A futurity for claimers and one for horses who raced in the spring and summer in the Intermountain and Pacific Northwest states have been added to the 2010 Quarter Horse stakes schedule at Los Alamitos.
The $75,000 Wild West Futurity over 350 yards on Oct. 23 is the richest addition to the stakes schedule. It will be restricted to horses who make at least two starts in Colorado, the Dakotas, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Jockey Corey Nakatani has come to Oaklawn Park with two objectives: to win the riding title and secure a mount for the Kentucky Derby. Nakatani, who since 1989 has been based in Southern California, said he is setting up shop in the Midwest.
"I've bought a house in Kentucky," he said. "I'm going to ride Oaklawn, then go back to Keeneland and ride the Keeneland meet, ride at Churchill and go to Saratoga in the summer.
"I just wanted to get back on top, and I think the opportunities are back East."
Arlington Park shuffled a little furniture here and there, but the primary new look in the suburban Chicago racetrack's will be a later date for the Arlington Million.
The Million, held early in August the last six years, will be contested Aug. 21 this year, two weeks later than in recent seasons. The Million was held the third Saturday in August in both 2002 and 2003.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Things are beginning to heat up.
Oaklawn Park was able to open its track for training for the first time in five days on Tuesday afternoon, resulting in a steady stream of horses preparing for its Friday opener. Training had been disrupted by a winter blast that sent regional temperatures into the 20s and led to the cancellation of racing at tracks as far south as Houston and Louisiana.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Stardom Bound, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2008, will try to resurrect her career on Sunday at Santa Anita in the Grade 2, $150,000 El Encino Stakes for 4-year-old fillies. She and Amen Hallelujah, who runs in the Grade 2, $150,000 Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday, were sent west by trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. and are being cared for here by his top assistant, Michelle Nevin.
Both fillies are owned in partnership by IEAH Stables.
Derby fever heats up at Golden Gate Fields this week with the $100,000 California Derby at 1 1/16 miles over the Tapeta main track on Saturday.
At least one big name is expected to enter a horse - Todd Pletcher, who is planning to run the undefeated Connemara.
Northern California will have at least two representatives, multiple stakes winner Our Minesweeper and Cahill Country, who has won 2 of his last 3 starts. Brady Blue Eyes, Cardiff Giant, Ranger Heartley and Setsuko are considered possible for the race.
OLDSMAR, Fla. - While the bulk of the folks in the Tampa area were scrambling to find a warm spot this past week as temperatures reached into the 30s, jockey Inez Karlsson was able to put the historic cold snap into perspective.
"I told my boyfriend I had a great plan for the winter, to ride at Tampa and be able to lay out by the pool or play tennis during my off time," the Swedish native chuckled. "Obviously, there hasn't been a lot of time around the pool lately, but when you compare this weather to that in Chicago it doesn't seem all that bad."
ARCADIA, Calif. - As good as Lookin at Lucky is, trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Garrett Gomez believe he can be better, and they think blinkers are the key. Lookin at Lucky worked in blinkers for the first time Saturday at Santa Anita and went so well that he likely will now use them as he moves on to the Kentucky Derby.
