ARCADIA, Calif. - There was Derby Fever on Thursday morning at Santa Anita.
Brother Derek, the winner of the 2006 Santa Anita Derby, and Colonel John, the likely favorite in this year's Santa Anita Derby, both worked within a few minutes of one another on a gorgeous, spring-like morning.
Brother Derek, nearing a return to the races after an absence of a year, worked seven furlongs, in company, in 1:23.40 for trainer Dan Hendricks.
If Silly Chix, the fastest qualifier, wins the $358,390 Harrah's Entertainment Futurity on Tuesday at Louisiana Downs, this time it will count as an official stakes win.
Silly Chix won the $94,080 Royal Shake Em Futurity at Las Palmas Downs in mid-February, but that race is not recognized by the American Quarter Horse Association or the Texas Racing Commission, because those organizations do not recognize 2-year-old races held before March 1. Also, Las Palmas Downs is not approved by American Quarter Horse Association.
Los Alamitos Race Course owner Dr. Ed Allred, a perennial leading breeder and owner, will lead the class of 2008 into the Racehorse Hall of Fame at Ruidoso Downs.
Induction ceremonies will be June 28 at Ruidoso Downs.
Joining Allred are trainer Dwayne "Sleepy" Gilbreath, jockey Kenny Hart, and champion Corona Chick.
Gilbreath, a two-time winner of the All American Futurity, has 17 Grade 1 stakes wins at Ruidoso Downs. He won the grade 1 Rainbow Derby six times during one 10-year stretch.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Cool Gator, who finished a solid second in his season debut in a 1 1/8-mile first-level allowance at Gulfstream on March 1, and who is scheduled to make his next start in the Florida Derby on March 29, is the 4-1 favorite in the annual winter book for Woodbine's Queen's Plate.
The winter book, compiled by Woodbine oddsmaker Jennifer Morrison, assigned odds to the 132 Canadian-bred 3-year-olds who are eligible for the $1 million Queen's Plate as of Feb. 1.
A horse who was displaying symptoms of equine herpesvirus at Charles Town Races and Slots in West Virginia has tested negative for the highly contagious disease, racetrack officials said on Thursday, and the track has lifted a self-imposed quarantine.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - There was a familiar rhythm to life at trainer Doug O'Neill's barn on Wednesday morning here at Hollywood Park. Lava Man went out late with exercise rider Tony Romero for a workout, and when Lava Man came back to the barn, he was greeted by his longtime groom, Noe Garcia.
But things are quite different for all now than one year ago.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Kentucky Derby-winning trainers D. Wayne Lukas and Nick Zito will square off at Oaklawn Park on Saturday in the $300,000 Rebel Stakes. Lukas is pointing Stone Bird, a two-time winner at the meet, for the 1 1/16-mile race, while Zito has sent in Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner Anak Nakal.
Success could be Kjell Qvale's middle name.
The 88-year-old Norwegian native is back at the highest level of Northern California racing with Tribesman, a four-legged rocket ship who comes into Saturday's Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Sprint with five straight victories. Last time out, in the Phoenix Gold Cup at Turf Paradise, he defeated Breeders' Cup Sprint runner-up Idiot Proof by 1 3/4 lengths.
While horse racing is always a bumpy ride, Kjell Qvale (pronounced Shell Ka-VAH-lee) has enjoyed every minute of it.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Despite its Grade 3 status, Saturday's $100,000 Cicada Stakes is expected to attract a small field of locally based 3-year-old fillies.
The Cicada lost its probable favorite when trainer Eddie Kenneally opted to point the Florida-based Keep the Peace to the $250,000 Beaumont at Keeneland next month. Keep the Peace, a New York-bred daughter of Touch Gold, recorded two strong victories against open company before getting beaten by a nose by Bsharpsonata in the Grade 2 Forward Gal at Gulfstream on Feb. 9.
New York rider and Columbus, Neb., native Channing Hill will make a special appearance at Fonner Park on Sunday when he returns home for a weekend family gathering.
Hill, 20, began his riding career at age 16 at Columbus and Prairie Meadows in Iowa. He is tied for sixth in the rider standings at Aqueduct with 25 wins entering Wednesday's racing. Last month, he won his first graded stakes when he guided Golden Dawn to a six-length win in the Grade 2, $300,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park.
