Thu, 05/10/2007 - 00:00

Monashee, 'Metropolitan' too good for locals

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - It's hard to say which horse was more impressive last weekend at Hastings, True Metropolitan in the George Royal Stakes on Saturday or Monashee in the Brighouse Belles on Sunday.

Wed, 05/09/2007 - 00:00

Fourty Niners Son sidelined

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Fourty Niners Son, the winner of the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Handicap at Santa Anita in March, was not entered for Saturday's $250,000 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap at Hollywood Park after suffering an injury, trainer Neil Drysdale said on Wednesday.

A two-time stakes winner, Fourty Niners Son was expected to be favored in the Grade 2 Murray, which is run over 1 1/2 miles on turf.

"We'll pass the race," said Drysdale. "He just had a little minor setback."

Wed, 05/09/2007 - 00:00

Derby star Borel enjoying 'Best days of my life'

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In his first day back at work, Calvin Borel got a reception worthy of royalty. Still aglow from the first Kentucky Derby victory of his 25-year riding career, Borel got several rounds of applause from a smattering of Churchill Downs regulars before riding in the first race Wednesday.

Wed, 05/09/2007 - 00:00

Eight up for Canadian Hall of Fame vote

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Quiet Resolve, Canada's Horse of the Year in 2000, and Jammed Lovely, the filly who defeated males in the 1967 Queen's Plate, are among this year's Thoroughbred nominees for induction into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

The Canadian Horse Racing's Hall of Fame has submitted a list of eight candidates, four horses and four people, to the 16 members of the election committee.

Voters can choose up to three of the four nominees in each category. To be eligible for induction, a nominee must receive 12 of the 16 votes, or 75 percent.

Wed, 05/09/2007 - 00:00

Invasor back to work for Suburban

ELMONT, N.Y. - Invasor, the defending Horse of the Year, breezed four furlongs in 50.84 seconds Wednesday morning at Belmont Park, his first timed workout since winning the Dubai World Cup on March 31.

"He's doing great," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. "Just an easy half-mile."

Invasor is pointing to the Grade 1, $400,000 Suburban Handicap here on June 30. Invasor won the Suburban last year, one of four Grade 1 victories he recorded en route to Horse of the Year honors.

Wed, 05/09/2007 - 00:00

Twilight Meteor still targeting Plate

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Twilight Meteor, a stakes winner over Keeneland's Polytrack surface last fall, remains on target for an appearance in the $1 million Queen's Plate here at Woodbine on June 24.

Todd Pletcher, who trains Twilight Meteor for Peachtree Stable, said the colt is not scheduled to race at Woodbine prior to the Queen's Plate.

"The most likely scenario for him would be the Straight Deal, at Belmont on May 19," said Pletcher.

The $65,000 Straight Deal is an overnight stakes for 3-year-olds at one mile on turf.

Wed, 05/09/2007 - 00:00

Gonzalez in position to shine

Jockey Carlos Gonzalez is known as an excellent rider from the starting gate, and what he does for a horse he did for himself during the opening weekend at Louisiana Downs. Gonzalez won six races from 18 mounts at the Bossier City, La., track last Friday and Saturday to establish a two-win lead in the standings over Jeff Burningham.

Wed, 05/09/2007 - 00:00

Starbird Road lives up to nickname

AUBURN, Wash. - Starbird Road is named for a thoroughfare about a mile or two from Emerald Downs, but trainer Sharon Ross has always called him Star Man.

In the wake of Starbird Road's authoritative victory in last Sunday's six-furlong Seattle Handicap, his nickname seems by far the more appropriate of his two monikers. What else but a star is a horse who wins five races in a row, including a trio of stakes, to improve his career mark to 10 wins from 18 starts for $175,720 in earnings?

Wed, 05/09/2007 - 00:00

Asmussen takes three shots

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - For trainer Steve Asmussen, the derby doings have been good this year. At the top of the list is Curlin, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby after winning last month's Grade 2, $1 million Arkansas Derby. And this weekend, Asmussen has his sights set on another derby. He plans to start Reporting for Duty, Forty Grams, and Takedown in the Grade 3, $300,000 Lone Star Derby on Saturday.

"It's a good spot," he said. "They all deserve it. They deserve the chance for different reasons."

Wed, 05/09/2007 - 00:00

Strong response for Ohio Derby

Nominations for the 72nd running of the Grade 2, $300,000 Ohio Derby don't close until May 23, but there already has been a strong response from trainers, according to Bill Couch, director for racing and racing secretary at Thistledown. Couch said he has five possibles for the June 2 derby, including two starters from the Kentucky Derby - fifth-place finisher Sedgefield, trained by Darrin Miller, and the Doug O'Neill-trained Liquidity.