Wed, 12/07/2005 - 00:00

$1M going to statebreds, so entries are plentiful

Louis Hodges Jr.
Zarb's Dahar (above) wins the Thanksgiving Handicap against open company, running his record to 10 for 11 over the Louisiana Downs surface. Witt Ante is back to defend his title in the Champions Day Classic.

Bossier City, La. - Neither wind nor rain nor snow or sleet can stop this year's Louisiana Champions Day. Hurricane Katrina was responsible for forcing the Fair Grounds meeting north to Louisiana Downs, and a winter storm expected Wednesday night is providing the latest meteorological drama.

Wed, 12/07/2005 - 00:00

Odd distance suits Trapped Again

Horsephotos
Fall Highweight winner Attila's Storm is headed to the Malibu on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The last time Trapped Again raced the distance of 1 3/16 miles, he won the Kelso Handicap by 8 3/4 lengths and set a Delaware Park track record in the process. The next time Trapped Again runs 1 3/16 miles will be Saturday, when he takes on some classy older horses in the Grade 3, $100,000 Queens County Handicap at Aqueduct.

Wed, 12/07/2005 - 00:00

Trainer wins ninth in row

Trainer Benny Feliciano extended his winning streak to nine races when he sent out El Keko to win the fifth race Wednesday at Thistledown, a two-mile starter allowance. Leading for all but a few strides at the mile and three-eighths marker, El Keko, under Feliciano's son, Ricardo Feliciano, regained the lead and went on to an easy seven-length win.

It was El Keko's ninth win from 20 starts this season and puts him in a four-way tie as the nation's winningest horse.

Wed, 12/07/2005 - 00:00

Wilko ready to return in Larkspur

Horsephotos
Wilko, who has not raced since having ankle surgery in May, will use Saturday's Larkspur at Golden Gate as a prep for the Dec. 26 Malibu.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Wilko, the winner of the 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, will be supplemented to Saturday's $50,000 Larkspur Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.

Trainer Craig Dollase said the Larkspur, a six-furlong race, will serve as a prep race to the $250,000 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.

Unraced since finishing 12th in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in May, Wilko has been working steadily since late October, including a three-furlong breeze in 37 seconds Wednesday at Hollywood Park.

Wed, 12/07/2005 - 00:00

Program has only claimers, maidens

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Nearly all of the horses racing at Hollywood Park are for sale on Friday.

On an eight-race program, there are seven races for claimers and one maiden special weight race over 1 1/16 miles for 2-year-old fillies.

Hollywood Park officials had trouble filling entries for this program, even though the track announced a 5 percent purse increase on Tuesday for the remainder of the meeting.

Wed, 12/07/2005 - 00:00

Stewart starts his Florida campaign

MIAMI - Dallas Stewart has not been stabled regularly in south Florida since 1997, but he is back this year and not waiting for the 2006 Gulfstream Park meet to begin to make his presence felt locally.

Stewart plans to send out a pair of key contenders on next Saturday's Grand Slam II program at Calder: Silverfoot in the $250,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap and Storm Surge in the seven-furlong Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap.

Wed, 12/07/2005 - 00:00

Expect a fresh Stellar Magic in return

ALBANY, Calif. - Stellar Magic had his 15 minutes of fame, winning the $100,000 San Mateo Mile before crashing and burning in the El Camino Real Derby.

He may get more than 15 minutes now after having surgery to clear up minor problems in both knees and both ankles.

Stellar Magic is expected to make his first start since finishing last in the El Camino Real Derby when he runs in the $50,000-added Larkspur Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

Wed, 12/07/2005 - 00:00

Rich Fantasy to skip Debutante

Four-Footed Fotos
Rich Fantasy, winning the Showtime Deb, could try a route race next.

CHICAGO - Just two stakes remain on the Chicago racing calendar for 2005, and Saturday's Pat Whitworth Debutante for Illinois-bred 2-year-old fillies will have to do without the horse who probably would have been favored.

Wed, 12/07/2005 - 00:00

Higher Fire eyes $1.5M payday

Higher Fire races for a shot at collecting nearly $1.6 million and the title of all-time leading money earner when she meets familiar foe Teller Cartel, winner of the All American Futurity, in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Los Alamitos Million on Friday night.

Wed, 12/07/2005 - 00:00

Delta adjusts stakes for shortened meet

Delta Downs in Vinton, La., has revised its stakes schedule to fit an abbreviated, 40-date meet at the track from Jan. 18 through March 25. Delta was unable to begin its 88-date meet as scheduled on Oct. 21 after the track sustained considerable damage from Hurricane Rita.

There are 14 stakes worth $1,020,000 on the revised calendar. The highlight is the Louisiana Premier Night program, when six Louisiana-bred stakes worth $570,000 will be decided Feb. 18. The richest race on the card will be the $150,000 Championship.