PHOENIX The connections of El Mirage were probably quite happy when they did not see rival White Spar entered in Mondays $50,000 Palo Verde Stakes at Turf Paradise. El Mirage has won 3 of his first 4 races, and White Spar is the reason that record isnt perfect.
Any glee was likely short-lived, however, as Southern California shipper Leonides is among El Mirages seven opponents in the 6 1/2-furlong event for 3-year-olds.
PORTLAND, Ore. The field for the March 10 running of the $30,000 Portland Meadows Mile wont be drawn for another two weeks, but the local favorites were established in last Mondays $20,000 Governors Speed Handicap at six furlongs.
They are Brave Hearted, who won the Governors Speed in a rapid 1:10.81 under Javier Matias, and Desert Sea, who finished like a slamming door to just miss under a comebacking Gary Baze.
SAN MATEO, Calif. Trainer Bruce Dillenbeck is hoping that the 5-year-old maiden Jehovah Jireh will reward his patience Monday in a 1 1/16-mile maiden race at Bay Meadows. Jehovah Jireh has four rivals, including stablemate Diggingfordiamonds.
Dillenbeck, who is taking seminary classes, also owns the horse, and he said the name goes back to the story of Abraham and Isaac and means God will provide.
Many horses who havent won a race are retired by 5, but Dillenbeck said the horses pedigree offers hope he can still be productive.
GROVE CITY, Ohio - Beulah Park canceled racing after the third of eight races on Saturday. The card was canceled after temperatures surged above freezing, along with plenty of sunshine, thawing the track unevenly.
Saturday was the 35th day of Beulah's winter/spring meet. Beulah has lost five entire days, and three partial days since the meet began Jan. 7.
Miss Atlantic City won her first start since December 2006 in the $50,000 Golden Triangle on Friday night at Delta Downs. The race was one of two stakes on the card, with Beta Capo driving to a 3 3/4-length win over favorite Crossword in the $50,000 Delta Mile.
Miss Atlantic City ($7.80) closed from last for a one-length win over Zarb's Ballerina. She covered the mile over a track rated good in 1:41.35. Corey Lanerie rode Miss Atlantic City for Cantrell Family Partnership and trainer Keith Desormeaux.
NEW ORLEANS - When the accident happened, many worried that jockey E.J. Perrodin wouldn't ride again, but Perrodin had confidence.
He was injured in the post parade at Fair Grounds on Nov. 23, when his mount, No No Bad Kitty, reared up and then fell back, trapping Perrodin underneath.
With injuries as severe as a lacerated liver and a shattered pelvis, Perrodin, 51, knew the road back would be difficult, but he began planning for his return.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Sierra Sunset was flown in from Northern California for last week's Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park, and now he'll be sticking around for a while, said his trainer, Jeff Bonde.
"He'll stay in Arkansas and will run back in the Rebel," said Bonde.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The field for the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap next Saturday may be determined when weight assignments are released this weekend.
As of Friday, there were 15 probable starters for the Grade 1, 1 1/4-mile race, which will have a maximum field of 14. If the race overfills, the 14 horses assigned the highest weights will be given preference. The tiebreaker is earnings in 2007-08.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Jockey Justin Vitek has a virulent form of leukemia and is fighting for his life in a Louisville hospital.
Vitek, 34, speaking Thursday from his room at Jewish Hospital, said he has acute myelogenous leukemia and will be hospitalized indefinitely. Vitek, who is mobile and lucid, began chemotherapy treatments Wednesday and said his doctors have told him he will be required to do so daily for a week to 10 days.
AML is a relatively rare and rapidly progressing form of blood cancer that interferes with the production of normal blood cells.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - If all had gone according to plan, trainer Eddie Kenneally would be in the final stages of preparing Kelly's Landing for a return trip to Dubai to defend his title in the $2 million Golden Shaheen on March 29. Unfortunately, Kenneally will have to be content pointing his classy, but fragile, gelding for a 2008 campaign that hopefully will end with a trip to California in late October for his third try at the Breeders' Cup Sprint.