AUBURN, Wash. - The Grade 3, $300,000 Longacres Mile heads a list of 35 stakes worth $2,310,000 at the 2008 Emerald Downs meeting, which will begin April 18 and stretch 91 days through Sept. 28.
The 73rd running of the Longacres Mile will enjoy "Win and You're In" status for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile when it is run on Aug. 17.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The prospective starting lineup for the $1 million Florida Derby has seemingly grown on a daily basis over the past week. That growth, however, has led the connections of one 3-year-old previously earmarked for the race to seek out a smaller field and theoretically softer spot.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Ramon Dominguez calls himself his harshest critic. But even Dominguez would have a hard-time finding something to criticize about his performance in New York this winter.
With his two wins on Thursday, Dominguez has amassed 105 victories during the first 68 days of Aqueduct's inner track meet. That is believed to equal Eibar Coa's record set in 2005-06. That year, Dominguez had 100 wins.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Pyro established himself as the king of the Fair Grounds road to the Kentucky Derby. Now his stablemate Z Fortune will try to lock up the last two legs of Oaklawn's route. His quest begins on Saturday, when he starts in the Grade 2, $300,000 Rebel. The 1 1/16-mile stakes is the final local prep for the Grade 2, $1 million Arkansas Derby here April 12.
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.