Fri, 01/12/2007 - 00:00

Charlie's Pride returns to the races

PORTLAND, Ore. - Charlie's Pride, the winner of last season's Portland Meadows Mile, will race for the first time in nearly eight months on Sunday when he takes on Lethal Grande and others in a six-furlong invitational handicap with a purse of $7,800.

Fri, 01/12/2007 - 00:00

Asmussen getting down to business

NEW ORLEANS – Steve Asmussen was all smiles Thursday afternoon after his longtime assistant Scott Blasi won the feature race at Fair Grounds with Wild As Elle. It was Asmussen’s first day at the races since July 10 when he began serving a six-month suspension for medication violations. He chatted with jockey Donnie Meche in the paddock before the race, but stayed out of the winner’s circle.

Fri, 01/12/2007 - 00:00

Pletcher reveals map for 2007

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Todd Pletcher may be out of sight while serving the remainder of a 45-day suspension for a positive drug test on one of his horses in New York. But the Eclipse Award-winning trainer is never out of mind, especially during the Gulfstream Park meet, which he has dominated for the last three years.

Fri, 01/12/2007 - 00:00

Contessa has three shots at repeat

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Gary Contessa must have really enjoyed winning the Busanda Stakes last year. Sunday, Contessa sends out three of the eight fillies entered in the $65,000 stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile and 70 yards over Aqueduct's inner track.

Contessa believes he is holding a strong hand with Bare Dancer, My Kitty, and That Girl Is Mine, though he is extremely excited about saddling the latter. Bare Dancer and My Kitty will be coupled, as they are both owned by Darlene Bilinksi. That Girl Is Mine will be a separate betting interest.

Fri, 01/12/2007 - 00:00

Lethal Grande, 8, as good as ever

PORTLAND, Ore. - Lethal Grande will shoot for his third straight score on Sunday, when he heads a field of five older sprinters in a six-furlong invitational handicap with a purse of $7,800.

Fri, 01/12/2007 - 00:00

Stakes schedule worth record $11.3 million

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Churchill Downs on Friday released the stakes schedules for both the 2007 spring and fall meets with numerous purse increases and other notable revisions.

In all, 47 stakes, including 37 graded events, will be run at Churchill this year, with purses totaling more than $11.3 million, marking the first time the track has exceeded the $11 million mark.

Fri, 01/12/2007 - 00:00

Catch her to beat her

ALBANY, Calif. - There are two things trainer O.J. Jauregui knows about Cut the Mustard: she may be the quickest mare in northern California, and she always gives her best.

Those are two pretty good qualities to have, and she makes her 2007 debut against nine rivals in a six-furlong $50,000 optional claimer.

Cut the Mustard earned $129,025 while winning 5 of 14 starts last year. Her two poor efforts came in stakes races when she faded after rapid opening half-miles.

Fri, 01/12/2007 - 00:00

Troubled Malibu trio back in San Fernando

Alex Evers/Horsephotos
Brother Derek encountered traffic in the stretch of the Malibu and finished seventh.

ARCADIA, Calif. - In one way or another, the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 was a mess for Arson Squad, Brother Derek, and Midnight Lute. Trouble at the start for Arson Squad and Midnight Lute and traffic in the stretch for Brother Derek kept them from showing their best.

The three return in Saturday's $200,000 San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes over 1 1/16 miles. Even though all three have run brilliant races in the past, their collective presence has not scared off any rivals.

Thu, 01/11/2007 - 00:00

Hollendorfer's three starters draw inside

ALBANY, Calif. - What seems the cream of northern California's 3-year-old filly crop has signed up to meet a Southern California stakes winner in Saturday's $50,000-added Tiburon Handicap at Golden Gate Fields.

The six-furlong race attracted six runners, including three for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer: Glorification, Storming Starlet, and Black Pulpit, who are coming off maiden victories and drew posts 1, 2, and 3.

Thu, 01/11/2007 - 00:00

Naissance Royale lands back in Florida

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The well-traveled Naissance Royale, who shipped cross-country only to suffer a frustrating nose setback in Hollywood's Grade 2 Dahlia Handicap in her 2006 finale, should get back on the winning track when she returns to south Florida for Saturday's $60,000 Marshua's River Stakes.

Naissance Royale, a 5-year-old daughter of Giant's Causeway, is one of two mares trainer Christophe Clement will send out in the 1 1/16-mile Marshua's River, along with Bright Abundance. The pair will race uncoupled in the wagering.