Fastest qualifier A Long Goodbye, a four-length trial winner, meets Special Task Force in the Grade 1, $108,000 MBNA America New Mexico Challenge during a Sunday afternoon program of three Grade 1 stakes at Sunland Park.
Two-year-olds run in the Grade 1, $269,725 West Texas Futurity and New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds run in the Grade 1, $288,402 New Mexican Spring Futurity.
The Laura Pinelli-owned and -trained entry of Oak Canyon and 2003 Marathon winner Heros Call make their 2005 debuts in the $25,000 Newport Beach Handicap over 870 yards on Saturday night at Los Alamitos.
Oak Canyon made only four 2004 starts, and scored 870-yard stakes wins in the Jim Smith and the Bull Rastus handicaps.
Heros Call was second in three stakes at 870 yards last year. He finished behind Oak Canyon in each of Oak Canyon's 2004 stakes wins.
The prime dates of the final "slotless" Remington Park Quarter Horse season commence on Friday night with a competitive running of the Remington Park Distance Championship and the well-stocked trials to the Remington Park Derby.
One day of the 32-date season was held on March 19 to contest the trials to the Lazy E Futurity and Derby. The finals will be held on April 9.
CALGARY, Alberta - Stampede Park will play host to a 47-day meeting this year, and Friday's opening-night program of nine "half-milers" signals the beginning of the 2005 Thoroughbred season in Canada.
The favorable weather conditions here over most of the winter allowed for uninterrupted training schedules, and Stampede Park's racing secretary, Barry McGrath, was rewarded with a strong response at the entry box Tuesday morning. A total of 78 horses were entered.
The 1,180 available stalls are full to begin the meet.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Hastings has added four stakes races to its previously released stakes schedule. The four races, with a total of $195,000 in purses, have been dubbed the Corporate Series. Hastings is actively seeking corporate sponsorship for the races.
The first, second, and fourth races of the series will carry $40,000 purses, with the third worth $75,000. Three-year-old fillies start the series June 17, and older fillies and mares will run July 30. Three-year-olds and up will run on July 31, with 3-year-olds going Aug. 14.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - A preliminary strangles test on the horse who prompted the isolation of trainer Randy Schulhofer's horses at Palm Meadows has come back negative, and the Gulfstream track veterinarian recommended Wednesday that Schulhofer's horses be allowed to train with the general population.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - When does six minus two equal nine?
That equation added up after top contenders Bandini and Closing Argument were not entered Wednesday in the $1 million Florida Derby, prompting several horses who previously were not under consideration for the race to be entered.
Only six 3-year-olds, including Bandini and Closing Argument, had been pointing for the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby, but when foot bruises forced both out of the race, the field quickly swelled to nine.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The outlook for the $1 million Florida Derby underwent dramatic change Tuesday when trainer Todd Pletcher said solidified his status as the race favorite with a half-mile breeze.
Bandini figured to challenge High Fly for favoritism in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, which will be run for the 54th time Saturday at Gulfstream Park. But Bandini has been suffering in recent days from a problem that Pletcher would not specify.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - In the wake of recent strangles cases, racetracks in Kentucky have joined those in Florida and elsewhere in taking precautions to prevent the spread of the disease, a bacterial infection that strikes horses in the upper respiratory area. The disease is highly contagious but rarely fatal.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Early spring is for finding out things about 3-year-olds. Horsemen and handicappers will know a bit more about the preferences of some 3-year-old fillies after they run in Thursday's feature at Aqueduct, an entry-level optional claimer at one mile.
