INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting, which begins on Wednesday, will start with an overnight purse structure lower than last year's meet.
In an economy that has led to lower purses at all Southern California tracks, Hollywood Park has cut purses for maiden special weight races and allowance races as well as some claiming races.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Around this time last spring, Verdana Bold was making her local debut with a 22-1 win in the six-furlong Star Shoot for 3-year-old fillies.
Saturday at Woodbine, Verdana Bold will be looking for a similar result at a lesser price in the six-furlong Whimsical for fillies and mares.
"She sure matured well from 3 to 4," said Danny Vella, who trains Verdana Bold for owner Ed Seltzer. "She's bigger and stronger, and a little more patient."
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The final stop on the Kentucky Derby trail once again amounts to a win-and-you're-in situation for any horse whose connections are looking to move on to Louisville. The Grade 2, $300,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes will be run for the 28th time Saturday at Keeneland, with only one of the 12 3-year-olds entered Wednesday, Square Eddie, having already accumulated enough graded earnings to make the May 2 Derby at Churchill Downs.
A hearing regarding a positive test for procaine found in Wait a While after her third-place finishers of the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita last October was held by the Santa Anita stewards on Wednesday, who may decide to disqualify the mare and redistribute part of the purse.
Stewards Scott Chaney, Albert Christiansen, and Tom Ward are not expected to file a decision until later this month at the earliest, pending written closing arguments from attorneys.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer David Fawkes announced last month that Big Drama would bypass the Kentucky Derby despite having enough graded earnings and certainly enough talent to warrant a run for the roses on May 2. Even though Big Drama set a course record at Gulfstream Park in his 3-year-old debut, Fawkes and owner-breeder Harold Queen are staying true to their word and have decided to skip the Derby and await the Preakness on May 16.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - A year before she decided to ride here, Anna Napravnik told her agent, Bob Klesaris, that she would succeed in New York.
Despite a rough start, Napravnik certainly enjoyed a successful stint in New York this winter, one that comes to an end on Friday. Following Friday's card at Aqueduct, Napravnik is slated to return to the Mid-Atlantic region where she will be based at Delaware Park, but will also ride at Pimlico and Philadelphia Park.
Based on early reviews, turf racing in Cajun Country is a hit.
Named the David Yount Turf after the late director of racing, the lush course at Evangeline Downs was christened on opening night last Wednesday when a full field of Louisiana-bred maidens, led by the odds-on favorite Royal and Flashy, raced 1 1/16 miles.
Royal and Flashy ($3) tracked honest fractions of 24.31 seconds, 49.26, and 1:13.33 before kicking home by more than six lengths in a time of 1:44.04 over the firm going.
A potential rematch of last year's top two finishers is shaping up for next weekend's Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes at Fonner Park, with runner-up Wayzata Bay and defending champion The Nutz adding their names to the list of nominees for the meet's showcase event.
There were 29 horses nominated for the $75,000 race at 1 1/16 miles as of Wednesday morning, with more expected.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Mike DePaulo enjoyed a relatively quiet but productive campaign at Gulfstream Park this year, with 3 wins and 4 thirds from 12 starters.
Now, DePaulo is looking to make some serious noise here at Woodbine, and he fired his first broadside when Collerosa prevailed in the quicker split of a five-furlong Ontario-sired maiden race last Sunday.
"He was a little bit of a surprise; five-eighths is probably too short for him," said DePaulo who trains Collerosa for owner Frank Romano.