GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Fonner Park ushers in Nebraska's live racing season beginning Friday with a 38-day meet that runs through Kentucky Derby Day, May 6.
This January has been the warmest on record in Nebraska and has resulted in the track being busier than usual for morning workouts. The entry box should reap the benefits of the interruption-free training that has existed leading up to Friday's opener.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Rockport Harbor was the early favorite for last year's Kentucky Derby, but a nagging foot injury curtailed his season in April. Saturday, he will return from a nine-month layoff and meet older horses for the first time when he starts in the Grade 3, $100,000 Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park.
The 1 1/16-mile Essex is a good starting point for Rockport Harbor, who could be an important player in this year's wide-open handicap division. Among his Essex rivals are Greater Good, Jonesboro, Cougar Cat, and Thunder Mission.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Baghdaria, who upset the previously unbeaten French Park last time out in Louisiana, is being pointed for the 3-year-old fillies series at Oaklawn Park.
According to trainer Bret Calhoun, Baghdaria will make her next start in the $50,000 Martha Washington at one mile on Feb. 19. From there, she will be pointed to the $75,000 Honeybee on March 25, and the Grade 2, $250,000 Fantasy on April 14.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - As has so often been the case at Gulfstream Park this winter, trainer Todd Pletcher will be the center of attention on Thursday's card when he sends out the red-hot Terrific Storm as the likely favorite in the featured eighth race and the undefeated 3-year-old Half Ours in a second-level allowance earlier on the program.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Graham Motion, who already has top-class female turf veteran Film Maker back for another campaign, is hopeful he'll have a potent one-two punch in the division this year after watching Olaya win her second start in as many tries in the U.S. here Monday.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Austin Barber, a wickedly fast front-runner, should have lost his last start after setting unbearable fractions. Instead, he won.
Kewen, a rapidly improved late-runner, could have won his last start but he was blocked most of the stretch. Instead, he lost.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Brother Derek may have been the best 3-year-old colt in California even before Monday, but when Stevie Wonderboy was injured, it left Brother Derek alone at the top. That will not change until at least March 4, when Brother Derek runs in the Grade 2 Santa Catalina Stakes.
"It's lightened up out here," said trainer Dan Hendricks about the 3-year-old division, "but they're out there. There are too many good horses and trainers in California." If they are going to knock off the division leader, they will have to do it in Brother Derek's backyard.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Two-turn races on Aqueduct's inner track are sometimes won by horses who can get an easy lead, but Thursday's featured eighth race, a $50,000 allowance/optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles, doesn't look like a waltz on the front end for anyone.
ALBANY, Calif. - The $40,000 starter allowance level is an interesting one for trainers and handicappers.
It can be a springboard to stakes company or can tell trainers that they may have to plan on a claiming career for a horse.
Thursday's Golden Gate Fields feature brings seven runners together at one mile in a race open to runners who have competed for a claiming price of $40,000 or less and have won only one race.
Maryland agriculture officials lifted restrictions on two barns at Pimlico Race Course on Tuesday after all 43 horses in the barns tested negative for equine herpesvirus, the highly contagious disease that has disrupted racing and training schedules across the eastern seaboard this year.
The restrictions were the first to be rescinded at Pimlico, which has been under a quarantine imposed by its owner, the Maryland Jockey Club, since Jan. 21. Horses in the two barns had been prohibited from mingling with any other horses since Jan. 6.
