DEL MAR, Calif. - There were times on Thursday morning when the 2-year-old colt Make Music for Me walked politely next to trainer Alexis Barba around the toe ring on the Del Mar backstretch. There were other times when the colt wanted to jump around playfully.
The latter behavior more closely resembled Barba's mood in advance of Make Music for Me's start in Monday's $300,000 Del Mar Futurity.
"I'm pretty excited," she said. "I've got to stay normal."
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - After Beautician got beat 6 1/4 lengths by Hot Dixie Chick in the Grade 3 Schuylerville Stakes here on opening day, trainer Ken McPeek was looking to duck that filly at least until the races stretched out around two turns.
But circumstances dictated that Beautician miss the Adirondack in mid-August, and thus she has wound up in Sunday's Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway at Saratoga, where Hot Dixie Chick figures to be a strong favorite.
Jockey Dale Beckner, injured in a spill at Presque Isle Downs on Aug. 28, is in stable condition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center after undergoing surgery Wednesday to insert titanium plates in his skull and reconstruct his nose and eye socket. He remains in the intensive care unit.
Beckner, 37, also has some bleeding in his brain, which doctors are monitoring to make sure it doesn't increase, according to Chamissa Goodwin, a fellow jockey and Beckner's girlfriend.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Colonel John won the Santa Anita Derby and the Travers Stakes last year, but his resume this year is rather skimpy. He has had just one start, and though it was a victory, describing him only as Wickerr Stakes winner Colonel John hardly seems sufficient.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Camille C won her first stakes in Wednesday's $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes for statebred 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar.
The victory gave jockey Rafael Bejarano his first stakes win since returning last Friday from a five-week layoff caused by facial injuries.
Bejarano took Camille C to the lead from the start, set modest fractions of 22.38 and 46.09 seconds, and won by 1 1/4 lengths over the maiden Whispering Hush. Camille C ($12.20) ran six furlongs in 1:10.50.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. Linda Rice remained tied with Todd Pletcher for leading trainer at this meet when Canadian Ballet held on for a neck victory in Wednesday s $74,500 Lena Spencer Stakes at Saratoga.
Rice and Pletcher ended Wednesday s 31st day of racing with 16 wins apiece. Pletcher took a one-win lead earlier on the card when Bonavento won a maiden race. Pletcher s 103 starters are 55 more than Rice has had.
Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird arrived at trainer Chip Woolley's stable at Ruidoso Downs on Wednesday afternoon. It is the first time he has been back to his New Mexico base since April, when he traveled to Churchill Downs. Mine That Bird is in town to lead the post parade for the Grade 1, $2 million All-American Futurity for Quarter Horses on Monday.
While here, he will train toward his next start, the Grade 1, $350,000 Goodwood at Santa Anita on Oct. 10. The race is a prep for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic.
Magnetic resonance imaging tests have confirmed head and spinal injuries to Michael Straight, and Straight remains paralyzed from the waist down, his twin brother, Matthew, said in a statement released by Arlington Park late Wednesday afternoon.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - As first impressions go, Rachel Alexandra didn't really make a lasting one on exercise rider Dominic Terry the first time he got on her back.
"She just galloped a mile, and you know I wasn't totally impressed,'' said Terry, who rode more than 1,000 races in his career as a jockey.
Things have certainly changed since that early May morning when Rachel Alexandra was purchased by Jess Jackson, transferred to trainer Steve Asmussen, and entrusted to the 23-year-old Terry.
Last weekend, Quarter Horse handicappers dismissed trainer Mike Joiner's star filly in a major derby. Alice K White pulled an upset in Saturday's $250,000 Golden State Derby at Los Alamitos, beating world-class males A Tempting Dash, Foose, and Tres Passes.
Sunday at Ruidoso Downs, Joiner will be after another milestone win when Zamron starts in the All American Derby. This time, it would be an even greater feat. Zamron was the 10th and final qualifier for the All American Derby and a win in that race would be a shock.
