Thundering Verzy makes his first start since last July when he defends his title in the $25,000 Ogataul Stakes at Fonner Park against eight other older Nebraska-breds.
Trained by Dan Coughlin for owner Craig Wulf and partners, Thundering Verzy won this race and the President's Cup at Lincoln last year in a six-race campaign. Thundering Verzy is 7 for 9 at the Ogataul's six-furlong distance. He has a career mark of 9-3-4 from 24 starts.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Wilko, who finished third in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 4, is scheduled to make his next start in the $6 million Dubai World Cup on March 25. Garrett Gomez is booked to ride the 4-year-old Wilko, best known for winning the 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Wilko finished 8 1/4 lengths behind Lava Man in the Big Cap, rallying from last in a field of nine. He finished 7 1/2 lengths behind runner-up Magnum after lagging behind pacesetter With Distinction through early fractions of 47.21 seconds and 1:11.30.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Between Lady Pegasus and Notre Dame, trainer Bobby Frankel has a pair of fillies who seem ideally suited for Friday's feature race at Santa Anita.
They represent a third of the field, and their running styles should complement each other in the optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles, which carries a purse of $59,000.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Tom Albertrani has three very talented 3-year-olds in the barn, although at the moment only one is a potential Kentucky Derby candidate.
Deputy Glitters, runner-up behind Bluegrass Cat in Tampa Bay Downs's Sam F. Davis Stakes in his last start, is the most experienced of Albertrani's trio of 3-year-olds and the only one on the Kentucky Derby trail. He is scheduled to make his next start in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby on March 18.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Museeb will likely be among the favorites when he makes his U.S. debut in Friday's $33,000 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park. But if Museeb runs back to his performance last season in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at York, he should be more like 1-5 to win the entry-level allowance event carded at a mile on the grass.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - It is starting to look more likely that Sweetnorthernsaint will be able to run in the Grade 3, $200,000 Gotham Stakes here on March 18.
After tests on four horses stabled at Pimlico Race Course and Bowie Race Course in Maryland were negative for the equine herpesvirus, Dr. Anthony Verderosa, the chief examining veterinarian for the New York Racing Association, said he may soon be able to lift the ban on Maryland shippers to Aqueduct in time for the Gotham. The four horses were the last ones in Maryland that had showed signs of the virus.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - An interesting mix of experienced horses, promising horses, and comebacking horses meet Friday in the featured 10th race at Oaklawn Park. The six-furlong optional claimer drew a field of nine, and the leading contenders include nine-time winner Jolie's Thunder, the undefeated Charging Indian, and the returning Guardian.
Another who fits well is Smile and Tears, who has faced a number of quality runners in his career, among them stakes winners Elusive Jazz and Jonesboro and the crack sprinter Semaphore Man.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The Aqueduct stewards suspended jockeys Jose Espinoza and Pablo Fragoso 30 days each for "careless and aggressive riding" during the running of Sunday's sixth race. Both riders appealed the suspensions and will continue riding until their appeals are heard.
Jockey Sonny Ho continues to show improvement from a serious brain injury suffered March 1 when his horse suffered a fatal breakdown at Golden Gate Fields.
Ho, 44, has made "substantial progress" since Monday, according to Golden Gate's track physician, Dr. David Seftel.
The pneumonia Ho contracted while hospitalized is "under control," said Seftel, and he is breathing on his own. He has been removed from several critical life-support systems and is able to respond to commands and hold limited conversations.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Purim, who is already a graded stakes winner on turf, will attempt to add a Grade 3 win on dirt to his resume Sunday, when he starts as the probable second choice to Rockport Harbor in the Grade 3, $150,000 Razorback Breeders' Cup Handicap at Oaklawn Park.
Purim comes into the race off a sharp effort on dirt, finishing second to Sir Shackleton in the $50,000 Super Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 11. The seven-furlong race went in a track record time of 1:22.28. Purim, making his first start since Nov. 25, finished 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner.
