HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - There are no shortage of graded stakes opportunities for long-winded turf specialists at Gulfstream Park this meet, and the first one comes on Sunday when a full and evenly matched field of 12 competes at 1 3/8 miles in the $150,000 Mac Diarmida Handicap.
The Grade 2 Mac Diarmida is a prelude to the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap on Feb. 24 and the Grade 2 Pan American Handicap on March 31.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Last winter, Ken McPeek was off somewhere in Brazil, Argentina, or perhaps even Australia attending horse sales and generally just getting away from the grueling daily routine of training racehorses for a living. But after taking nearly a one-year sabbatical from the business, McPeek returned to his first love last April and now finds himself ready for another run along the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown trails.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - After racing 17 times in 2006, Successful Affair might be due for a break. And while he may soon be getting one, it won't be due to fatigue.
Having found a new lease on life as a marathon runner, Successful Affair is running out of opportunities to display his long-distance prowess. Perhaps his final opportunity of the winter to do that comes Sunday at Aqueduct in the $65,000 Proud Appeal, an overnight stakes at 1 1/4 miles over the inner track.
ARCADIA, Calif. - A vulnerable Pussycat Doll returns from a nine-month layoff Sunday at Santa Anita, where the only seven-furlong race trainer Bob Baffert could find for the mare was the Grade 1 Santa Monica Handicap.
Call it the price for being so good.
"They don't write races for nonwinners of three Grade 1's, but we have to start somewhere," Baffert said.
Pussycat Doll will concede current form and weight when she starts as the 121-pound topweight in the $250,000 Santa Monica for fillies and mares. Pussycat Doll has won 5 of 10, but has not raced since May 6.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - There are no stakes scheduled for Sunday at Oaklawn Park, but there is an allowance on the card with stakes implications, and a competitive optional claiming race for sprinters that drew a full field of 12.
Kettleoneup and Miss Goodnight will meet in the second race, a one-mile allowance for fillies and mares who have never won three races. Both should see stakes action this meet. Kettleoneup, a 4-year-old by Victory Gallop, is a candidate for the $50,000 Pippin here Feb. 17, said her trainer, Mike Tomlinson.
NEW ORLEANS Trainer Dallas Stewart sent 2006 Kentucky Oaks winner Lemons Forever out for her first work of the year last week at Fair Grounds, a light three-furlong breeze in 38.40 seconds.
She just had a nice, easy breeze, said Stewart. We want her to have a steady progression as we get her back on the work tab. Well have her out once a week or so now. Hopefully well get her ready to give her a race here.
ALBANY, Calif. - Sunday's $150,000 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields will give trainers Jerry Hollendorfer, Craig Dollase, and Bob Baffert a measuring stick for their 3-year-olds.
Hollendorfer trains three of the six in the race: Bwana Bull, Double Action, and Candy's Bro. Baffert trains Chief's Magic and Craig Dollase trains Boutrous. Alex Paszkeicz sends out the longshot Cover Magic.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Ex Mountain Cop, who won four straight stakes at the current Portland Meadows meeting before shipping to northern California late last year, was injured in a workout at Golden Gate and will be out of action indefinitely, according to trainer Jonathan Nance.
"He broke a sesamoid," said Nance, referring to one of two small bones located above and at the back of the fetlock joint. "I understand it was a bad break, and there is a question of whether he will be able to race again."
There's no secret about Stealth Cat's ascent at Sunland Park. Stealth Cat comes off two smashing wins for trainer Steve Asmussen and goes into Sunday's $50,000 El Paso Times Handicap as the filly to beat.
The water gets considerably deeper, however, as Southern California invader Berriestoheaven comes into town for the 6 1/2-furlong stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Despite the presence of those two standouts, the race lured a field of 11.
Phil Sims said he stopped counting after 63. That's how many phone calls he fielded from people saying they were interested in buying his stable star, Joe Got Even, a 3-year-old who figures to be the favorite next Saturday in the WEBN Stakes at Turfway Park.
"Obviously, there's been a whole lot of interest in the colt," said Sims.
