Trainer Chris Grove completed a sweep of the Grade 2 features on Monday's program at Laurel Park when Sweet Goodbye split horses in deep stretch to take the by a head.
Some 30 minutes earlier, the Grove-trained Greenspring shattered a 21-year-old track record in drawing off to a 1 1/2-length victory in the .
Twelve horses were entered Monday for Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Risen Star Stakes, the anchor to a six-stakes, 13-race card here in New Orleans. But the number could have been greater, and one major player, Drosselmeyer, is still not entirely certain to run.
NEW ORLEANS - Dominic Terry, Rachel Alexandra's regular exercise rider, was taken to a hospital Monday morning after going down in a training spill at Fair Grounds, but as of mid-afternoon Monday, Terry appeared to have suffered no serious injuries, according to trainer Steve Asmussen.
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. Terry still was undergoing tests Monday afternoon, but broke no bones, and appeared not to have suffered an injury of consequence.
Starship Angel, who overcame a terrible start to win a second-level allowance race in her last start, is being pointed to Saturday's $65,000 Rare Treat Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles.
Starship Angel leapt at the start and found herself 11 lengths off the early pace, but came with a late run to win the allowance race by one length. In her prior start, at the Meadowlands, Starship Angel won a first-level allowance race by 9 1/2 lenghts in pace-pressing fashion.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Starship Angel has been schooling at the gate every day.
Eightyfiveinafifty, who blew the first turn and failed to finish the race when the bit apparently broke in his mouth in the Whirlaway Stakes on Feb. 6, returned to the track on Sunday, trainer Gary Contessa said. Contessa said no decision has been made on where the speedy 3-year-old would run next.
Eightyfiveinafifty suffered a wound on his right hind leg that required 14 stitches to close. He missed one week of training and resume jogging on Sunday. He is scheduled to have his first gallop on Wednesday.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The marathon horse will likely be trekking cross-country to make his next start.
Tiger's Rock, who won the Gallant Fox and Coyote Lakes stakes - both 1 5/8-mile races over the inner track - is being pointed to the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 6, owner Jack Wolf confirmed Monday. The Big Cap is run at 1 1/4 miles over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride surface.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - While Lentenor will garner most of the attention this spring, his older brother Nicanor is quietly readying himself to rekindle his own very promising career.
Nicanor, a full brother to both Lentenor and 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, has not started since capturing his entry-level allowance condition at Delaware Park in June. That performance followed on the heels of a sensational 15-length maiden win over the same course five weeks earlier. Both of his victories have come on the turf.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - There's something about the that brings out the best in trainer Mike Hushion.
Hushion captured his fifth Hollie Hughes on Monday when Rereadthefootnotes outbroke the speedy Smokin Hero for the early lead and cruised to a 3 1/2-length victory over Smokin Hero in the $65,000 stakes race for New York-bred sprinters at Aqueduct. It was two lengths back to Mor Chances, the 6-5 favorite and defending Hollie Hughes champion.
Hushion previously won this stakes three years in a row with Papua (2003-05) and in 1998 with Thepromonroe.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Tempted to Tapit worked an easy four furlongs in 49.15 seconds here Monday morning. Several hours later he drew post position 2 for Saturday's Risen Star at the Fair Grounds.
But by early afternoon, trainer Steve Klesaris had not ruled out the possibility that Tempted to Tapit, an impressive maiden winner at Aqueduct in his 3-year-old debut, could still stay here and compete in Saturday's Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.
