Fri, 05/18/2007 - 00:00

Belmont pick six carryover now $123K

ELMONT, N.Y. - Thanks to long shot winners Il Posto's Bambina ($115.50), Limoncella ($19.40) and Pangburn ($48.80), there is a two-day pick six carryover of $123,631 into Saturday's card at Belmont Park.

There were 11 consolation pick fives on Friday, each worth $2,006.

Fri, 05/18/2007 - 00:00

Ardoin: New kid might be 'all right'

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Just 5,225 to go.

That is how many trips to the winner's circle remain in order for apprentice Lyndie Wade to catch his agent and all-time Louisiana Downs leading rider Ronald Ardoin after the 16-year-old won his first career race on Thursday.

"He might just be all right," Ardoin said Friday morning. "He's kind of a tall kid but he sits well on a horse. The most important thing is that he is intelligent and he listens. We get together every night to go over films of the day's races."

Fri, 05/18/2007 - 00:00

Palladio aims to regain winning form

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - It has been a while since Palladio has been seen around these parts, with his last Woodbine appearance being a victory in the Ontario Derby in fall 2005.

But Palladio could put his name back on the marquee as he faces some crack opposition in Monday's Grade 3, $150,000 Eclipse at 1 1/16 miles.

"He's sitting on a big race," said Roger Attfield, who trains Palladio.

Thu, 05/17/2007 - 00:00

Kuma shoots for Marine upset

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Reade Baker watched Bear Character finish a disappointing third as the odds-on choice in last year's Grade 3 Marine Stakes at Woodbine.

Baker will be looking for an upset with a bear of a different color in this year's $250,000 Marine on Saturday - with Kuma, who will be making just his second career start in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds.

Kuma, which is the Japanese word for bear, races for Danny Dion's Bear Stable and was purchased privately after being a buyback at Keeneland's 2-year-olds in training sale.

Thu, 05/17/2007 - 00:00

Miss Kittys Bar Bet fastest qualifier

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Usually, the fastest qualifier to a Quarter Horse futurity is the most sought-after mount in the jockeys' room, a horse certain to be among the top contenders for a lucrative final.

Trainer Hector Hernandez wishes he could have that loyalty after his filly Miss Kittys Bar Bet set the fastest qualifying time in the May 5 trials for Saturday's $366,100 Kindergarten Futurity at Los Alamitos.

Wed, 05/16/2007 - 00:00

Invasor cranking up for Suburban

ELMONT, N.Y. - After an easy half-mile in 50.80 seconds last week, his first published workout since winning the Dubai World Cup, Invasor picked up the pace Wednesday by working the same distance in 48.10 on the main track, the fifth-fastest of 33 workouts at the distance.

"He went very well this morning," said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. "We weren't sure when we were going to work him because rain is coming, so we decided to get it done today. We still have plenty of time."

Wed, 05/16/2007 - 00:00

Moss finds herself back atop owner standings

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A little more than five months after edging Louis O'Brien as the leading owner in North America by wins in 2006, Maggi Moss and O'Brien seem poised for another ownership duel. Through Tuesday, they were co-leading owners in North America this year with 64 victories apiece.

Yet it is a battle Moss does not want to try to win again. She said the experience last year of competing to become the leading owner in North America was grueling, and as a horse lover she had reservations about chasing a record that was not about the horses, but only her personal goal.

Wed, 05/16/2007 - 00:00

Eurton seeks stakes with Euroglide

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Three weeks into the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting, Peter Eurton finds himself in unfamiliar, but welcome, territory. He is fighting for the lead in the trainers' standings.

Through Sunday, Eurton had 5 winners from 10 starters, and trailed leader Vladimir Cerin by 1 win.

"You never expect that," Eurton said. "Everything has done so well."

Wed, 05/16/2007 - 00:00

Just for Keeps taking slow track to fame

MIAMI - Trainer Mike McDonald is hoping patience will be a virtue when it comes to Just for Keeps, his undefeated 3-year-old filly who has captured her first two starts by an average margin of 6 1/2 lengths.

Just for Keeps won her career debut by six lengths here last summer in the nightcap on the Summit of Speed card. A daughter of Broken Vow, Just for Keeps led throughout despite racing against the grain of a severely biased racetrack that did not yield a single gate-to-wire victory or winner on the rail until her impressive performance.

Wed, 05/16/2007 - 00:00

Surface no concern for 'Flight'

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Darwin Banach and owner-breeder Bill Sorokolit have been on a roll this spring, with Sky Conqueror becoming a Grade 1 winner at Churchill Downs and Native Legend becoming a stakes winner here at Woodbine.

On Friday, the stable will be looking to add another win to its ledger with Executive Flight in the $87,900 allowance prep for the Grade 2, $300,000 Nassau Stakes on June 2.