Wed, 11/18/2009 - 00:00

Flashy Wise Cat proves a wise buy

Catastrophe: That is the name of a Louisiana-bred sire who stood for a $1,200 stud fee during the 2009 breeding season. Catastrophe: That is what the purchase of Flashy Wise Cat might have been called had not trainer Troy Young and his father, the owner Lee Young, been right about the horse when that son of Catastrophe went through the auction ring at a Texas yearling sale in 2006.

Wed, 11/18/2009 - 00:00

Stewards' scratch prevents 12-year-old's return

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A potentially unsavory situation turned into a tearful one Wednesday when a 12-year-old mare who had not raced in more than nine years was scratched in the paddock prior to the fifth race at Churchill Downs.

Wed, 11/18/2009 - 00:00

Picture clearing for Delta stakes

Susie Raisher/NYRA
Trainer Rick Violette said he was considering pre-entering Fenway Faithful, the winner of the Sleepy Hollow at Belmont.

The Grade 3, $750,000 Delta Jackpot and the Grade 3, $500,000 Princess are still two weeks away, but the prospective fields for the races will be known on Friday when pre-entries are taken for the 2-year-old stakes, to be run at Delta Downs on Dec. 4. Entries will be finalized on Dec. 1.

Wed, 11/18/2009 - 00:00

Field Commission rewards faith

Michael Burns
Field Commission, winner of the Grade 2 Nearctic in his last start on Oct. 17, will head Saturday's $150,000 Kennedy Road at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - When Field Commission finished a close fourth in his stakes debut here in last year's six-furlong Kennedy Road, it confirmed trainer Danny Vella's belief that the colt could compete with the best in his division.

Heading into Saturday's renewal of the $150,000 Kennedy Road, Field Commission has more than lived up those expectations as a graded stakes winner on both turf and Polytrack.

Wed, 11/18/2009 - 00:00

Nay's Tap clears two new hurdles

Nay's Tap had no problems with either a slightly longer distance or his first road trip in Tuesday night's $75,000 Sophomore Sprint Championship at Mountaineer Racetrack.

Racing beyond 4 1/2 furlongs for the first time and making his first start away from his home base of Charles Town, Nay's Tap ($6) survived an early duel with Petch to post a two-length victory in the six-furlong stakes for 3-year-olds.

Tue, 11/17/2009 - 00:00

Ruidoso seeks alternate site

Ruidoso Downs has filed an application with the New Mexico Racing Commission to move its 2011 meet to Las Cruces, N.M., in what would be an alternate plan for the track if it does not receive tax relief on its slot-machine operation during the state's upcoming legislative session.

Ruidoso, the home of the Grade 1 All-American Futurity for Quarter Horses, has raced for 62 years in the mountaintop town of Ruidoso Downs, N.M. The track does not yet have a facility constructed to move to in Las Cruces, one of the largest cities in the state.

Tue, 11/17/2009 - 00:00

Attard tree's latest branch blooms

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Paul Attard, who celebrated his 28th birthday earlier this month, is the youngest of six trainers here sharing that family surname. But while his father, Sid, and cousins Steve and Kevin have found themselves in the spotlight on more than one occasion this season, Paul Attard quietly has put together his best campaign since he took out his trainer's license here in 2002.

Tue, 11/17/2009 - 00:00

Anderson finds two more prospects

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Pete Anderson says he's uncertain whether Delightful Kiss, idle since February, will be able to overcome physical problems to race again.

MIAMI - When his Delightful Kiss was barnstorming the country winning graded stakes, friends used to tell former rider Pete Anderson he had the best one-horse stable in America.

Delightful Kiss has since been joined under Anderson's shed by Chary, a 3-year-old filly, and Wild Mia, a 2-year-old filly. One month ago, Chary captured the Calder Oaks. Last Saturday, Wild Mia won her maiden in the John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Tue, 11/17/2009 - 00:00

Churchill plans six night cards

Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography
Night racing under temporary lights was offered three times at the 2009 spring meet.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Churchill Downs has scheduled six nights of racing in 2010, including four nights at the spring meet, officials said Tuesday as they unveiled some of the details of the permanent lighting system that will be installed at the track.

The dates for night racing are June 11, June 18, June 25, and July 2 at the spring meet and Oct. 31 and Nov. 19. All are Fridays except Oct. 31, a Sunday and the opening night of the fall meet.

Mon, 11/16/2009 - 00:00

Dunkelberger wins nine in a row

Jockey Travis Dunkelberger won his ninth race in a row over a period of five days at two tracks on Sunday. The ninth win came aboard Citigambler in the third race at Charles Town, and the streak was snapped when he rode odds-on favorite Springs Girl to a second-place finish in race 7.