HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - It doesn't take a big genius to single out Little Genius as the horse to beat in Friday's $46,000 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park, a five-furlong entry-level allowance on the turf.
Little Genius is coming off the two best performances of his career, and trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. seems to have found the perfect spot to get his versatile colt back to the winner's circle for the first time since New Year's Day 2006.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The good allowance sprinter Tontine Too was supposed to like the new Cushion Track at Hollywood Park. Because of persistent heat in his feet, Tontine Too figured to appreciate the synthetic surface that horsemen believe is more forgiving than a standard dirt track.
But the all-weather learning curve continues, and before Tontine Too had gone a quarter-mile at Hollywood, trainer Howard Zucker could see things were not working out.
ALBANY, Calif. - Since finishing last in his debut on Sept. 20, the 3-year-old maiden Cliff Dweller has not run a bad race. Even his debut, when he had to steady at the start and still finished only five lengths behind Candy's Bro, wasn't that bad.
Since then, Cliff Dweller has finished fourth, third, second, and third while running a mile on a wet track, at six furlongs, at a mile on the turf, and at six furlongs again. On Friday, he will meet five rivals in a one-mile maiden race at Golden Gate Fields.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Wayne Catalano still has some decisions to make when it comes to Dreaming of Anna's next start, but there is no doubt how the undefeated Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner is training up to her much-anticipated 3-year-old debut.
Dreaming of Anna, the likely Eclipse Award 2-year-old filly champion, worked five furlongs in 1:00 under jockey Edgar Prado over the main track at Palm Meadows on Wednesday.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - In addition to possessing the necessary resources to make good high-priced claims, horsemen must sometimes display patience and perseverance to see one through. Such has been the case with Cavallo Pazzo, who was away from the races for 10 months after being haltered for $75,000 by trainer Tony Dutrow on behalf of owners Sanford Goldfarb and Michael Dubb.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Larry Jones is coming off his best year as a trainer, with $2.8 million in stable earnings and 14 stakes wins, but he could take things to a whole new level this year.
Jones trains the undefeated 3-year-old Hard Spun, who last weekend ran his record to 4 for 4 in the Grade 3 Lecomte at Fair Grounds. It was a big step on the road to the Kentucky Derby for Hard Spun, who is one of 40 horses Jones has on the grounds this meet at Oaklawn Park. His stable also includes Grade 1 winner Wildcat Bettie B.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Most horses at the age of 6 are winding down their careers. The way trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. sees it, Liquor Cabinet may just be getting started on his.
"He's got a future in front of him, it looks like to me," Dutrow said.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Pete Vestal has called Louisville home for nearly 30 years, but this is his first full winter here. Vestal, 55, has spent the last 20 winters at Oaklawn Park, and before that at a wide variety of warm-climate venues befitting a lifelong racetracker and veteran trainer.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Donn Handicap Day is already expected to feature likely Horse of the Year Invasor and top 3-year-old prospect Nobiz Like Shobiz, and it may get even better now that trainer Marty Wolfson is pointing Breeders' Cup Mile winner Miesque's Approval to the $100,000 Canadian Turf Handicap. The card will be run Feb. 3.
