Happy Ticket is starting to draw comparisons to Hallowed Dreams.
The undefeated Louisiana-bred filly won her eighth straight start Saturday at Louisiana Downs, putting her at the halfway point of the 16 consecutive victories strung together by the Louisiana-bred Hallowed Dreams between 1999 and 2000 in her home state. Hallowed Dreams tied the record for consecutive wins in North America.
ELMONT, N.Y. - On Monday morning, less than 24 hours after Ghostzapper arrived at Belmont Park from Kentucky, trainer Bobby Frankel had a worried look on his face, lamenting how tough a time he has had keeping weight on the reigning Horse of the Year.
CHICAGO - Seventy-two horses were entered for a nine-race card Thursday at Arlington Park, and while the 8.3 horses-per-race average is just fine, it's the program's quality that really shines. Arlington will pay out almost $200,000 in purses on a card featuring four allowance races and one tasty Illinois-bred turf maiden - an early-season bonanza at a meet that's not supposed to rev up until June.
ALBANY, Calif. - Surprise Halo is one of those horses who has grown on trainer and owner Dennis Ward. A 7-year-old gelding, Surprise Halo has probably lost a step or two over the years and hasn't won since recording his lone stakes victory in the Alamedan at Pleasanton in 2003, but he is the horse six rivals have to beat in Thursday's Golden Gate Fields feature, a $50,000 optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles on turf.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Promon-tory has become the latest member of the 3-year-old stakes division at Woodbine to be sidelined by a significant injury.
A Kentucky-bred trained by David Bell, Promontory finished a close third in the six-furlong Woodstock on April 23.
Last Friday, Promontory worked five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.40 under jockey Jim McAleney in preparation for Saturday's Marine, a Grade 3 stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.
But Promontory emerged from the drill with a knee problem, will be undergoing surgery in Kentucky, and is out for the season.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Bold Little Lass, a fast-closing second in Friday's finale, is swinging back into action on short rest as a contender in Thursday's Woodbine headliner.
The 1 1/16-mile allowance for Ontario-sired fillies and mares has only four others - Orestida, Spanish Petition, Whiskey Swish, and Archers Dolly.
BALTIMORE - The Preakness Stakes on Saturday might be drawing the most interest this week at Pimlico, but it could be argued that the best race of the week will be run the day before, when an outstanding field of older horses, headed by Funny Cide, competes in the Grade 1, $500,000 Pimlico Special.
The Pimlico Special is one of five stakes races that will be run on Friday at Pimlico. Entries for those races were taken on Sunday, and include such nationally prominent runners as Ashado and Runway Model.
Saturday's pick six at Hollywood park returned $1,131,905.60 to one ticket-holder, the second-highest payoff in track history. The program began with a two-day carryover of $368,178.
According to track officials, the winning pick six ticket was purchased at Lincoln Greyhound Park in Rhode Island 14 minutes before the start of the first leg. The ticket cost $192 with a format of 2x2x3x2x2x2.
ELMONT, N.Y. - After two failed attempts at nine furlongs, Tashdeed perhaps found his niche as a closing sprinter when he cut back to win a seven-furlong allowance race last month at Aqueduct.
If he unleashes the same powerful stretch kick Wednesday, Tashdeed could very well be the one to beat in the $60,000 Light the Fuse Stakes for 3-year-olds. The Light the Fuse, run at 6 1/2 furlongs, is the featured event on Wednesday's Belmont Park card, which includes a pick six carryover of $40,300.
