ARCADIA, Calif. - Like Willie Nelson, trainer Patrick Biancone just can't wait to get on the road again. He has decided not to wait until the April 9 Santa Anita Derby for Spanish Chestnut's next race, so he instead will send his 3-year-old to Turfway Park for the Grade 2, $500,000 Lane's End Stakes on March 26.
Spanish Chestnut most recently finished third in the Santa Catalina Stakes at Santa Anita on March 5. Earlier this meet, Spanish Chestnut won the San Rafael Stakes.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - It is not a must-win situation, but it's close. For Galloping Grocer to be taken seriously as a Kentucky Derby contender, he must improve upon his fourth-place finish in last month's Whirlaway Stakes when he runs in Saturday's $150,000 Gotham at Aqueduct.
Considering Galloping Grocer was beaten only 1 3/4 lengths in the Whirlaway - his first start in 77 days - any step forward in performance in the Grade 3 Gotham could equal a step into the Aqueduct winner's circle.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Megascape has twice rebounded from subpar efforts to win stakes races. There are a few reasons to believe Megascape can do it a third time when she heads an eight-horse field entered in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Cicada Stakes at Aqueduct.
Trainer Nick Zito had several more lucrative options for Sun King's second start of the season than the $250,000 Tampa Bay Derby. But when it comes to his Kentucky Derby prospects, money is no object for Zito, who will send out Sun King as an overwhelming favorite in the marquee event on a 13-race Festival Day program at Tampa Bay Downs. The card also includes the $150,000 Florida Oaks, $100,000 Hillsborough Stakes, and $75,000 Holiday Inn Turf Dash.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Cape Hope left little doubt who was best in the Gaily Gaily Stakes on Feb. 20, exploding in the final furlong to an easy victory over Dynamite Lass and Paddy's Daisy. On Saturday, Cape Hope will try to do it again when she faces the same two rivals and eight other 3-year-old fillies in the 1 1/8-mile Herecomesthebride-Stakes.
Colonial Downs in Virginia has received approval from horsemen and the state racing commission for a bonus linked to four turf races that would award more than $2 million to any horse that wins all four stakes, Colonial's general manager, John Mooney, said Thursday.
Ed Allred, the owner of Los Alamitos Race Course south of Los Angeles, and prominent Thoroughbred owner Mike Pegram have begun discussions to fund a major renovation of Los Alamitos that would enable the track to hold major Thoroughbred meets, Allred and Pegram said Thursday.
The renovation would cost $40 million and be financed by Pegram, the two sides said. Tentatively, the project would include the expansion of Los Alamitos's racetrack from five furlongs to one mile, along with the installation of a seven-furlong turf course and barns for 700 more horses.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Scrofa, under a patient, clever ride by Patrick Valenzuela, knifed her way between horses with less than a furlong to go and got up in time to capture the $140,625 , the traditional St. Patrick's Day feature at Santa Anita.
The Irish O'Brien, a downhill turf sprint named for a popular mare who excelled over that course in the 1980s, is for California-bred fillies and mares. The victory was the third in the last four starts for Scrofa, who has now won four times since trainer Paul Aguirre claimed her for $62,500 in July at Del Mar.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has all his bases covered for Saturday's Grade 3, $125,000 Stanford Breeders' Cup Handicap.
Hollendorfer nominated four horses to the 1 1/16-mile turf race, and entered all four on Thursday, keeping an eye on the weather. Rain could affect whether all 10 older runners entered in the race actually start, and could necessitate a surface switch.
Bay Meadows officials will do everything possible to keep the race on the turf, because if there is a surface switch the race would lose its graded status.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Knightsbridge Road and Crimson Design will share high weight of 123 pounds when they take on seven other older sprinters in Saturday's $7,500 Governor's Speed Handicap at Portland Meadows.
The six-furlong race is a prep for the $20,000 Portland Meadows Mile on April 9.
