WinStar Farm has had considerable success over the years using the major 3-year-old races at Tampa Bay Downs as preps on the road to the Kentucky Derby. Earlier this winter, WinStar won the with Rule and on Saturday they'll return with another of their top Derby prospects, Super Saver, who will head a field of seven in the $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby.
Skwhirl, trained by Bob Rising, was named the top older Nebraska-bred last Saturday when the Nebraska Thoroughbred Breeders' Association honored the best statebreds of 2009.
Earlier in the day, Skwhirl had scored an impressive 3 1/2-length win in the $25,800 Ogataul Stakes at Fonner Park, capturing the race for the second straight year. Skwhirl, bred by James Barney and David Anderson, earned $42,798 while posting a mark of 2-3-5 from 15 starts last year.
Queen Greeley, who earned a career-best Beyer Figure of 86 when she won her two-turn debut last month in the $50,000 Island Fashion Stakes, is now being pointed for the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks, said her trainer, Todd Fincher.
"I think the further the better for her," he said.
The Oaks, at 1 1/16 miles, is part of the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby card March 28.
The Island Fashion, at a mile, was Queen Greeley's second stakes win at the Sunland meet. She also took the $50,000 El Paso Times at 6 1/2 furlongs in January.
Talk about a quick study.
Karl Broberg, a former owner who is in his first year of training with divisions of his stable at Sam Houston Race Park and Delta Downs, ranked third in trainer wins in North America through Tuesday.
Broberg finds himself trailing only leader Steve Asmussen and runner-up Jerry Hollendorfer, with 49 wins from 210 starts so far in 2010.
"It's obviously exceeded all expectations," Broberg said.
Jockey agents do a large part of their work by telephone. But usually it's not an international call.
Jeff Perrin, however, is booking rides for both Edgar Paucar and Christian Pilares at Beulah Park from Sydney, Australia.
Paucar was injured in gate accident last December when Chucks a Devil Girl reared and threw him against the gate, fracturing one of his vertebra. With Paucar sidelined, Perrin decided to go home and visit his family in Australia.
Interactif, third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf last November, is among seven 3-year-olds entered in the $150,000 San Felipe Stakes on Saturday.
The San Felipe Stakes is run over 1 1/16 miles and is led by Caracortado, the winner of the Grade 2 Robert Lewis Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 3, and Sidney's Candy, who won the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs on Feb. 15.
Interactif, trained by Todd Pletcher, was scheduled to arrive from Florida on Wednesday. The San Felipe will be his first start on a synthetic track.
The Rebel will share a card with the Grade 3, $125,000 Honeybee for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles. It is the final local prep for the Grade 2, $300,000 Fantasy on April 2. Beautician, who last year was the runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, arrived Tuesday for the Honeybee, trainer Ken McPeek said. She will be ridden by Albarado.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Lookin At Lucky's future is so bright, he's got to wear shades.
The champion 2-year-old of 2009, Lookin At Lucky will be adding blinkers Saturday when he makes his first start of the year in the Grade 2, $300,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
Jockey Martin Brown broke his collarbone and injured his neck as his mount, Rath of Thunder, collapsed in the second race at the Fair Grounds on Sunday.
After initially refusing treatment, Brown, 65, was taken by ambulance to University Hospital, where X-rays were taken.
Reached at his home on Tuesday morning, Brown was in pain, but expected to improve by the end of the week.
"It took me an hour and a half to put my clothes on this morning," said Brown. "It's a lot of pain right now, but I expect to be feeling better in five or six days."
