Fri, 01/02/2009 - 00:00

Kick On eyes Oaklawn stakes

Kick On, one of the most accomplished young horses in the Southwest with two route stakes wins to his credit, could make his 3-year-old debut in February at Oaklawn, trainer Joe Petalino said. He said the horse is being considered for the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest Stakes at a mile on Feb. 16.

Fri, 01/02/2009 - 00:00

Pompa holds on to latest prospect

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The similarities are unmistakable, although it would be unreasonable to further extrapolate. Well Positioned ran off the television screen in winning a maiden race at a nice price as a 2-year-old in New York for owner Paul Pompa Jr. and trainer Pat Reynolds, prompting a flurry of inquiries about whether they were interested in selling.

Fri, 01/02/2009 - 00:00

Aqueduct races to return to TVG

Aqueduct's races were scheduled to return to TVG on Saturday after the New York Racing Association and the network reached agreement on a two-year television and account-wagering deal late Thursday. The New York State Racing and Wagering Board approved the deal shortly after 4 p.m. Eastern on Friday.

Fri, 01/02/2009 - 00:00

Another pick six carryover at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif.-For the third time in the first seven days of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, there is a pick six carryover. The carryover for Friday's eight-race program is $143,011.

The card begins at 1 p.m. Pacific, and the pick six covers the third through eighth races.

In addition, there is a carryover in the $1 super high five of $78,259. The super high five requires bettors to correctly select the first five finishers of the last race.

Thu, 01/01/2009 - 00:00

Florida 3-year-old ranks a bit thin

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - The cupboard is not necessarily bare, but the prospect of yet another Kentucky Derby winner coming from south Florida doesn't look particularly bright. The results of several major divisional races last year, most notably the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, have left the Florida contingent appearing somewhat lacking, although that prognosis is always subject to change.

Thu, 01/01/2009 - 00:00

Lovely Isle eyes Sunshine Millions

ARCADIA, Calif. - Loaded with sprinting females, trainer Bobby Frankel's stable will have leading contenders in lucrative stakes from coast-to-coast later this month.

Lovely Isle, the winner of Wednesday's $76,400 Kalookan Queen Handicap at Santa Anita, is bound for the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint for California-breds and Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24.

Ventura, the winner of the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita on Oct. 24, is scheduled to start in the $300,000 Santa Monica Handicap on Jan. 31.

Thu, 01/01/2009 - 00:00

Horses still face restrictions

With one notable exception, the course of the equine herpesvirus outbreak at Fair Grounds appears to be progressing as well as could be hoped. There have been no new cases after a single filly showed symptoms and was diagnosed with the virus on Dec. 24 in Kentucky, and even that filly has made a rapid recovery while never showing the most serious neurological effects of the disease. None of the five horses who were removed from the track Wednesday after triggering positive herpesvirus tests has shown signs of illness.

Thu, 01/01/2009 - 00:00

Zada Belle gets shoe fixed, then romps

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Zada Belle's victory in Thursday's $67,965 Interborough Stakes was as easy as expected. But there were a few moments before the race that had trainer Tom Albertrani a little anxious.

As she walked out of the saddling stall to get a bigger girth put on, Zada Belle, the 1-2 favorite, twisted her left front shoe and it needed to be repaired by the paddock blacksmith.

"It's always a bad omen, like, 'Oh no, the shoe's coming off, she's going to get upset getting the shoe back on,' '' Albertrani said. "Somehow, she twisted her foot on the bricks here.''

Thu, 01/01/2009 - 00:00

Backbackbackgone captures Golden Bear

Backbackbackgone ($3.40) turned in a strong performance capturing the $75,000 Golden Bear Stakes on Thursday at Golden Gate Fields.

Prepping for the Sunshine Millions Dash at Gulfstream and Jan. 24, Backbackbackgone got a patient ride from Russell Baze, and made a strong move into the stretch as he won the third stakes of his career in the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds. He covered six furlongs in 1:11.01, defeating fast-finishing Free Action by one length. Pacesetting Revoluta faded to third another 1 1/4 lengths back.

Thu, 01/01/2009 - 00:00

Signs of progress on ambitious project

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Rome wasn't built in a day. The new Gulfstream Park certainly hasn't gone up overnight, either, and at times it has seemed like the ambitious project might take centuries.