HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - John Velazquez rides first call for trainer Todd Pletcher and was aboard Friendly Island last time out when he finished third as the favorite in the Mr. Prospector Handicap. But when Friendly Island comes back Sunday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Deputy Minister Handicap at Gulfstream Park, Edgar Prado will be aboard Friendly Island and Velazquez will be aboard War Front, who was second last time out in the Mr. Prospector.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - It doesn't appear that Achilles of Troy will be meeting any killers when he runs in Saturday's $65,000 Whirlaway Stakes at Aqueduct. But one of the more interesting new faces who will challenge him in the 1 1/16-mile race is River City Rebel.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Music School is one of the most promising 3-year-olds at Oaklawn Park because of his pedigree, impressive debut win, and connections. Sunday, he will make his seasonal and two-turn debut in the seventh race, a one-mile allowance.
Sunday's race will be the second career start for Music School, who was set to run last Saturday but was scratched from a six-furlong race after more than two inches of rain fell.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Thad Keller has been training on his own for less than one year, and he has one of the most credentialed 3-year-olds on the grounds at Oaklawn Park.
Kingsfield is a two-time stakes winner, with his latest score coming in the $80,000 Black Gold at the Fair Grounds meet at Louisiana Downs. He is now being pointed for the $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn on Feb. 20.
Among his many racetrack mishaps and injuries, Dean Butler once spent three days on a respirator after a spill at Monmouth Park on June 28, 2000.
"They said I was dead when they came and got me off the racetrack," said Butler. "It ended up being a bad concussion. I've had about eight of them."
Throw in several back fractures, knee chips, and a gruesome leg fracture that required six months' down time and the insertion of a rod and screws, and you might think that Butler has had his fill of riding racehorses.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - On Sunday, closing day at Bay Meadows, Russell Baze and apprentice Martin Garcia face off for the riding title. If Garcia wins the title he will snap Baze's streak of 26 consecutive northern California meet riding titles.
Baze, who was also the top jockey in each of the past 34 Bay Meadows meets in which he rode, and Garcia entered the final weekend tied with 41 victories apiece. It is the closest jockey race for Baze since he defeated Jason Lumpkins, 95-89, in 2001.
PORTLAND, Ore. - My Crowning Glory will face five intrepid challengers in Sunday's feature at Portland Meadows, a wide-open allowance race for Quarter Horses at 400 yards.
A 6-year-old who races for trainer Wayne Burger, My Crowning Glory has been unbeatable at Portland Meadows for the last two seasons. My Crowning Glory closed out last year's meeting with three straight wins, and has opened the current stand with four consecutive victories, three of them in stakes.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Magna Graduate and Suave completed their 2005 seasons finishing first and second, a head apart, in the Grade 2 at Gulfstream Park.
The $500,000 Donn highlights Gulfstream's Super Saturday II, which features five other stakes including the Grade 3 Holy Bull and Grade 2 Hutcheson for 3-year-olds. The Grade 2 Davona Dale and Grade 3 Old Hat for 3-year-old fillies and the Grade 3 Suwannee River for fillies and mares on turf complete the stakes lineup.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - A year ago, trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. sent out Sis City to dominate Gulfstream Park's $150,000 Davona Dale Stakes by 16 lengths. On Saturday, Dutrow will defend that title with Wonder Lady Anne L, who will face six other 3-year-old fillies in the 20th renewal of the Grade 2 race.
