Sing Baby Sing, the upset winner of the Grade 3 Phoenix who went on to finish sixth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint in his last start Oct. 25, is being seriously considered for an Oaklawn campaign, said his trainer, Jack Bruner.
Sing Baby Sing could make his first start of the year in Oaklawn's $50,000 Hot Springs Stakes on March 21, while his main objective there will be the Grade 3, $150,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap on April 10.
The Louisiana State Racing Commission decided in a meeting that concluded Monday evening to lift the shipping ban at Fair Grounds, motivated by the equine herpesvirus, that contributed to 77 scratches on the Sunday and Monday cards at the New Orleans track. Ship-ins will be allowed when racing resumes at Fair Grounds on Wednesday, a relief to track officials who feared another scratch-laden day's racing.
A meeting of the Louisiana State Racing Commission was being convened late Monday afternoon in Baton Rouge in order to coordinate further response to an equine herpes outbreak at Fair Grounds. A ban on horses shipping into and out of the track was imposed over the weekend, leading to a great number of scratches on Sunday's and Monday's cards, and Fair Grounds racing officials were hopeful the shipping ban will be lifted before racing resumes at the track Wednesday.
MIAMI - The richest 3-year-old stabled in south Florida, at least through the majority of the winter season, will not be training at Gulfstream Park, Payson Park, or even at Palm Meadows, which has nurtured the last three Kentucky Derby winners. The richest 3-year-old currently in the area is Big Drama and he will spend the winter where he has spent the rest of his career on the racetrack: at Calder Race Course.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Garrett Gomez, who will finish the year as the nation's leading jockey in purse earnings, returned to riding on Monday two days after being injured in a one-horse spill at Santa Anita.
Gomez won with his first mount of the day, Suit Yourself in the third race.
Saturday, Gomez was unseated from Back at You when the 2-year-old attempted to jump the rail in the stretch of the Eddie Logan Stakes. Gomez suffered broken teeth, a gash on his knee, and a swollen hand. He was briefly hospitalized, but was released that evening.
ALBANY, Calif. - It's time to start thinking of 3-year-olds, at least those that turn 3 on Thursday.
The next six weeks will see Golden Gate Fields feature 3-year-olds as the Kentucky Derby trail starting gates open.
On New Year's Day, five 3-year-olds will compete in the $75,000 Golden Bear Stakes over six furlongs. Nina's Benchmark and Free Action come in on two-race winning streaks. Revoluta won his debut. Backbackbackgone has won 3 of 4 starts, including a pair of stakes, and Capital Cat, who has the most experience of any of the runners, is a maiden.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The dominant victory Haynesfield recorded in the Damon Runyon Stakes here Dec. 7 had many excited to see him run again. That chance will come Saturday in the $65,000 Count Fleet Stakes at Aqueduct, where Haynesfield will step out of New York-bred company for the first time and try to step onto the Kentucky Derby trail.
Haynesfield won the Damon Runyon by 5 1/4 lengths in front-running fashion. He ran a mile and 70 yards in 1:42.95 and earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest two-turn figure recorded by a 2-year-old in 2008.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Haynesfield, one of the few potential Kentucky Derby prospects still stabled in New York, worked five furlongs in 1:03.07 on Monday morning at Belmont Park in preparation for a start in Saturday's $65,000 Count Fleet Stakes at Aqueduct.
The Count Fleet will be the first stakes for 3-year-olds to be run in New York in 2009.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Indyanne who was pulled up in the stretch of Saturday's Grade 1 Santa Monica Handicap with a sesamoid injury, will not require surgery and could be sent to Kentucky in early January to be bred, trainer Greg Gilchrist said on Sunday.
Indyanne was fighting for the lead when she broke down. Gilchrist said the 3-year-old filly did not suffer injuries as severe as originally thought, which negated the need for surgery. Indyanne will be confined to stall rest until her condition improves, Gilchrist said.