Gross handle was down substantially at the winter-spring meet that began Jan. 1 and ended Sunday at Turfway Park, although daily average handle showed minor increases attributable to a shortened weekly schedule at the Florence, Ky., track.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - For a guy who had just spent about 17 hours on an airplane, trainer Christophe Clement looked and sounded pretty chipper moments after saddling Cable for Sunday's Grade 3 Orchid Stakes here.
Clement arrived back in south Florida in time for the Orchid after making the long flight home from Dubai, where he sent out double Eclipse Award winner Gio Ponti to finish fourth in Saturday's $10 million Dubai World Cup.
The World Cup was the first run over the new Meydan Racecourse, which replaced Nad Al Sheba.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The field for Saturday's $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct underwent a slight revision Monday, with Tampa Bay Derby runner-up Schoolyard Dreams entering the race and Tampa Bay Derby third-place finisher Super Saver exiting the field.
Musket Man was talented enough to finish third in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness as a 3-year-old, but trainer Derek Ryan believes the colt's at his best in one-turn races up to a mile.
Musket Man is 4 for 4 in such races, which makes him a prime contender in a deep renewal of Saturday's Grade 1 Carter Handicap at seven furlongs. Musket Man, a son of Yonaguska, was sent to the sidelines for the rest of 2009 following the Preakness last May. He returned in February with a half-length victory over Guam Typhoon in the seven-furlong Super Stakes at Tampa on Feb. 6.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Lookin At Lucky is happy and healthy, and he will stay home Saturday to face Sidney's Candy and Caracortado in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.
Trainer Bob Baffert confirmed Monday that Lookin At Lucky will prep for the Kentucky Derby at Santa Anita, rather than in the Arkansas Derby one week later at Oaklawn Park. After Lookin At Lucky won the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn on March 13, Baffert was tempted to keep him on a dirt surface.
A promising third-place comeback March 19 by 2009 Sunland Derby winner Kelly Leak sets up the 4-year-old for a shot at graded stakes in the months ahead, according to trainer Mike Machowsky.
"We'll see if we can make him one of the better milers," Machowsky said.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The Grade 2, $300,000 Fantasy lost a major player Monday morning, when trainer Ken McPeek said Beautician is being redirected to the Grade 1, $400,000 Ashland at Keeneland.
"It's a Grade 1 as opposed to a Grade 2, and the decision was made to go there," said McPeek, who trains Beautician for Peter Callahan. "The fields look like they're about equal."
ARCADIA, Calif. - Tanda and jockey Alex Solis ran the fastest 6 1/2 furlongs of the Santa Anita winter meet Sunday, powering to a runaway 1:14.36 victory in the for 3-year-old fillies.
Dan Hendricks trains Tanda ($13.80), who won by 4 1/4 lengths over La Nez; favorite Sister Dawn finished third. Crisis of Spirit and Church Camp completed the order of finish; Five Silver Stars and Seriously scratched.
Owned by Tommy Hutton's Dream Stable, Tanda was switching from turf to synthetic for the Santa Paula, her third win from five career starts under regular rider Solis.
Harissa became a stakes winner Sunday, when she tracked the pace and went on to a 3 1/2-length win in the . The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies was one of six stakes on a card worth more than $1.4 million. The program was topped by the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby that was won by Endorsement.