Tue, 06/12/2007 - 00:00

Kinetic Motion may go west

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Kinetic Motion could be California-bound. A troubled second in the $95,130 colts and geldings division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity last Saturday at Lone Star Park, he is being considered for the Grade 3, $100,000 Hollywood Juvenile Championship at Hollywood Park on July 4, said his trainer, Allen Milligan.

Tue, 06/12/2007 - 00:00

Dolan wins on first try after hiatus

Trainer John Dolan discovered two years ago that there are more important things than winning races.

Like surviving cancer.

On Sunday at Golden Gate Fields, Dolan started his first runner since 2005, when he dispersed the 25 horses in his barn because it was diagnosed he had thyroid cancer.

"That gave me a pretty good scare," Dolan said. "I quit training, but as I recovered I began to buy and sell horses, pinhooking a few."

Tue, 06/12/2007 - 00:00

Upset puts Nacascolo in line for Umphrey

MIAMI - A year ago, trainer Manny Azpurua orchestrated a major upset on Summit of Speed day when his stretch-running longshot Nightmare Affair outfinished Pomeroy and Weigelia to win the Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap.

Tue, 06/12/2007 - 00:00

Fair finally gets a chance to go it alone

STOCKTON, Calif. - One of the most important racing seasons for the Northern California fairs, particularly the San Joaquin County Fair, starts Thursday, when the track will stage racing without a Bay Area venue in session.

For the first time since 1988, the racing calendar provides no summer overlap between major tracks and the fair circuit.

Tue, 06/12/2007 - 00:00

She's All Silk: Flashy speed and more

AUBURN, Wash. - Ricky Frazier gunned She's All Silk out of the gate in Sunday's 6 1/2-furlong Washington State Legislators Handicap for older fillies and mares, and She's All Silk responded with an opening half-mile in an astonishing 43.80 seconds.

"If I had run seventh today, I know a lot of people would have been second-guessing my ride," said Frazier. "But we ran seventh last time, and I know I was second-guessing the way I rode her that day."

Tue, 06/12/2007 - 00:00

'Leonnatus' preps for Plate

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Leonnatus Anteas, who remains under consideration for the Juneo24 Queen's Plate, worked a mile in 1:37.80 here at Woodbine on Tuesday morning.

Regular rider Jono Jones was aboard Leonnatus Anteas, who is trained by Kevin Attard.

Leonnatus Anteas was joined at the five-eighths pole by Sky's Victory, a maiden 3-year-old filly from the same shed row.

"That was to keep him interested," Attard said.

But there was more excitement following the workout, as Leonnatus Anteas seemed to emerge in less than perfect order.

Tue, 06/12/2007 - 00:00

Tiago may switch to synthetic for Swaps

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Tiago, third in the Belmont Stakes last Saturday, may make his next start in the $350,000 Swaps Breeders' Cup Stakes at Hollywood Park on July 14, trainer John Shirreffs said Tuesday.

The winner of the Santa Anita Derby in April for owner-breeders Jerry and Ann Moss, Tiago was beaten 5 1/2 lengths by Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes. The loss left Tiago with a career record of 2 wins in 6 starts and earnings of $594,320.

Tue, 06/12/2007 - 00:00

Ermine climbing to head of her class

Sunny Taylor / Coady Photography
Ermine will try to build upon her win in the Apple Blossom (above) in Saturday's Fleur de Lis.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Trainer Ronny Werner wanted to stay in Kentucky, but his biggest client at the time, Tom Durant, wanted his horses to run mainly in their home state of Texas. Werner bit the proverbial bullet, staying put.

"I went from 50 horses to 15," he recalled this week in his Churchill Downs office.

Mon, 06/11/2007 - 00:00

Belmont numbers decline

Handle and attendance numbers for Saturday's Belmont Stakes card at Belmont Park on Long Island plummeted compared with last year's figures, illustrating the public's lack of interest going into the third leg of the Triple Crown.

Mon, 06/11/2007 - 00:00

Kimmel's eye looking sharp

ELMONT, N.Y. - The fact that Better Than Honour became the first mare to produce two Belmont Stakes winners is a source of pride for trainer John Kimmel, who bought Better Than Honour, a daughter of Deputy Minister, for $750,000 as a yearling in July 1997.

Kimmel trained Better Than Honour through her eight-race career that included a win in the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes - albeit via disqualification - and a narrow and controversial loss in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes in 1999.