Tue, 02/16/2010 - 00:00

Chantilly Nayla conquers dirt in Mardi Gras

NEW ORLEANS - First Polytrack, then turf, and now dirt - there apparently is no racing surface on which the 3-year-old filly Chantilly Nayla cannot succeed.

Tue, 02/16/2010 - 00:00

Southwest, take two, looking much the same

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The field for the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest, which was rescheduled for Saturday after being canceled Monday, should be about the same as its original cast of 10. The connections of Conveyance, Mission Impazible, Cardiff Giant, and Domonation have all expressed their intent to run back, while top Oaklawn-based runners Dublin and Dryfly are a go for what is the first of two preps for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.

Tue, 02/16/2010 - 00:00

Terry back on Rachel a day after falling

NEW ORLEANS - Despite spending much of Monday at a hospital after falling to the racetrack in a training accident, exercise rider Dominic Terry was back aboard Rachel Alexandra for her Tuesday morning gallop here at Fair Grounds.

"I think he was just more body sore than anything," assistant trainer Scott Blasi said Tuesday afternoon. "He just got jammed up."

Terry was pulling an Asmussen-trained horse up two sets after galloping Rachel Alexandra on Monday when his mount stumbled, throwing Terry to the ground.

Tue, 02/16/2010 - 00:00

Stay Put set for first big test in Risen Star

NEW ORLEANS - Since winning an allowance race Jan. 3 at Fair Grounds, Stay Put has taken the course of action suggested by his name. But now it is time for Stay Put to get going again.

Stay Put was one of 12 horses entered Monday afternoon in the Risen Star Stakes, the second of three graded two-turn stakes races for 3-year-olds here. Rather than start Stay Put in the Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 23, his connections waited for the Risen Star, a race they hope will springboard Stay Put into the Louisiana Derby.

Tue, 02/16/2010 - 00:00

Looking for big rebound with Dancing in Silks

ARCADIA, Calif. - The list of horses that Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Dancing in Silks joined last month is one that trainer Carla Gaines wanted to avoid.

Dancing in Silks is one of five horses who won a Breeders' Cup race at Santa Anita last fall but returned to lose their next start. He was third in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Handicap at Santa Anita last month.

Tue, 02/16/2010 - 00:00

St Trinians will challenge males in Big Cap

St Trinians, who captured the Santa Maria Handicap on Saturday, will be pointed to the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 6 and attempt to become the first female to win the storied Big Cap.

The options for St Trinians were to either run there, or wait another week and take on Zenyatta in the Grade 1, $250,000 Santa Margarita Invitational on March 13, according to her trainer, Mike Mitchell.

Tue, 02/16/2010 - 00:00

San Felipe next for Caracortado

With Caracortado having won last Saturday's Robert Lewis Stakes, and Nextdoorneighbor heading to the Grade 3, $150,000 Sham Stakes on Feb. 27, trainer Mike Machowsky is right in the thick of the Derby action this year. Considering his barn numbers just 15 horses, that's quite a percentage.

"I don't get much sleep right now, but it's for a good reason," Machowsky said.

Tue, 02/16/2010 - 00:00

Three-way rematch on tap in El Camino Real

Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields has attracted a field of 10, including five local runners for the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Derby prep.

Included in the field are the top three finishers from last month's California Derby: Ranger Heartley, Connemara, and Thomas Barnes, who all shipped in for the race.

Tue, 02/16/2010 - 00:00

Beulah cancels Tuesday card

GROVE CITY, Ohio - Beulah Park canceled for a second consecutive day due to inclement weather. A winter storm hit Columbus Monday and left eight inches of snow in the area. Snow was expected to continue through Tuesday evening. The cancellation was the sixth in February due to winter snow storms. Racing is scheduled to resume Wednesday with a first post of 1:15 p.m. Eastern..

Tue, 02/16/2010 - 00:00

Sidney's Candy crushes San Vicente

Benoit & Associates
Sidney's Candy put himself in the Kentucky Derby picture with a 4 1/4-length win in Monday's Grade 2 San Vicente at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Sidney's Candy, rebounding from a surprisingly flat try in his comeback race six weeks ago, added his name to the list of top Kentucky Derby contenders with an overpowering, 4 1/4-length victory in the for 3-year-olds on Monday at Santa Anita.