AUBURN, Wash. - It was less than two months ago that Wild Cycle suffered an accident in his stall, severing an artery in his leg and losing so much blood that trainer Aubrey Villyard feared for his life.
Remarkably, Wild Cycle, who won last year's WTBA Lads Stakes as a juvenile, will make his 3-year-old debut in Sunday's $60,000 Pepsi-Cola Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Lava Man and Obrigado left for Dubai in mid-March as early season major stakes winners seeking international glory. They will start in Saturday's $300,000 Charles Whittingham Handicap at Hollywood Park in an effort to restore their reputations.
Lava Man, winner of the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap in March, finished last of 16 in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free over about 1 1/8 miles on turf on March 31. Obrigado, winner of the Grade 2 San Luis Obispo Handicap in February, finished 13th in the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic over about 1 1/2 miles on turf.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Steve Asmussen came to work one morning last week at Churchill Downs, and a thought struck him when he took a look at Curlin and Tiz Wonderful as they stood alongside each other.
"I thought, 'What a great position to be in,' " said Asmussen.
Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg said he cannot remember the last time he had a string of horses based at Louisiana Downs, where he won the title in 1976 and sent out Alysheba to win the Super Derby in 1987.
Recalling his last winner at the track, however, is easier. Piggybankprospect gave Van Berg his first winner of the meet Thursday, when he rolled to a 4 1/2-length win in a maiden claimer under Don Simington.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Starry Pie, who was to run in the $100,000 Valid Expectations at Lone Star Park last Monday with the goal of making the new Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, has been retired, said C.R. Trout, who bred, owns, and trains the 4-year-old daughter of Pioneering.
Trout said Starry Pie bled following a workout for the Valid Expectations on May 20. She drilled a half-mile in 47.20 seconds, the fastest of 78 works at the distance here.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Jockey Mario Gutierrez made an immediate impact when he arrived here from his native Mexico last June.
At the time, Gutierrez was an apprentice, and despite having the bug for less than two months, he was easily the leading apprentice at the meet. He closed out 2006 in strong fashion as a journeyman, finishing second in the standings, and he has continued his good riding this year.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Saturday is the day for the quick comeback at Hollywood Park.
Kip Deville starts in the $250,000 Californian Stakes five days after after finishing sixth as the favorite in Monday's Grade 1 Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile.
In the $75,000 Manhattan Beach Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, Spenditallbaby returns after winning an optional claimer over six furlongs on turf on May 24. The Manhattan Beach Stakes, run at six furlongs on turf, has a field of 10.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Carl Nafzger could have made things very easy for trainer Todd Pletcher had he decided to run Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense in the Belmont Stakes.
But with Nafzger announcing Thursday that Street Sense would skip the Belmont, Pletcher now has a decision to make regarding whether to run his fabulous filly Rags to Riches against the boys in the Belmont.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - When it comes to horses like Going Ballistic and Brownie Points, there are no shortage of options. Both have won stakes on dirt and turf, giving their connections a range of summer races to choose from following productive stakes outings at Lone Star Park on Monday.
Going Ballistic, a 3-year-old, won on turf in the $100,000 USA Stakes.
"You'll see him going back and forth," his trainer, Donnie Von Hemel, said of the dirt and turf. "And then Brownie Points, as far as that goes, she'll probably be going back and forth."
Volcom makes his first start since winning the Feb. 24 Los Alamitos Winter Championship on Saturday in the trials to the Grade 1, $147,200 Vessels Maturity at Los Alamitos.
Volcom has been a leading member of his division since he was a juvenile and is in peak form as a 4-year-old. In the Los Alamitos Winter Championship, he got up in the final jumps to gain his second Grade 1 victory by a head. Last year, he won the Grade 1 El Primero Del Ano and was second in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby to eventual world champion Wave Carver.