INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Victories in two allowance races this spring have revived the career of Preachinatthe-bar and left trainer Bob Baffert considering a start in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup next month for the 4-year-old colt.
Thursday, Preachinatthebar won his second consecutive allowance race on Thursday, scoring a nose victory over a determined Pt's Grey Eagle. Preachinatthebar ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.86.
SHAKOPEE, Minn. - The Lady Canterbury Stakes was the centerpiece of the Canterbury Park meet in the track's early days in the 1980's. The $100,000, one-mile race, which will be run again on Sunday, was discontinued in 1999 with the advent of the Claiming Crown, but was returned to the track's stakes calendar in 2003.
That year's Lady Canterbury was won by the Bill Mott-trained Stylish, who used the race as a springboard to graded stakes wins at Monmouth and Saratoga later that year.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Ron Isbell Jr. has often said that Gretchen's Star is not the easiest horse to care for, but many trainers would love to have such a burden around the barn. Despite his physical ailments, the 10-year-old Gretchen's Star is still swinging away, even in the twilight of his career.
Stewards at Churchill Downs have issued seven-day suspensions and $5,000 fines to jockeys Jeremy Rose, Corey Nakatani, and Kent Desormeaux for wearing advertisements during this year's Kentucky Derby in violation of state rules.
Chris Lasch, a Louisville attorney who represents the three jockeys, said he filed an appeal with the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority on Friday afternoon. Under Kentucky racing rules, the suspensions and fines will be stayed until the authority hears the appeal.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Ned Allard was very encouraged by Better Than Ever's two efforts in grass stakes last fall at The Meadowlands.
Still a maiden at the time, Better Than Ever finished fourth in both the Continental Mile and the World Appeal.
"I though both those races were very good," Allard said. "Sometimes you have to run as a maiden in order to get on the grass. He was not out of line in either one."
Better Than Ever gets another shot at his first grass and stakes victory in the $60,000 Restoration Stakes for 3-year-olds Sunday at Monmouth Park.
BOSSIER CITY, La. - Southern Surprise, the runner-up in last season's Fleur de Lis Stakes, is the one to beat in this year's edition on Sunday at Louisiana Downs. She will face eight other fillies and mares at a mile and 70 yards on the main track.
Trained by Morris Nicks, is coming into the $40,000 Fleur de Lis off another second-place finish here in stakes company, this time to the undefeated Happy Ticket in the Suthern Accent Stakes on May 14. Southern Surprise was the pacesetter that day in a race that saw the winner cover six furlongs in a quick 1:09.40.
ALBANY, Calif. - Golden Gate Fields closes a short but artistically successful spring meeting Sunday.
Field size has been good through most of the meet, as typified by the 114 entrants on the 11-race closing-day card.
Five of the races are on the turf, giving northern California runners a final opportunity to race on turf until Santa Rosa opens July 27.
Northern California's racing schedule that went into effect this year, split the long Golden Gate Fields season, and the track took advantage of the spring dates with a strong stakes schedule.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Josie Carroll will take two shots at Sunday's $135,000 Victoria Stakes when she sends out Vibank and Edenwold in the five-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds at Woodbine.
Vibank was a close second to a filly, Arzu, when he debuted here May 8. With the addition of Lasix in another 4 1/2-furlong maiden special May 29, Vibank romped home on top by 9 1/4 lengths, receiving a Beyer Speed Figure of 68.
