Mon, 05/05/2008 - 00:00

Tomcito using Peter Pan as prep for Belmont

ELMONT, N.Y. - While many in the racing world will be focusing on the May 17 Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, horse trainer Dante Zanelli Jr. is in a New York state of mind.

Zanelli and his quality 3-year-old Tomcito arrived in New York from Kentucky on Sunday night to begin preparing for the $1 million Belmont Stakes on June 7. That preparation started with a gallop over Belmont's main track on Monday morning, and was to continue with an expected workout here on Tuesday morning before a start in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes.

Mon, 05/05/2008 - 00:00

Lone Star bans jockey for electrical device

Jockey Glen Murphy has been suspended six months by the Lone Star Park stewards after an electrical device was found in his vehicle during a routine compliance inspection at the track's stable gate last Thursday morning. Murphy was also fined $2,500, according to a ruling issued by stewards on Saturday. Murphy's suspension began on May 1 and will run through Oct. 27.

Murphy waived his right to a hearing in the case, and thus his right to appeal. He declined to comment on the ruling. Murphy's suspension will be honored in all racing jurisdictions.

Mon, 05/05/2008 - 00:00

Greg's Gold retired with injury

Greg's Gold, the multiple stakes-winning sprinter, has been retired because of a recurrence of a tendon injury, trainer David Hofmans said Monday.

Owned by breeder Bill Boswell, Greg's Gold ended his career with a win in the Grade 2 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap at Santa Anita on April 5. He was being considered for stakes at Hollywood Park this summer when the injury was detected.

"He's showing some heat in his tendon," Hofmans said. "We don't want to take any chances."

Mon, 05/05/2008 - 00:00

Bob Black Jack, Gayego to race out West

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Bob Black Jack and Gayego, who finished 16th and 17th in Saturday's Kentucky Derby, are being pointed for stakes at Hollywood Park in coming weeks, their respective trainers said on Sunday.

Bob Black Jack, who set the pace to the final turn in the Kentucky Derby, is a candidate for the $100,000 Affirmed Handicap at 1o1/16 miles on June 15, according to trainer James Kasparoff. Gayego, the winner of the $1 million Arkansas Derby last month, will be considered for the $350,000 Swaps Stakes at 1o1/8 miles on July 12, trainer Paulo Lobo said.

Mon, 05/05/2008 - 00:00

Tytus takes three-horse photo

Tytus ($5.20) prevailed by a nose in a three-horse photo finish to win the $50,000 Shot of Gold Stakes at Canterbury Park.

Tytus moved to challenge three deep entering the stretch and was immediately tackled from the inside by Seneca Summer and from the outside by Prospective Kiss. Those three raced in tandem through the final sixteenth with Tytus just putting his nose in front as the trio hit the wire while stopping the timer in 1:04.39. Prospective Kiss finished second, a neck in front of Seneca Summer.

Mon, 05/05/2008 - 00:00

Kimes rides both stakes winners

Jockey Curtis Kimes swept both stakes at Will Rogers Downs on Saturday, when he guided Sumfun ($12.20) to a half-length victory in the $50,000 Route 66, and Stormin Quality ($26.20) to a half-length win in the $50,000 Wilma Mankiller. The races were the first Thoroughbred stakes run at the track since it reopened for racing in 2006.

Sumfun tracked the pace set by Fearless Anthony, who led through fractions of 21.39 seconds for the opening quarter and 43.59 for the half-mile. Sumfun overtook that one and went on to cover the six furlongs in 1:08.26.

Mon, 05/05/2008 - 00:00

Bitterbutsweet handles older fillies

The 3-year-old filly Bitterbutsweet ($6.80), stepping to meet older horses after winning the Scottsdale Handicap on March 31, defeated Bye Bey Ladiess by three-quarters of a length in Saturday's $30,700 Desert Sky Handicap at Turf Paradise.

Owned by M&B Partnership LLC and trained by Dan Morgan, Bitterbutsweet sat well back in the about-one-mile turf race and was still fifth in midstretch but drove home strongly under Daniel Vergara.

Mon, 05/05/2008 - 00:00

Brueggmann sweeps both stakes

Trainer Roger Brueggemann and the Scarlet Stable swept both $50,000 stakes on Saturday's card at Prairie Meadows.

Sole of the City ($4.60) overpowered her five rivals in the $50,000 Prairie Rose Stakes for fillies and mares, scoring by 3 1/2 lengths by running six furlongs in 1:09.51.

Magnus One ($15.20), who had stumbled slightly at the start, held off 3-5 favorite Biglie Smallworld by a neck in the $50,000 Prairie Express. Magnus One covered the six furlongs in 1:10.07.

Mon, 05/05/2008 - 00:00

Bettin On M J extends winning streak

Bettin On M J ($5.40) broke on top and repelled a mild challenge from even-money favorite Bernie Blue to post a three-length victory in the $75,000 Panhandle Handicap at Mountaineer Racetrack.

Ridden by Gerald Almodovar for trainer Julio Cartagena, the 6-year-old Bettin On M J covered five furlongs on a sloppy track in 57.80 seconds while winning his third straight race and 16th in 36 lifetime starts. Since he was reclaimed by Cartagena for $15,000 a year ago, Bettin On M J has 5 wins and a second in six starts.

Mon, 05/05/2008 - 00:00

True Metropolitan sets six-furlong track record

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - True Metropolitan ($2.40), the champion older horse in Canada for the past two years, set a track record of 109.87 for six furlongs in the $52,262 George Royal Stakes at Hastings.

Under a confident ride by Mario Gutierrez, True Metropolitan broke sharply and then settled into a perfect stalking position behind Lord Nelson and Spaghetti Mouse. He took the lead at the top of the stretch and then drew off to post a 2 3/4 length margin over Spaghetti Mouse over a track rated good.