HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Total Bull overcame an awkward start and an unforeseen trip to capture his stakes debut in the for older horses on Thursday at Oaklawn Park.
Under jockey Calvin Borel, Total Bull ($4) held off the late run of Flying Private to win by a diminishing half-length in 1:44.00 for 1 1/16 miles on the fast main track. Cryptolight was another 3 3/4 lengths back in third.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Dr. Zic led every step of the to register a 15-1 upset and spoil the return of Eclipse champion Informed Decision on a chilly Thursday afternoon at Keeneland.
With Kent Desormeaux riding for trainer Joan Scott, Dr. Zic broke quickly to make an open lead in the seven-furlong Madison, with Witty and Informed Decision stalking from a couple of lengths back.
Twelve Pack Shelly, a first-time starter, shaved more than a second off the Laurel Park track record for 4 1/2 furlongs in the first race of the season for 2-year-olds in Maryland on Thursday afternoon.
A daughter of Deputy Storm trained by John Salzman Jr., Twelve Pack Shelly ($3) cruised to a 10 3/4-length victory in the maiden race, covering the distance in 50.83 seconds.
The previous record of 52.11 was set in last season's first race for 2-year-olds by another Salzman-trained filly, Gator Prowl. Her time broke a 45-year-old record for the distance.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - In Greek mythology, Odysseus the king perpetrated the famous Trojan horse ruse, a ploy that allowed his army to prevail in a lengthy war. Given the way Eskendereya dominated the Wood Memorial last weekend, Odysseus the Thoroughbred might need something similarly tricky to prevail in this year's Kentucky Derby.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Uh Oh Bango is the kind of horse who could step up at a nice price and run a big race Saturday in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby. The fourth-place finisher in last month's Grade 2, $300,000 Rebel, he finished more than six lengths behind winner Lookin At Lucky.
"I think he really should show an improvement off his Rebel race, and if he does show a good improvement, then we'll go ahead and think about taking him to the next level," said Kory Owens, who trains Uh Oh Bango for Triple AAA Ranch.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario With an eye toward the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, trainer Ian Howard said Resentless will take a pass on Saturday s Star Shoot, a six-furlong stakes that is the first local stepping-stone to the Oaks.
The Oaks is a 1 1/8-mile race for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies June 13.
If we re going to go to the Oaks, then sharpening her up to run six furlongs wouldn t make sense, Howard said. We d have to send her a little bit, and by the end of last year she was relaxing, stretching out. I d prefer to run her at seven furlongs.
WHO'S HOT
As expected, winter-raced runners were dominant throughout the first three days of the meet, from April 2-4. The fitness edge they possessed over the layoff horses who were legged up at Woodbine was paramount. The locals seemed to hold their own only in races that contained no raiders from south of the border.
The only two Oaklawn invaders were victorious, and each was trained by Steve Asmussen. The eight Tampa shippers posted an impressive record of 4 wins, 2 seconds, and 1 third. They included the 15-1 longshot winner Golden Tarique.
SOFT-PACE DERBY
Want to back Sidney's Candy in the Kentucky Derby? Good luck. Sidney's Candy crushed by 4 1/2 lengths April 3 for his third consecutive stakes win, but he also had another soft trip. After a slight stumble, Sidney's Candy crawled up front with zero pressure, waltzing the opening half in 48.50 and six furlongs in 1:12.33. No surprise that Sidney's Candy (overlay at $9.60) was gone.
DISTANCE TEST
Noble's Promise will have to outrun his pedigree to win the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on Saturday at Oaklawn Park. The race will be his first start at 1 1/8 miles, which many consider a distance that determines who might be effective in next month's Kentucky Derby.
Noble's Promise is a top prospect for the 1 1/4-mile classic because of a record that includes a win in at Oaklawn last month.
WHO'S HOT
Jockeys
Getting off to a fast start is a good sign at any race meet, especially a short meet like Keeneland. Kent Desormeaux did quite well over the first two racing days, winning with four of nine mounts (44 percent). He also rode a second- and a third-place finisher for 67 percent in the money. His ROI is $3.96.
