HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. The undefeated and untested Big Brown drew the outside post in a field of 12 3-year-olds entered Wednesday for Saturdays $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. No horse has ever won a race going 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream from post 11 or 12 since the racetrack was reconfigured and lengthened to 1 1/8 miles in 2005.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Of the 182 horses that have been claimed in 40 days of racing this meet at Oaklawn, 23 were taken by Jan Haynes. She leads all owners in claims, and also has a clear lead atop the owner standings as she pursues her first title at Oaklawn.
Haynes's first leading owner title came last fall at Louisiana Downs. As the year came to an end, a number of her horses were claimed. Haynes has gone to work replacing her stock, and following Oaklawn will divide her 30-plus horse operation between Louisiana Downs and Lone Star Park.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Bamaha Breeze, who ran his record to 4-0 with a victory in an optional-claiming sprint last Friday, may be heading for a stakes in his next race. In fact, trainer Steve Miyadi said he may stretch him out to 1o1/8 miles for the $250,000 Snow Chief for California-breds on the Gold Rush Day card April 27 at Hollywood Park.
Miyadi said the challenge will be to prepare Bamaha Breeze to run farther than six furlongs for the first time.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Tuesday was a busy morning for trainer Barclay Tagg. But when it was over, the man who won the 2003 Kentucky Derby with Funny Cide had gotten important works into two of his three current Derby prospects, including Elysium Fields, who will be among the favorites in Saturday's $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.
Entries for the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby were scheduled to be drawn Wednesday. Among Elysium Fields's main opponents will be Big Brown, Hey Byrn, and Fierce Wind.
Jet Away Jane went from last to first to capture Tuesday's $75,000 Langhorne Stakes for fillies and mares at Philadelphia Park.
Although she was sixth after the first quarter-mile and fifth following a half-mile in 44.83 seconds, Jet Away Jane ($8.80) was just three lengths off the hot pace set by Devil House, the 9-5 favorite.
ARCADIA, Calif. - It was only a simple workout Tuesday morning at Santa Anita, and nothing more. But good horses send positive vibes, and Colonel John is making people believe.
The likely favorite for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 5, Colonel John sailed six furlongs Tuesday under exercise rider Karine Lhuillier. The colt's classy demeanor before and after the workout were as revealing as the work itself.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - After working for two of the most successful horsemen in the game, Seth Benzel believes the time is right to go out on his own. Beginning May 1, Benzel will leave his position as an assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher to open a public stable.
Benzel, 33, worked for Pletcher for nearly six years following a 4 1/2-year stint as an assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Starting at age 18, Benzel trained for two years at Finger Lakes, mostly for his father, before attending college for four years.
FLORENCE, Ky. - Adriano would be a cinch to make the field for the 134th Kentucky Derby after raking in $285,000 in graded earnings by capturing the Grade 2 Lane's End Stakes, but while trainer Graham Motion is leaving open the possibility of pointing in that direction, he called the Derby "unlikely" for the A.P. Indy colt.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The prospective starting lineup for Saturday's $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park lost another member when Why Tonto sustained a minor injury that will sideline him indefinitely.
Make Me Zach, who also was expected to run in the Florida Derby, was withdrawn last week.
Why Tonto, who upset stablemate Cowboy Cal to capture the Hallandale Beach Stakes on the grass here on Feb. 16, wrenched his left front ankle last week, according to trainer Todd Pletcher.
Churchill Downs was given approval by Kentucky regulators on Monday to offer a new wager during its spring meet that will require bettors to select the first five finishers in a race in order.
The bet, which is called the Super High Five, is currently being offered at Santa Anita in Southern California. Churchill's general manager, Jim Gates, said that the track plans to offer the wager on multiple races each day, typically on ones with 10 or more betting interests. Kentucky's racing regulations require a minimum of seven wagering interests for the five-horse bet.