Wed, 05/27/2009 - 00:00

Douglas making progress after surgery

CHICAGO - Severely injured jockey Rene Douglas continues to make steady progress after undergoing seven-hour back and neck surgery following a one-horse spill Saturday at Arlington Park, but a long-term prognosis for Douglas's recovery still is murky.

Wed, 05/27/2009 - 00:00

Hadavision finishes fast to take Ohio Valley

Hadavision ran down loose-on-the-lead Overandabeauty in deep stretch to capture the $75,000 Ohio Valley Handicap on Tuesday night at Mountaineer Racetrack.

Overandabeauty, winless in 10 starts since beating maidens as a 2-year-old at Belmont Park in September 2007, looked home free when she opened up a three-length lead with an eighth of a mile remaining in the six-furlong Ohio Valley. But Hadavision, who had been last of seven early, rallied strongly under Willie Martinez to get up by a half-length in the final few jumps before the wire, completing the distance in 1:12.28.

Wed, 05/27/2009 - 00:00

Theriot appeals suspension

CHICAGO - Fred Aime, the agent for jockey Jamie Theriot, confirmed Wednesday morning that he had filed an appeal with the Illinois Racing Board over the ruling issued Monday that suspended Theriot 30 days for his role in the spill in Saturday's Arlington Matron.

Wed, 05/27/2009 - 00:00

Sterner assignment next for It's a Bird

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - It's a Bird won the Grade 3, $400,000 Lone Star Park Handicap on the track's Million Day program, when six stakes worth $1.1 million were run to make for the richest card in Texas. Wolfson also walked away with the $100,000 Valid Expectations, courtesy of Pious Ashley, but his stakes double came on what turned out to be a bittersweet day.

Wed, 05/27/2009 - 00:00

Sakakawea wins despite bumping incident

ALTOONA, Iowa - A pair of six-furlong stakes races restricted to Iowa-bred 3-year-olds were co-featured on the Memorial Day card at Prairie Meadows. First up, a solid group of nine fillies contested the $62,733 Bob Bryant. Sakakawea, trained by Ray Tracy, displayed tenacity during an eventful stretch drive to fend off the favored Lynn Chleborad trainee Brava Darby by a nose.

Tue, 05/26/2009 - 00:00

Two straight for Kruger Park

AUBURN, Wash. - Kruger Park ran his Emerald Downs record to 2-for-2 with a front-running victory in the $50,000 FSN Handicap on Memorial Day. A 5-year-old Florida-bred by Johannesburg, Kruger Park completed 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.80 and held off Assessment to win by three-quarters of a length.

Tue, 05/26/2009 - 00:00

Ladyledue still unbeaten

AUBURN, Wash. - Undefeated 3-year-old filly Ladyledue ran her winning streak to four Saturday with an emphatic victory in the $50,000 Federal Way Handicap at Emerald Downs.

Trained by Bonnie Jenne for owner Jon Sather of Manson, Wash., Ladyledue shot to the lead under regular rider Ricky Frazier, put away 7-5 betting favorite What R the Odds turning for home and inched clear to win by 1 3/4 lengths. She covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.60 and tied an Emerald Downs record with four consecutive stakes victories to begin a career.

Tue, 05/26/2009 - 00:00

Americanrevolution surely loves Florida

MIAMI - Americanrevolution has never lost a race in south Florida. In fact, Americanrevolution had never really been tested in this part of the country until last Sunday, when he was forced to turn back a couple of tries from Grade 2 winner How's Your Halo before registering a one-length allowance victory. He's now 4 for 4 at Calder, all for trainer Bill White, and has two additional wins at Gulfstream Park.

Tue, 05/26/2009 - 00:00

Sunland releases racing secretary

Sunland Park has relieved Norm Amundson of his duties as racing secretary and handicapper, a position he has held at the New Mexico track for 14 years.

"Track management has decided to move in another direction, and I respect their decision," Amundson said in a statement issued Tuesday.

Sunland officials would not comment on the reason for Amundson's release. He will be with the track through the end of the month, said Dustin Dix, director of racing operations for Sunland.

Tue, 05/26/2009 - 00:00

Plans for Giant Oak are obvious

Four-Footed Fotos
Giant Oak will remain at Arlington for the American Derby and Secretariat.P

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Chris Block is an Arlington Park kind of guy, and there is little doubt where Giant Oak will make his next start after impressively winning the Arlington Classic here last Saturday. Sure, there are scads of 3-year-old turf money out on the table at Colonial Downs, which has two rich races, the Colonial Turf Cup and the Virginia Derby. But Arlington has the $300,000 American Derby on July 11 and the $500,000 Secretariat on Aug. 8, and if Giant Oak were to win both, he would earn owners Rudy and Virginia Tarra a $500,000 bonus, too.