OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Jeff Mullins is making his fifth trip down the Triple Crown trail in the last seven years. But never has the trainer felt more prepared for the challenge than he does right now with I Want Revenge, who established himself as a leading Kentucky Derby contender with an 8 1/2-length romp in Saturday's Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.
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DRF Past Performances
ARCADIA, Calif. - Eastern-based Einstein earned a return trip to California later this year, and maybe for more than one occasion, with his victory in Saturday's $1 million Santa Anita Handicap.
Trainer Helen Pitts said Saturday that races such as the Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic at Del Mar this summer are "options for sure."
Pitts has the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita in November as a long-term goal for the 7-year-old Einstein, who won the most lucrative race of his career in the Big Cap.
Led by Friesan Fire, who has won the Lecomte and Risen Star stakes in his last two starts, a field of 10 3-year-olds was entered Monday in the Grade 2, $600,000 Louisiana Derby, to be run Saturday at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.
The Louisiana Derby heads an outstanding 12-race card that features six stakes, including three other Grade 2 stakes - the $500,000 Mervin Muniz Handicap for older turf runners, the $500,000 New Orleans Handicap for older horses on the main track, and the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.
ALBANY, Calif. - The $75,000 Work the Crowd, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for California-bred fillies and mares, could have as few as four starters when it is run Saturday at Golden Gate Fields. Lady Railrider, winner of the Sunshine Millions Distaff in January, is the likely favorite.
Only seven runners were nominated, and as of early in the week Lady Railrider had only three confirmed challengers, including her Steve Specht-trained stablemate Shes a Lucky Wager. Film Editor and You Lift Me Up also will run. Royal Heraldry, Kalookan Year, and Warren's Appeal were also nominated.
ARCADIA, Calif. - It takes a real Einstein to do it all.
After winning major stakes on turf and dirt earlier in his career, Einstein, a 7-year-old horse, won his first race on a synthetic track in Saturday's $1 million Santa Anita Handicap.
Not only was the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap the richest win of Einstein's 24-race career, but it provided the race with an element of history. Trainer Helen Pitts is the first woman to win the 72-year-old event.
"It feels special to be part of it, to be part of history," Pitts said.
Let It Rock burst to the lead late to win the Grade 3, $150,000 Razorback Handicap by three-quarters of a length over Shim's Pride at Oakawn Park on Saturday. It was another neck back in third to Catmantoo.
The Razorback is the local prep for the Grade 2, $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap on April 4.
ARCADIA, Calif. - April Pride's third start of the meeting gave the 3-year-old filly her first stakes win in Sunday's $78,460 China Doll Stakes at Santa Anita.
Ridden by David Flores, April Pride ($9) closed from fifth with a three-wide move on the turn to win the one-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies by two lengths in 1:35.40.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Acoma indicated her intent to be a player in the filly and mare handicap division this year with a powerful five-length win over Bear Now in the Grade 3, $150,000 Azeri Handicap at Oaklawn Park on Sunday. The race was the first start of the year for Acoma, a 4-year-old who covered the mile and a sixteenth in a sharp 1:42.55.
"Today, she really impressed me," said Julien Leparoux, who rode Acoma for trainer David Carroll. "She did it like a very good filly."
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Proud Spell, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2008, will make her first start of the year Thursday at Oaklawn Park in a $75,000 optional claiming race open to fillies and mares with third-level allowance conditions or who have not won since Dec. 12, 2008.
Proud Spell last raced in September, finishing second in the Grade 2 Cotillion at Philadelphia Park. Her biggest wins last year came in the Kentucky Oaks and the Grade 1 Alabama. She has won 7 of 12 career starts and $2,123,610 for her owner and breeder, Brereton Jones.