Champion mare Zenyatta isn't expected to make her 2009 debut until May, at the earliest, so rule her out of defending her 2008 win in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park. The Apple Blossom on April 4 is the goal for champion filly Proud Spell, but she was defeated by Louisiana-bred Superior Storm in an Oaklawn allowance race last week. In fact, it is beginning to feel like Acoma could wind up being the favorite for the prestigious Apple Blossom on the strength of her sharp comeback win in the Azeri Stakes on March 8 at Oaklawn.
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DRF Past Performances
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Trainer Donnie Von Hemel is changing summer circuits with his deep stable that includes multiples stakes winners Going Ballistic and Euphony. He said on Wednesday that following the close of the Oaklawn meet April 11 he will head to Arlington Park. It has been more than 10 years since Von Hemel has been based in Chicago, having spent his most recent summers at Lone Star Park.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Rocky Balboa versus Apollo Creed. The Jets versus the Colts in Super Bowl III. The U.S. hockey team against the Russians in the 1980 Olympics.
The connections of What a Pear are hoping for the same type of ending when they send out their unheralded, albeit undefeated 3-year-old New York-bred filly against champion Stardom Bound in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland on April 4.
Hialeah Park, which ceased operation after the 2001 season, has been granted a racing permit by the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Racing to operate a Quarter Horse meet at the historic site.
The racing panel has received several other requests for Quarter Horse permits from tracks outside of south Florida, all of whom would need a racing license to operate slot machines at their facilities. Hialeah was specifically excluded from the referendum approved last year allowing parimutuel facilities in Dade County to install slot machines.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Rafael Bejarano and his agent, Joe Ferrer, thought about the question for a moment and finally shrugged.
What has been the highlight of the current Santa Anita meeting? Neither could find an answer.
"I can't remember," Ferrer said. "If he can't remember, I can't remember."
These are tough times for 8-year-old Dashboard Drummer, who has earned almost $500,000 in his 48-race career.
Dashboard Drummer, the winner of Monmouth Park's Grade 3 Sapling as a 2-year-old, extended his losing streak to 16 races when he finished fourth in Monday's sixth race at Philadelphia Park.
Business was steady compared to last year for the winter Quarter Horse meeting at Louisiana Downs that concluded Tuesday. Total handle for the 40-day stand was $13,160,589 for an average of $329,015 per day. Those figures are down 1.4 percent from last year's total of $13,345,708 and daily average of $333,642. Average handle per race actually increased this year as 37 fewer races were carded this season.
Field size increased by almost 0.5 starters per race this year to 8.6, and ontrack wagering grew by 2.7 percent.
Channing Hill will be riding in Nebraska this weekend as the Columbus, Neb., native shifts his tack from the New York circuit to Southern California.
After riding Wednesday's card in New York, Hill was scheduled to fly to Nebraska. He will accept rides at Fonner Park this weekend and will be the special guest on track announcer Steve Anderson's racing preview show Saturday at 1 p.m.
Dane Kobiskie gave up his career as a jockey in February 2008 to become a trainer, but he clearly hasn't forgotten how to ride a horse.
With his regular rider Jenna Joubert sidelined with an injury and second choice Julian Pimentel serving a suspension, Kobiskie named himself to ride Mysterious Bandit in last Thursday's seventh race at Laurel Park.
Kobiskie, 30, guided the 7-year-old mare Mysterious Bandit ($6.40) to a wire-to-wire victory over seven rivals in a second-level optional $25,000 claimer.