Plans are on hold for Strike Hard, who was scratched Saturday from the Tampa Bay Derby after spiking a temperature last Friday, a day after being shipped over from Gulfstream. The gray Flashback colt is back home.
“He’s not back training quite yet,” trainer Matthew Williams said mid-week. “We’ve got to watch him and see.”
Following a 12-hour surgery in November to counter Stage 4 oral cancer, 40-year-old horseplayer George A. Bryant made a vow to himself. He would pursue a career as a trainer.
Bryant is one step closer to making that a reality. Earlier this month, he passed his trainer’s test at Sam Houston Race Park. He also has clients like Michael Iavarone, who won the 2008 Kentucky Derby with Big Brown, lined up for the Lone Star Park meet, which opens April 28.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The weather in South Florida this winter hasn’t been the greatest, with rain and chill visiting a little too frequently, especially the last few weeks. The spring-break throngs are none too pleased.
For Jose D’Angelo, however, it’s been sunshine and rainbows. A couple of recent hot streaks at Gulfstream Park has the 31-year-old trainer on pace for a breakthrough year, and he can hardly contain his joy.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Early favorite for Woodbine Oaks?
Interstatedaydream was an outstanding winner of her two-turn debut Sunday at Oaklawn and she’s been nominated to both the Grade 3, $600,000 Fantasy here April 2 and the Grade 1, $600,000 Ashland on April 8 at Keeneland.
“We’ll see how they come up,” said owner Staton Flurry.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Dream Lith, who is the last horse to defeat the win-streaking Secret Oath, is headed for the Grade 3, $600,000 Fantasy on April 2 at Oaklawn, trainer Robertino Diodoro said Tuesday.
The 1 1/16 miles race offers Kentucky Oaks points on a scale of 100-40-20-10.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The unbeaten We the People is set to make his stakes debut in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Arkansas Derby, said Elliott Walden, president and racing manager for co-owner WinStar Farm.
The 1 1/8 miles race has a new earlier date of April 2. It offers its first four finishers Kentucky Derby points on a scale of 100-40-20-10.
Churchill Downs in Louisville will run nine stakes races this year previously staged at Arlington Park outside of Chicago, including four on a special Aug. 13 live-racing program, the track announced on Tuesday.
The Aug. 13 program, which will take place outside of Churchill’s customary racing dates, will include four races that were previously held on Arlington’s biggest race day of the year, including the $1 million, Grade 1 Arlington Million, the $500,000, Grade 1 Beverly D., the $300,000, Grade 2 Secretariat, and the $200,000, Grade 3 Pucker Up, Churchill said.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- Un Ojo will make his next start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Arkansas Derby on April 2 at Oaklawn Park, trainer Ricky Courville said Tuesday.
The connections of last month's Rebel winner at Oaklawn had been leaning toward a start in the Blue Grass at Keeneland, but in the last week have made the decision to target the Arkansas Derby. The one-eyed horse is based in Louisiana.
While the heart of the Saratoga stakes schedule remains the same, there are a number of changes relating to distances, dates, names, and purses to the program that will offer 77 stakes worth $22.635 million this summer.
The 40-day Saratoga meet runs from July 14 through Sept. 5.
