OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Despite Awesome Act's visually impressive victory in Saturday's at Aqueduct, his connections have not contracted too strong a case of Derby fever.
Keeping in perspective the fact that Awesome Act did not face a single graded stakes winner in the Gotham, his connections will look to the April 3 Wood Memorial to find out if their horse is good enough to warrant a run in the May 1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
ARCADIA, Calif. - A firm grip on reality is vital for the participants in Saturday's $250,000 Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita.
With the undefeated two-time champion Zenyatta making her 2010 debut in the Grade 1 race over 1 1/8 miles, the other five expected runners are essentially just running for second or third, and a coveted placing in a major stakes.
That's the point of view that trainer Ben Cecil has adopted for Gripsholm Castle, who along with Floating Heart, Haka, Pretty Unusual, and Striking Dancer is expected to take on Zenyatta.
The parent company of Hoosier Park racetrack and casino in Indiana filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Saturday, according to court records and a release from the company.
In a release, Centaur Gaming LLC, which operates Hoosier and a casino in Colorado, said that its properties would all remain open while the company is under the protection of the bankruptcy court. The release stated that the company intended to use the bankruptcy filing to restructure its debt.
NEW ORLEANS - Rachel Alexandra put in her final work Monday in preparation for her return to racing in Saturday's New Orleans Ladies, going a half-mile in 49 seconds at the Fair Grounds.
"It was just an easy half, to get along with her," said trainer Steve Asmussen. "She traveled well. She's a beautiful mover. How she runs is what makes her special."
Rachel Alexandra arrived at the track at 6:19, accompanied by assistant Scott Blasi on pony, and walked the wrong way around the track before turning and being let loose.
Jockey Martin Garcia described his accomplishments at Santa Anita on Saturday and Sunday as the greatest weekend "in my life."
"It was amazing."
He was primarily talking about winning the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap aboard Misremembered on Saturday. His win aboard Sangaree in Sunday's $60,350 Joe Hernandez Stakes was a bonus.
Sangaree ($10.20) ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.28, holding off a threat from Gallant Son to win his first stakes. Owned by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stable and trained by Bob Baffert, Sangaree is a 5-year-old horse by Awesome Again.
Understatement continued his love affair with Aqueduct's inner track, taking over from pacesetter National Pride three furlongs out and cruising to a ridiculously easy 3 3/4-length victory in Sunday's $65,000 Stymie Stakes.
National Pride held second, one-half length ahead of Nite Light, who was followed in the order of finish by Seniors Pride, More Than a Reason, Atoned, Giant Chieftain, and Reflect Times. The Stymie was originally scheduled for Feb. 27, but postponed when that card was canceled due to snow.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Trainer Alexis Barba and owners Ellen and Peter Johnson completed a sweep of the day's stakes races for 3-year-old males on Saturday at Santa Anita when Alphie's Bet, in his graded stakes debut, romped to a 2 1/4-length victory in the , giving them a pair of prospects who are one start away from the Kentucky Derby.
Alphie's Bet's victory came a half-hour after Make Music for Me captured the in his first start of the year. Alphie's Bet completed 1 1/8 miles on Pro-Ride in 1:48.72.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Paddy O'Prado went into Saturday's at Gulfstream Park a maiden. He came out a stakes winner after leading throughout to register an easy 2 1/2-length victory over Dean's Kitten in the Grade 3 turf stakes for 3-year-olds.
Sam Houston Race Park in Houston has long been known as a night-time track that typically runs Thursday through Sunday. But on Monday afternoon, Sam Houston will begin an experiment with its racing schedule. The track has added four Monday programs to its lineup for the remainder of March, and each will have a daytime post of
1:20 p.m. Central.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The England-based trainer Jeremy Noseda sat down with his owners, Paul and Susan Roy and Tom Ludt, the day after Awesome Act finished fourth in last November's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita and told them he believed the horse may just be good enough to compete in North America's Triple Crown races.
Based on how Awesome Act performed in Saturday's at Aqueduct, Noseda may just be right.
