Thu, 11/17/2005 - 00:00

Loose definition of 'Derby legend'

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Let's see. In the context of Kentucky Derby legends, which of these names just doesn't belong here?

D. Wayne Lukas, Nick Zito, Gary Stevens, Chris McCarron, Ron Turcotte, Patti Cooksey . . .Correct!! Patti Cooksey never even came close to winning the Derby - her only mount came aboard So Vague, the 11th-place finisher in 1984 - and yet Churchill has included Cooksey for the Derby Legends activities here Saturday.

Thu, 11/17/2005 - 00:00

Track's new GM Mackey already grooming successor

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Hastings announced two major changes at the management level Tuesday, when Michael Mackey replaced Michael Brown as general manager, and Raj Mutti was promoted from marketing manager to director of operations.

Thu, 11/17/2005 - 00:00

Root takes seven shots at two stakes

Whenever there is an Oregon-bred stakes on the card at Portland Meadows, trainer Ben Root is in for a busy day.

Root always has a lot of young Oregon-breds in his barn, in large part because his parents, Jack and Cookie Root, are the state's largest breeders. The trainer's racing program is consequently geared toward the several Oregon-bred stakes on the Portland Meadows schedule, two of which will be run on Saturday.

Thu, 11/17/2005 - 00:00

Bone bags record four wins on card

Horsephotos
Plans for Island Fashion's next start have not been decided yet, but the Dec. 11 Bayakoa Handicap is possible.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Owner Bob Bone scored a record four wins at Hollywood Park on Wednesday. After his fourth winner, Bone said that anything fewer than three winners would have been a disappointment.

Thu, 11/17/2005 - 00:00

Cryptograph eyes Slots jackpot

Michael Burns Photo Ltd.
Cryptograph turns back a sixteenth from his Durham Cup win (above).

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Cryptograph, coming off an impressive score in the Durham Cup here Oct. 15, will be solidly backed to repeat when he takes on seven rivals in Saturday's $164,400 Woodbine Slots Cup.

Both the Durham Cup and Woodbine Slots Cup are Grade 3 handicaps, with the Durham Cup at 1 1/8 miles and the Slots Cup at 1 1/16 miles.

Malcolm Pierce, who conditions Cryptograph for Pin Oak Stable, does not believe the cutback in distance will present a problem.

"He's got a really good kick," said Pierce, "and as long as there's an honest pace, he comes running."

Thu, 11/17/2005 - 00:00

Bad weather hits Hoosier

Inclement weather prompted Hoosier Park in Anderson, Ind., to cancel its Thursday card and the final nine races of Wednesday's 12-race card.

The track was thoroughly soaked by rain Tuesday night, and temperatures dropped well below freezing Wednesday night. The riders voted not to continue after Wednesday's third race as the surface began to freeze. Thursday's forecast high was 31, with the low dropping back into the teens that night. Racing is expected to resume Friday as temperatures rise back into the 40's.

Thu, 11/17/2005 - 00:00

Champions berth may lure 'Runaway' to Directors trials

Ocean Runaway, who ran second as the 1-5 favorite in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby last Saturday, may try to earn a spot in the Grade 1, $500,000 Champion of Champions if he runs in one of the two Grade 3 Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Trials on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

Ocean Runaway would be returning on just a week's rest if he runs in the Directors, although his trainer, Denny Ekins, said he may be scratched.

Thu, 11/17/2005 - 00:00

Speed galore in Schaefer

ANDERSON, Ind. - Private Horde invades from his Kentucky base on Saturday for the $100,000-added Michael G. Schaefer Mile Stakes, Hoosier Park's only open-company stakes for older horses.

Thu, 11/17/2005 - 00:00

Jazzy Okie tries two turns on turf

Jazzy Okie has emerged as one of the best 2-year-old fillies in the Mid-South region, and the direction her campaign will take next year will be shaped somewhat on Saturday night, when she makes her two-turn and turf debut in the $40,000 Cimarron at Remington Park.

Jazzy Okie will go favored in the 7 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies by virtue of a 3-for-5 career record that includes a win over colts in the Iowa Stallion Futurity at Prairie Meadows.

Thu, 11/17/2005 - 00:00

Beulah: Slight edge to Tommeyesgold

Eight Ohio-accredited 2-year-old fillies, each seeking a first stakes victory, will go a mile in the $40,000 Glacial Princess Stakes at Beulah Park.

Three maidens are entered in the Glacial Princess, named after an Ohio champion mare who died on the track here and is buried near the infield tote board. The other five entrants all have just one victory.

Tommeyesgold and Mercy seem the most qualified to win as the only stakes-placed runners in the field.