HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - There is no Silver Wagon, Value Plus, or Kelly's Landing in Wednesday's $35,000 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park, which is good news to the connections of Exciting Metro and Taint So, who will find the competition more to their liking and abilities.
The six-furlong dash is the richest race on a 10-race card that also includes the first five-furlong turf race here this winter.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Ashado and Madcap Escapade are on the same training schedule, with both fillies turning in sharp workouts in south Florida on Sunday morning. The question remains whether they will also be in the same starting gate for an eagerly awaited rubber match in Oaklawn Park's Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 9.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The Grade 2 Santa Ana Handicap on Sunday will be a meeting of extreme opposites if the filly Pickle faces lightly campaigned Megahertz in the 1 1/8-mile turf race.
Pickle won her U.S. debut Saturday in a classified race at Bay Meadows, and trainer Sandy Shulman will consider wheeling Pickle back eight days later in the Santa Ana. It would not be the first time she has put together an ambitious campaign, as Shulman pointed out - In England, she won three races in eight days.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Handicappers have waited nine months to bet on the maiden colt I'll Prey for You. When he returns Wednesday in race 3 at Santa Anita, the ledger will close on one of the most productive maiden races ever run in Southern California.
It was race 2 at Hollywood Park last May 30, and was a second-time starter racing five furlongs. He ran super to finish second with a 91 Beyer, and then disappeared. His rivals, however, did not - six won next time out. I'll Prey for You is the last horse to run back from the May 30 race.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Mike Luzzi learned firsthand Monday morning that Galloping Grocer should have no problem relaxing when he runs in Saturday's $150,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.
Luzzi, who will ride Galloping Grocer for the first time in a race, put the New York-bred gelding through his final workout on Monday for the Grade 3 Gotham. What would normally have been a routine six-furlong breeze turned into a mini-race when another horse broke off at the five-furlong pole just as Galloping Grocer was approaching the same point of the Belmont Park training track.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Island Sand's chances of winning the Grade 3, $175,000 last weekend at Oaklawn Park were over at the break, but not for conventional reasons.
Island Sand was stepped on by another rival coming out of the starting gate, leaving her with a gash the size of a quarter on the bulb, or heel, of her left hind foot. Her shoe was also pulled off during the incident.
Island Escape ($6.80) rallied late to score a two-length victory in the $40,000 Cactus Cup at Turf Paradise. Virden was second, three lengths ahead of the odds-on favorite, Kresgeville, who was disqualified to fourth behind Skyline Gal because of interference in the stretch.
Winning time for 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:15.60. Island Escape is based at Santa Anita in the barn of trainer Marcelo Polanco.
Thundering Verzy scored a dominating 4 3/4-length win over five others in the $25,600 Ogataul Handicap for older Nebraska-breds.
Thundering Verzy drew off with a strong late run to get the six furlongs in 1:12 over a fast track. What About David held on to be second, a neck in front of Mortrump. Thundering Verzy, in his first race for trainer Dan Coughlin, returned $3.40 as the overwhelming favorite.
Bar Bailey ($5) easily bested four rivals to win the $52,850 Santa Teresa Handicap at Sunland Park. Bar Bailey won by 4 1/2 lengths, covering 6 1/2 furlongs over a fast track in 1:15.83. Red Lifesaver was second, 4 1/4 lengths clear of Sexy Boots.
Trained by Jose Gonzalez, Bar Bailey now won four straight, including two stakes.
Latenite Special ($6.40) reaffirmed her dominance over New Mexico-breds with a 2 1/2-length win in the $100,000 Sydney Valentini Handicap at Sunland Park. Ridden by Ken Tohill, Latenite Special covered a mile over a fast track in 1:38.51. Betsy N was second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of My Desert Lady.
With the victory, her sixth in her last seven starts, Latenite Special has won at least one stakes at each of New Mexico's four racetracks. She had won stakes last year at Ruidoso Downs, Sun Ray Park, and the Downs at Albuquerque.
