SAN MATEO, Calif. - Apprentice jockey Martin Garcia took the lead in the Bay Meadows jockey race, completing a triple with a victory in the ninth race, as he edged ahead of perennial leader Russell Baze with four days remaining in the meet.
Garcia won a three-way photo in the first race, a $40,000 starter allowance at 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf, aboard heavily favored Smooch Higher ($2.80). He also won with Her Money ($3.20) in the sixth race and Sheaths Devil ($3) in the eighth race.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The Holy Bull Stakes at 1 1/8 miles is theoretically the more important of the two Florida Derby preps to be run at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. But it will be the 7 1/2-furlong Hutcheson Stakes that will receive more attention because of the presence of First Samurai, who is among the leading Kentucky Derby candidates in the country.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Whether it's the cooler temperatures, the lesser competition, or an enjoyment of the eight-mile van ride from Belmont Park, there's something about Aqueduct that brings out the best in Flaming Heart.
Her connections hope Flaming Heart's affinity for the Big A continues a little longer as she has one or two more races remaining before she is retired. A 5-year-old mare, Flaming Heart's most immediate start will be Friday, when she meets six challengers in the $60,000 Strolling Belle Stakes at a mile and 70 yards over the inner track.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - A number of 3-year-olds in a one-mile allowance Friday at Oaklawn should advance to the $250,000 Southwest Stakes, the first local prep for the Grade 2 Arkansas Derby.
will vie for favoritism in the two-other-than allowance, race 2, off a recent win at the Fair Grounds meet at Louisiana Downs. He was up for a head win in that 1 1/16-mile allowance, held Jan. 7. It was Steppenwolfer's second win on dirt in three main-track starts, and he overcame trouble, noted his trainer, Dan Peitz.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Point Determined, possibly the laziest horse in trainer Bob Baffert's stable, may turn out to be one of his finest 3-year-olds this year.
"In the morning, [he] doesn't want to do anything," Baffert said.
will be favored to win his second consecutive race in a $52,000 allowance race at a mile at Santa Anita on Friday.
Point Determined drew the rail in a field of 10 3-year-olds. Baffert considers Friday's race to be an important step for Point Determined, who is owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Saturday's $300,000 Strub Stakes at Santa Anita is an ideal opportunity for a shipper such as Dixie Meister to challenge the 4-year-old males based in Southern California.
Dixie Meister has won 3 of 16 starts and $311,120 in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. In his most important race, Dixie Meister was second at 32-1 in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap at Louisiana Downs on Jan. 7, his only start this year.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Cool Conductor, the winner of last year's Grade 2, $200,000 Dixie over eventual Breeders' Cup Mile winner Artie Schiller, has returned from a freshening and is now based at Oaklawn Park.
"He's just starting back," said Ralph Nicks, who trains Cool Conductor. "He's should be ready mid-April."
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Closing weekend at Bay Meadows begins with its first Friday evening program of the year.
As usual on Friday nights, entries are on the light side, but the feature race does offer a bit of intrigue.
Five older runners will compete in a $20,000 claimer at 5 1/2 furlongs.
Golden Souvenir and Sanger both make their first start since 2004.
, who has picked up a check in all seven career starts, makes his first start since being claimed for $25,000 on Halloween 2004. It was his first start for a tag.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - For the first time, the Kentucky Derby will include a corporate sponsor in its official name.
Churchill Downs announced Wednesday that the title of the 132nd Derby on May 6 will be the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands. Yum! is based in Louisville and is the parent company of such worldwide brands as Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and Long John Silver's.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The Aqueduct stewards voided a claim from Saturday's second race after it was learned that the horse was not who it was purported to be.
Trainer John Campo Jr. claimed a horse he thought was a 5-year-old mare named Free Dip, who finished fifth of six in a $20,000 claiming race Saturday. Follow-up work by NYRA's horse identification office revealed the identity of the mare to be Miss Stella, also 5. It was further determined that Miss Stella made all 27 of her career starts under the name Free Dip.
