Sat, 07/25/2009 - 00:00

Jonesboro staying in Midwest

Jack Coady/Coady Photography
Jonesboro is being pointed to a start in the Governor's Cup at Remington.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - After taking a long look at running Jonesboro in either New York or California following his career effort in last month's Grade 2 Cornhusker, his connections said Friday they are leaning toward a fall campaign in the Midwest.

Jonesboro could run next in the $150,000 Governor's Cup at Remington Park on Sept. 7, then point to the Grade 2, $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap at Hawthorne on Oct. 3.

"That's not 100 percent, but that's what we're looking at," said Randy Morse, who trains Jonesboro for Michael Langford.

Fri, 07/24/2009 - 00:00

Repo takes CTBA, and Debutante's next

DEL MAR, Calif. - Repo has stormed through California's 2-year-old filly division this month, winning the Landaluce Stakes against open company at Hollywood Park on July 12 and the $100,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes against statebreds at Del Mar on Friday.

Fri, 07/24/2009 - 00:00

Spa opener shapes up as busy day

Barbara D. Livingston
Quality Road, unraced since winning the Florida Derby in March, is slated for the Amsterdam.

ELMONT, N.Y. - If the opening-day card is any indication, this could be a very strong summer at Saratoga.

A total of 134 horses were carded for Wednesday's 10-race opening-day program, including a strong field of 13 juvenile fillies for the Grade 3, $100,000 Schuylerville Stakes going six furlongs. Six of the 10 races overfilled, and the total in purses for opening day is $557,700.

:: SARATOGA PPs:

Fri, 07/24/2009 - 00:00

Temo's Dream renews Kaplan's faith

MIAMI - Trainer Bill Kaplan had high hopes for Temo's Dream following the 3-year-old's breakthrough entry-level allowance win on June 14. And after suffering through a disappointing effort by Temo's Dream in the American Dreamer Stakes on turf four weeks later, Kaplan had those hopes rekindled after the former claimer rallied to an impressive second-level allowance victory in Friday's featured ninth race.

Fri, 07/24/2009 - 00:00

Mine That Bird arrives at Mountaineer

Mine That Bird arrived Friday afternoon at Mountaineer Park, where the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner is expected to make his next start Aug. 1 in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby. Mountaineer announced the arrival in a Friday press release.

Mine That Bird had vanned out of Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., early that morning with trainer Chip Woolley driving the truck pulling the horse's trailer northeast to Chester, W.Va. in a 6 1/2-hour trip.

Fri, 07/24/2009 - 00:00

Whitney now a Win and You're In

The Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga has been added to the 2009 Breeders' Cup Challenge Win and You're In program, meaning the winner of the race receives an automatic berth into the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 7.

The Whitney will be run at Saratoga on Aug. 8 and is expected to feature defending winner Commentator, who did not run in the Classic last year. As of Friday, those being considered for the Whitney included Asiatic Boy, Dry Martini, Finallymadeit, Macho Again, Arson Squad, and possibly Tizway.

Fri, 07/24/2009 - 00:00

Atomic Rain still pointing for Haskell

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Summer Bird gets a paddock schooling session at Monmouth on Friday.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Atomic Rain will run in the $1.25 million Haskell Invitational after all.

Atomic Rain, who was sold to Godolphin earlier this week, changed hands Friday morning as trainer Kelly Breen walked the colt three barns down, delivering him to Kiaran McLaughlin's Monmouth Park division.

Although he will be housed in McLaughlin's barn, Atomic Rain will be trained by Rachel Dore, previously an assistant to Godolphin Racing's Rick Mettee in New York.

Fri, 07/24/2009 - 00:00

On the muscle for the Osunitas

Vasser Photography
Restless Soul (left) and You Lift Me Up, 1-2 in the Yerba Buena at Golden Gate, run Sunday in the Osunitas.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Gloria Goodbody wants to run - now.

"She doesn't like a lot of time between races," trainer and co-owner John Glenney said.

After Gloria Goodbody finished second in the Grade 3 Locust Grove Handicap at Churchill Downs on July 5, Glenney made plans for a start in Sunday's $85,000 Osunitas Handicap at Del Mar. The restricted race for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf will be Gloria Goodbody's seventh start this year in a campaign that began at Fair Grounds on March 1. Gloria Goodbody has won 2 of 6 starts in 2009.

Fri, 07/24/2009 - 00:00

Emerald runners lacking in Pacific Challenge

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - In an effort to create a regional rivalry between Emerald Downs in Seattle and Hastings here in Vancouver, the Pacific Challenge was created this year. The Challenge consists of three stakes races for older horses bred in Washington or British Columbia: the B.C. Cup Classic, Distaff, and Sprint. The Challenge will be part of B.C. Cup Day, Aug. 3. In total there will be seven stakes, with the other four stakes restricted to B.C.-breds.

Fri, 07/24/2009 - 00:00

Sweet Nellie Brown one of the family

AUBURN, Wash. - The phone started ringing shortly after Sweet Nellie Brown's rollicking debut, and by the following morning, June 14, bidders from across the nation were lining up with offers for the 2-year-old filly. Word of a 17-length victory in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden race travels fast.