths over Sangaree in a sharp 1:42.37 for 1 1/16 mile.

Sun, 05/09/2010 - 00:00

Game On Dude invades to win Lone Star Derby

Lone Star Park
Game On Dude gives trainer Bob Baffert his fourth win in the Lone Star Derby.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Trainer Bob Baffert continued his stranglehold on the Lone Star Derby on Saturday, when Game on Dude gave him his fourth win in the race since Anet took the inaugural running in 1997.

Baffert's other winners were Wanna Runner in 2006, and Mythical Power in 2009.

This year's shared a program with two divisions of the $100,000 Texas Stallion Stakes to make for one of the major stakes cards of the meet at Lone Star.

Sun, 05/09/2010 - 00:00

Fly Down rolls to Dwyer victory

NYRA/Adam Coglianese
Fly Down, with Jose Lezcano riding, powers home to win the Dwyer.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Six times since 1996 Nick Zito has run multiple horses in the Belmont Stakes. It looks like the Hall of Fame and two-time Belmont winning trainer is about to do it again.

Sun, 05/09/2010 - 00:00

Jones stable appears ready

Larry Jones may have officially retired as a trainer after last fall's Breeders' Cup. But he is still active on the backstretch at Delaware Park, where he is spending his fifth straight spring and summer.

During a 27-year career, Jones trained such stars as Kentucky Derby runners-up Hard Spun and Eight Belles, along with Delaware Handicap winner Island Sand. At age 53, Jones has backed off from his former hectic pace to serve as assistant trainer to his wife, Cindy, his former assistant.