HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - A seemingly innocuous midweek first-level allowance dash for older fillies and mares has instead become a race of considerable interest, pitting the multiple graded-stakes-placed Aspen Tree against Madcap Escapade's baby sister Dubai Escapade.
The $33,000 allowance dash will be decided at 6 1/2 furlongs and shares top billing on Wednesday's card with a 1 1/16-mile entry-level allowance race for 3-year-old fillies on the turf.
With the prize money being given away by the time the 2005-06 Fair Grounds meet concluded Sunday, one would imagine owners and trainers clamoring for more of the same next season. But a chorus of voices has united in another direction, urging a return to New Orleans when the next racing season commences.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - It is perhaps a bit premature to project Happy Hunting as a force in the handicap division this year, but with each performance he is showing marked improvement.
Given his terrific bloodlines and the fact he is in the care of one of the best horsemen in the game - Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey - Happy Hunting is certainly a horse to follow as he faces better competition throughout the year.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - This is the week of the 3-year-olds in northern California, where the Grade 3, $250,000 El Camino Real Derby will be run Sunday at 1 1/16 miles.
The race has had an impact on past Triple Crown races, producing winners in each of the races, as well as two Eclipse winners and one Horse of the Year. It has also produced two Kentucky Derby runner-ups and one Belmont runner-up.
ALBANY, Calif. - An innovative spring schedule of eight stakes races, each with a minimum purse of $100,000 for a total of $1.25 million, has been released by Golden Gate Fields racing secretary Sean Greely.
Highlighting the schedule is the Grade 2, $400,000 San Francisco Breeders' Cup Mile on April 29. The $400,000 purse, which includes $100,000 from Breeders' Cup funds, equals the highest stakes purse ever offered in northern California and more than doubles last year's $150,000 purse. From 1990-92, the Golden Gate Handicap's purse was $400,000.
Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., drew 56,878 patrons over its three-day opening weekend, and they bet $4,237,843 on the track's live races. Oaklawn handled another $7,312,918 offsite, bringing opening weekend handle on the track's races to $11,550,761.
Daytime Promise ($3.70) made a strong three-wide rally turning for home and cruised to a 1 1/4-length victory in the $68,517 for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct. Last Romance finished second, 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Mississippi Madam.
Daytime Promise is now 2 for 3 for owners Darlene Bilinksi and Harry Patten and trainer Gary Contessa.
Daytime Promise will most likely run next in the $65,000 Busher Stakes here on Feb. 26.
There were four stakes races on closing day at the Fair Grounds meet at Louisiana Downs, but the biggest story was not who won, but who didn't run, as Grade 1 winner Happy Ticket was scratched from the $104,650 Lagniappe Ladies Sprint after the track came up sloppy.
"I just didn't want to take a chance running her in that," said trainer Andy Leggio. "When you got a nice filly like this, you don't take any chances with her."
Peppers Pride stalked the pace and finished strongly on the outside to win the $125,000 La Senora at Sunland Park. Owned by H. Joseph Allen and trained by Joel Marr, Peppers Pride, a 3-year-old daughter of Desert God, made it four wins from as many starts, pulling clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths as the 3-2 favorite under Carlos Madeira.
Peppers Pride ($5) traveled the six furlongs in 1:10.29.
The pacesetting Zzzs Ghost settled for second, with Foolish Fortune third.
Hey Slick ($13.60) rallied from dead last to pass all nine of his rivals in the $40,000 Rattlesnake Stakes for 3-year-olds at Turf Paradise. Hey Slick swung wide going into the far turn and circled the field, ending up three-quarters of a length clear at the wire after a mile in 1:37.86.
