INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Kieren Fallon, the six-time champion jockey in England, will ride at Santa Anita this winter, Fallon's new agent, Ron Ebanks, said Thursday.
Ebanks said that he and Fallon finalized plans earlier this week to form a team after first discussing the idea more than a month ago. Fallon, 40, will arrive in California in time to ride the opening day of the Santa Anita meeting on Dec. 26. He will remain in California until the spring before returning to Europe, Ebanks said.
Kevin Greely had been the focus of speculation as to who would replace Frank Gabriel and head up racing operations at Arlington Park, and on Thursday, Arlington made it official, naming Greely vice president of racing and racing secretary.
The position came open when Gabriel, a longtime Arlington executive, left his post as director of racing to become the chief executive officer of the Dubai Racing Club, putting him in charge of racing operations at the prestigious Nad Al Sheba racetrack in Dubai.
Mr. Sulu has made a career beating other Louisiana-bred horses in turf races, and trainer Josie Carroll is not about to alter the winning recipe now. Carroll was quick to answer when asked Thursday whether Mr. Sulu would make his next start in the Dixie Poker Ace against Louisiana-breds or the Fair Grounds Breeders' Cup against open stakes horses.
"The Dixie Poker Ace, absolutely," Carroll said.
Kresgeville will try to do the home team proud when she deals with a number of talented invaders in Saturday's $40,000 Mesa Handicap at Turf Paradise.
The 6 1/2-furlong race drew a field of 10 fillies and mares.
Kresgeville has done most of her best work at Turf Paradise, where she has registered three of her four career wins. However, she showed last spring she could step up in class when she shipped to Hollywood Park and posted a 30-1 upset in the Manhattan Beach Handicap. That race came on the turf, but she's likely even better on the dirt.
Run Zeal Run's company lines and recency both point him out as the one to beat in a six-furlong allowance at Sam Houston Race Park that also drew comebacking stakes winners Expect Will and Leo's Last Hurrahy.
Run Zeal Run has raced against a host of stakes winners since March, defeating horses such as Charming Socialite, Orphan Brigade, and War Bridle. He has also run credibly against stakes winners The Niner Account, Proven Cure, Oncearoundtwice, and Joe Six Pack.
The Furl Sail Handicap is bursting with horses, but toeholds for handicappers are much more difficult to find.
Fourteen were entered in the $75,000 Furl Sail, a one-mile grass race Saturday at the Fair Grounds meet at Louisiana Downs, and in a race where the favorite is difficult to find, picking a winner is going to be a major challenge.
"People don't realize that so much of the time in turf races, it all comes down to who gets the trip," said trainer Steve Flint.
ALBANY, Calif. - Saturday's feature race at Golden Gate Fields could come down to a question of condition as seven runners compete in a $50,000 optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles.
Three have not raced since October, and two others have had only one race off layoffs.
Wasserman, who just ran second in a sprint against similar, might offer the best value.
Stakes-placed in an Emerald Downs sprint before coming here, Wasserman has yet to win at two turns but has shown an ability to get a distance.
Trainer Benny Feliciano will attempt to saddle his 10th consecutive winner Saturday at Thistledown when he sends out Clever Jimmy C against 11 rivals in a $3,500 claiming race at six furlongs.
Clever Jimmy C, who began Feliciano's streak on Oct. 20, has won his last four races dating back to Oct. 8. All of Feliciano's winners during the streak have been ridden by his son, Ricardo Feliciano, and all of the starts have come at Thistledown. Feliciano currently has only two horses in his stable.
Any 4-year-old who's still a maiden and racing for a claiming tag doesn't figure to have much talent.
Trainer Tony Dutrow, however, saw something he liked about Bless My Mary and took her on behalf of Michael Dubb for $25,000 out of a maiden race at Delaware Park in July.
Although Bless My Mary was badly beaten as the 6-5 favorite that day, she has done nothing wrong since coming under Dutrow's care, winning three consecutive sprints by a combined margin of 13 1/4 lengths.