Thu, 05/31/2007 - 00:00

19 years later, jockey gets a fresh start

MIAMI - Nobody would have blamed jockey Constantino Hernandez if he "needed a race" when he rode Falcon's Dream in Monday's third event at Calder Race Course. After all, it was the first mount for Hernandez in more than 19 years.

The last time Hernandez had ridden was on April 23, 1988, his 31st birthday, in a 1 1/8-mile turf race at Calder. His horse, Flying Rice, fell suddenly while dueling for the lead entering the clubhouse turn. Hernandez was thrown to the ground and then trampled by several horses, one of whom stepped on his head.

Wed, 05/30/2007 - 00:00

Rowland Memorial begins big weekend

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - The $50,000 Michael F. Rowland Stakes on Friday signals the beginning of Ohio Derby weekend at Thistledown. The race is named for the local riding champion who died as a result of injuries suffered in a spill at Turfway Park in 2004.

The six-furlong race has drawn seven Ohio-breds, topped by multiple stakes winner Catlaunch, who will be seeking a repeat win in the Rowland. Catlaunch is coming off a statebred allowance win here May 17. The victory was the 10th in his last 15 starts.

Wed, 05/30/2007 - 00:00

Cowtown Cat heads Ohio Derby

It is entirely possible that a horse beaten in his last start by 52 lengths - a horse that in his last start earned a paltry Beyer Speed Figure of 33 - could be favored in the Ohio Derby on Saturday at Thistledown. Such is life in the Age of Pletcher.

Wed, 05/30/2007 - 00:00

Mountaineer: Trout River Red wins Ohio Valey

All three of Trout River Red's victories the past two seasons had come against Illinois-breds. Tuesday night at Mountaineer Race Track, she proved she can beat open stakes company.

Emerging with a slight lead at the quarter pole following a four-way battle up front, Trout River Red ($7) edged clear to post a two-length victory in the $75,000 Ohio Valley Handicap for fillies and mares.

A 4-year-old ridden by Danush Sukie for trainer Kelly Ackerman, Trout River Red covered six furlongs over a fast track in 1:11.37.

Wed, 05/30/2007 - 00:00

Kip Deville may run on 4 days' rest

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Kip Deville, who finished sixth as the favorite in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile on the turf Monday, was supplemented to Saturday's $250,000 Californian Stakes on Wednesday and is "50-50" to run, according to assistant trainer Chip Dutrow. The Grade 2 Californian will be run at 1 1/8 miles over the Cushion Track.

Kip Deville finished two lengths behind race winner The Tin Man in the Shoemaker. He chased a slow pace under jockey Richard Migliore and failed to quicken in the stretch.

Wed, 05/30/2007 - 00:00

River Downs: Cooksey to appear at fund-raiser

Patti Cooksey, the second-leading all-time female jockey, will be the guest of honor this Saturday when River Downs holds "Ladies Day," a fund-raiser for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, which provides support to victims of breast cancer and their families. Cooksey, who retired from riding in 2004, is a breast cancer survivor.

Wed, 05/30/2007 - 00:00

Lincoln: Rain hits weekend cards

Racing fans at Lincoln took it on the chin over the Memorial Day weekend, with early cancellations of racing on both Saturday and Sunday because of wet track conditions.

Saturday evening's card was canceled after the first race after riders cited unsafe conditions following a heavy downpour early that morning that left the track still carrying standing water by the 6:30 p.m. post time.

On Sunday, the riders elected not to continue after three races over the muddy track, citing soft and uneven spots, especially nearing the stretch of the five-eighth-mile oval.

Wed, 05/30/2007 - 00:00

Evangeline Downs: Witt Ante heads feature

Friday night's Evangeline Downs feature, an optional claiming sprint, should prove to be an excellent warm-up act for Saturday's $50,000 Need for Speed Stakes. Witt Ante, a stakes veteran and winner of more than $607,000 in his 45-race career, runs in the 6 1/2-furlong Friday feaature and will take on six foes, including recent stakes winner Elite Etbauer. Elite Etbauer was the surprise winner of the Rainbow Stakes for Arkansas-breds on April 1 for trainer Steve Wren. Marlon St. Julien will handle the riding chores.

Wed, 05/30/2007 - 00:00

Canterbury: Claiming box stuffed

The Canterbury Park meeting is only 11 days old, but it already appears that this might be the most active claiming meet in the track's history. Twenty-two horses have been claimed, including 10 over the last weekend.

The Jer-Mar Stable of Jerry and Marlene Myers accounted for four claims over the weekend. Trainer Mac Robertson claimed two for Jer-Mac on Friday when he picked up Susan's Song for $10,000 out of a win in the second race, then claimed Keep It for $15,000 in the fourth.

Wed, 05/30/2007 - 00:00

Von Hemel gets a graded win

It was a Memorial Day weekend that trainer Kelly Von Hemel won't soon forget. Not only did he sweep both Iowa-bred stakes races at Prairie Meadows, with Irish Party taking the Bob Bryant and Crimson King Cat winning the Gray's Lake, but Von Hemel got his first graded stakes win when Miss Macy Sue captured the Grade 3, $110,000 Winning Colors at Churchill Downs.