In addition to graded stakes, random overnight races at Oaklawn Park will now be subject to "supertesting" for illegal medication. The Arkansas Racing Commission passed a motion providing for the new policy on Saturday.
The supertest is a more comprehensive and sensitive test for drugs than routine tests, and it has been required for all graded stakes at Oaklawn, according to commission officials, since the commission passed an initial supertest motion on Jan. 5.
Oaklawn Park drew 56,654 patrons over its three-day opening weekend, with $4,271,055 bet ontrack on the track's live races and $8,229,836 bet offtrack, bringing weekend handle on Oaklawn races to $12,500,891.
It was a strong opening weekend, but handle on the three days was down nearly 10 percent from last year, when Oaklawn celebrated its 100th birthday with a 10-year-high attendance of 62,982 over the three-day opening weekend. Total handle on the track's live races on opening weekend in 2004 was $13,852,278.
Michael Wrona, whose distinctive, stylish, and accurate calls have made him a fan favorite wherever he has called races, said he has decided not to return to Lone Star Park this year after being told he would become a seasonal employee and have his salary cut.
Wrona, a native of Australia, had been lured by Lone Star from Hollywood Park nearly five years ago. Since then, however, Lone Star has been purchased by Magna Entertainment, which in recent months has severely trimmed Lone Star's budget across the board.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - For the second year in a row, trainer Bobby Frankel will send out the favorite in the $1 million Ocala Breeders' Sales Company Classic, the richest of eight races to be run Saturday at Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita.
A year ago at Santa Anita, Peace Rules finished fourth for Frankel as the even-money favorite in the Classic. This time, Frankel will send out Grade 1 winner Midas Eyes, who drew post position 11 in a full field of 12 entered for the Classic at Gulfstream Park.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Trainer Bruce Headley and jockey Gary Stevens have high hopes for El Roblar, a 3-year-old War Chant colt who won first time out against one of the strongest maiden fields of the meet in Sunday's sixth race. El Roblar beat the well-regarded Fusaichi Pegasus colt Canteen, another first-time starter, by three-quarters of a length in 1:16.88 for 6 1/2 furlongs on the fast main track.
"He's something special, boss," Stevens told Headley after the race.
"Gary told me all along he liked him," Headley said. "He looks good, he acts good, and he runs good."
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Five years ago, when he was vying for his first New York trainer's title, Gary Contessa was so nervous he said he couldn't sleep at night. Now a three-time leading trainer on the inner track, Contessa is more focused on winning races than titles.
Last Friday, Contessa had his best single day in New York, winning four consecutive races on one card. The four-bagger gave Contessa 16 wins at the halfway point of the inner-track meet. Contessa is followed by Richard Dutrow (15), Scott Lake (14), Tom Bush (12), and Mike Hushion (11).
ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Patrick Valenzuela scored his first stakes victory of his latest comeback by guiding Saint Afleet to victory in the Grade 2, $150,000 on Sunday at Hollywood Park.
The victory was appropriate for Valenzuela in that it came for owner Ron Waranch, who has been one of Valenzuela's biggest supporters during his many trials and tribulations. Waranch is also the owner of the 4-year-old Northern Afleet colt, who is now trained by Jeff Mullins after beginning his career with Craig Dollase.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Marty Wolfson said he'd heard so much about trainer Todd Pletcher's Chilean bred Isola Piu Bella prior to Sunday's $60,000 he thought he was running for second money.
Wolfson did indeed take home second money in the one mile and one eighth Banshee Breeze with Adobe Gold. But he also got first money with Pampered Princess who outlasted her uncoupled stablemate by a head after turning back several challenges under jockey Eddie Castro Jr.
Alumni Hall was prominent throughout for a three-quarter length win over Colonial Colony in the $100,000 at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday night. It was the second stakes win of the day for co-owner Will Farish, trainer Neil Howard and jockey Robby Albarado, who also teamed to win the $60,000 Truly Bound at Fair Grounds with Shadow Cast.
Toratora finished third in the Maxxam, two and three quarter lengths behind Colonial Colony.
Glorious Prospect pulled an 18-1 upset in the $50,000 Genesis for 3-year-old fillies at Delta Downs on Saturday night when she surged through the stretch for a three-quarter length win over Lil Cream Puff. Glorious Prospect was the lone member of the field not bred in Louisiana in the open company race. She was bred in Florida.
Short Leg Sue finished third in the Genesis.
