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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Kentucky shipper Proud Heiress nosed out the 4-5 favorite, Tribal Belle, to take the at Woodbine Sunday.
Proud Heiress broke a bit slowly under Chantal Sutherland, who then took her quite wide on the backstretch in a trailing position in the six-furlong sprint. Dancing Allstar, last year's Whimsical winner, set quick fractions while being tracked by Silver Z, who hit the front in mid-stretch as Proud Heiress was in the midst of a wide rally.
