GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Gold Coyote, in the absence of a sidelined Mystery Classic, established himself as the top Texas-bred sprinter in training last Saturday with his authoritative win over older horses in the $50,000 Carter McGregor Jr. Memorial at Lone Star Park.
He won the Texas-bred sprint by 4 1/2 lengths and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 96. With the win, Gold Coyote also kicked off what is an important week for trainer Bret Calhoun's arsenal of sprinters.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Not Bourbon, following the same pattern that led to victory in the 1 1/8-mile Plate Trial on June 1, breezed four furlongs in 46.60 seconds here Wednesday morning.
Regular rider Jono Jones was aboard for Not Bourbon's drill, in which he was caught in 22.40 seconds for his opening quarter and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.40.
Not Bourbon had breezed four furlongs in 46.20 four days prior to his Plate Trial success.
MIAMI - Orinoquia was the only horse to win a stakes race at Calder last Saturday not trained by a guy named Wolfson.
Orinoquia, a 3-year-old filly by Whywhywhy, rallied from far back to an easy victory in the $100,000 Leave Me Alone Stakes for trainer Rudolfo Garcia. The win was the second stakes victory in a row for the improving Orinoquia, who now moves on to the Grade 3 Azalea Stakes on July 12.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Mike Keogh was squarely in the Queen's Plate spotlight in 2003, when he sent out the top two choices and one-two finishers in Wando and Mobil.
On Sunday, Keogh returns to the Queen's Plate for the first time since then, and he will be operating well beneath the radar. Whereas Wando and Mobil were proven stakes winners, coming into the Queen's Plate off successes in major preps, D. Flutie is a maiden after four starts.
However, Keogh isn't shy when it comes to evaluating his chances.
Credit assistant starter Rowland Darjean with an assist in Wanna Try Me's win on Sunday.
Darjean was handling the 3-year-old filly Wanna Try Me when she lunged through the gate and threw him to the ground. Darjean held on to the fractious filly, who was finally loaded in the gate after delaying the start for almost five minutes. She went on to win by 2o1/2 lengths as the even-money favorite.
The Quarter Horse Smith and West established a track record of 19.250 seconds for 400 yards in the Grade 3, $75,000 New Mexico Horse Breeders' Handicap at SunRay Park last Saturday. A 3-year-old ridden by jockey Nancy Summers, he bettered the old record of 19.304 while winning by 1 1/4 lengths.
In a race with a lot of trouble at the start, Smith and West got a clean break and made the best of it, breaking a four-race losing streak. He paid $25 and earned $45,000. He has now won five races and earned $110,675 for owner Cervando Molinar and trainer Jose Gonzalez Jr.
Delaware River heads a field of six Pennsylvania-breds in the $75,000 Willy Wank at Presque Isle Downs on Friday night. Trained by Bill Campbell, the 7-year-old son of Quiet American may have needed his last race at Pimlico, a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming race in which he finished fourth while making his first start of the season.
Frank Amonte Sr. will try once again on Friday to win his way into the record books when the 72-year-old jockey rides I'm Outspoken at Suffolk Downs in his quest to become the first person in his 70s to ride a winner at a Thoroughbred track.
It's been nearly three years since Amonte became the oldest jockey to win a race when he rode Eva's Boy to victory in August 2005 at Suffolk. He passed Charles Town regular Willie Clark, who was 69 when he retired in 1991.
BOSSIER CITY, La. - A couple of familiar but somewhat surprising names are atop the rider and trainer standings at Louisiana Downs after the first five weeks of the meeting.
While trainer Jerry Cart and jockey Don Simington are perennial members of the top-10 club here, neither has ever won a local title. And while Cart and Simington aren't penciling themselves in to win their divisions this season, both are pleased with their hot starts. Cart has won with seven of his 21 starters thus far and Simington is 17-for-109.