ARCADIA, Calif. - The defection of unbeaten E Z Warrior from the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes with a sore foot has transformed the $150,000 sprint into a glorified allowance race.
Not that there is anything wrong with that. Seven 3-year-olds race seven furlongs in the San Vicente, with the top four contenders still eligible for the first allowance condition - Major Pleasure, Noble Court, Spanish Influence, and Hurry Up Austin.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The gamble of shipping two New Mexico stakes winners to California for graded stakes was apparent to Clyde Veltmann long before he arrived at Santa Anita in late January.
Veltmann has brought Majestic Stream and Dancing Squall here and has big ambitions for the pair over the next month.
Majestic Stream will start in next Saturday's $150,000 San Carlos Handicap at seven furlongs as a prep to the $1omillion Santa Anita Handicap on March 3. Dancing Squall will start in the $100,000 Las Flores Handicap at six furlongs on Feb. 24.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Shug McGaughey had mentioned but never confirmed Saturday's Davona Dale Stakes as a possible launching point for Boca Grande's 3-year-old campaign. So the Hall of Fame horseman said it should not have surprised anyone that he decided not to enter his very promising 3-year-old filly, as many had expected, in the Grade 3 race.
NEW ORLEANS - When a horse loses at 2-5, people naturally look for explanations, although such conundrums are part of the eternal mystery of horse racing. Skyward Exchange finished a well-beaten third Jan. 15 as the odds-on choice after winning twice in her comeback from an injury. She's back Sunday in the feature race at Fair Grounds, an optional claimer for older fillies and mares at a mile and 40 yards.
ALBANY, Calif. - At a meet that has been the springboard to Sunshine Millions victories for McCann's Mojave and Smokey Stover, as well as the first step along the Triple Crown trail for Bwana Bull, the most amazing story of the Golden Gate Fields season may belong to Blazing Desert.
Blazing Desert, a 4-year-old gelding, will run in a $40,000 starter allowance Sunday as he tries to repeat his seven-length victory in a $20,000 maiden claimer on Jan. 25.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The last time Lawyer Ron competed under allowance conditions was during December of his 2-year-old campaign at Louisiana Downs. He won the race by nearly 11 lengths.
Lawyer Ron returns to the allowance ranks for the first time in 14 months on Sunday at Gulfstream Park. And if he runs his best race, the final result may be about the same.
NEW ORLEANS - It's not the average horse that can win his career debut at 5 1/2 furlongs in June of his 2-year-old season and emerge as a hopeful for the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby the next spring. Circular Quay clearly is not the average horse, but Saturday's Risen Star Stakes will help determine where Circular Quay, one of the best 2-year-olds of 2006, stands in the early-season 3-year-old hierarchy.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Lawrence Roman nearly let the big horse get away.
Though he is one of three men listed as the breeder of the talented colt named Lawrence the Roman, Roman, the human, had to buy the horse back through the auction ring. And he is certainly glad he did.
ALBANY, Calif. - Although she is the most accomplished runner in the field, Glorification may have the most to prove in Saturday's $100,000 California Oaks at Golden Gate Fields.
Glorification is the lone stakes winner in the field of seven fillies, which includes her stablemates Storming Starlet and Eastlake Avenue. She has led in all three of her starts while exhibiting an exciting turn of early foot.
