Jockey Hector Rosario Jr. was "feeling fine" a day after suffering a concussion and separated shoulder in Tuesday's second race at River Downs, according to his agent, Tom Clark. Rosario's mount in the six-furlong maiden race, Painted Dancer, was near the lead approaching the far turn when he stumbled and threw Rosario to the ground.
Rosario was treated for his injuries and released from the University of Cincinnati hospital. Painted Dancer was not seriously injured.
Shanghied made it 3 for 3 at Assiniboia Downs when he won the $40,000 Derby Trial Stakes on Sunday. Skipper was second, with Stonewall Harris third.
Trained by Bert Blake, Shanghied increased his earnings to $55,410.
Under jockey Travis Hightower, Shanghied went to the lead for the first time in his six-race career before drawing off to win by 7 3/4 lengths, finishing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.60.
CARENCRO, La. - A couple of long-lost sons came home to Evangeline Downs this week, one to visit and one to stay, at least for a while.
Kent Desormeaux was in town Monday to lend his support to a fund-raiser for the Women's Center of Lafayette. In the silent auction portion of the benefit, Desormeaux donated the saddle used by the late Bill Shoemaker when he won the 1986 Kentucky Derby aboard Ferdinand.
A soon-to-be Hall of Famer, Desormeaux was gracious as he returned to the oval where he began his career.
Charles Town has expanded its live racing program to 12 races daily, two more than usual. The change went into effect Wednesday night and will continue indefinitely.
The longer programs will help offset races that will be lost when the track closes while the racing surface undergoes extensive upgrading from Aug. 2-24.
* The highlight of the summer meet will take place Sunday, when four stakes worth $50,000 apiece will be run on the local Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association's annual Owner's Day program.
MUSKEGON, Mich. - The entry of I Match Too and Charlies Indian is the morning-line choice in Friday's Moonbeam Handicap at Great Lakes Downs. The Moonbeam, which attracted a full field of 10 Michigan-bred fillies and mares, will be contested at one mile around three turns.
Terry Houghton has the mount on Charlies Indian, who won the Larkspur Handicap two starts back. Trainer Ronnie Allen owns Charlies Indian with the Volar Corporation, which also owns I Match Too. Charlies Indian, who has never been off the board while winning four races here, will carry 117 pounds.
Pimlico will switch to a Thursday-through-Sunday schedule when it reopens on July 31 for a 16-day summer meet.
Eight races will be run Thursdays and Fridays, with nine carded on Saturdays and Sundays. A Maryland-bred stakes race will be scheduled for the four Saturday cards of the short meet, which concludes Aug. 27.
After the eight-day Timonium State Fair meet, live racing will resume at Pimlico on Sept. 9 for a four-week summer-fall meet, also on a Thursday-through-Sunday schedule.
The sharp Sky Lane Pie goes for his third straight victory when he meets familiar rival Buccaneer Beach in the second of two trials to the Grade 1, $140,000 Vessels Maturity on Friday night at Los Alamitos.
The 10 fastest qualifiers from the 400-yard Vessels Maturity trials return on Aug. 7 for the finals.
The trials-oriented weekend at Los Alamitos continues on Saturday, when juveniles compete in the 350-yard Ed Burke Memorial Futurity trials. The Ed Burke finals are on July 31, with the top 10 qualifiers returning from the trials.
SHAKOPEE, Minn. - A rich convergence of horses from throughout the U.S. was set in motion Wednesday, when entries were taken at Canterbury Park for the $550,000 Claiming Crown, the six-race series that will have its sixth running Saturday.
ARCADIA, Calif. - A midsummer showdown between the country's leading handicap horses - Pleasantly Perfect and Southern Image - is growing less likely by the day. The Pacific Classic on Aug. 22 at Del Mar remains on the agenda, but only one of the horses may make the race.
Pleasantly Perfect, winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic and Dubai World Cup, moved closer to a return with a sharp seven-furlong workout Tuesday. Meanwhile, Southern Image, winner of the Santa Anita Handicap and Pimlico Special, stayed at the barn, making it 17 days since he trained.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Bonaire was a Group 3 winner last year in France, but she will be a long way from past heroics when she makes her U.S. debut Thursday at Hollywood Park. Five fillies and mares entered the seventh-race feature, a two-other-than/optional $80,000 claimer. A 3-year-old filly, Bonaire might be the class of the field, but she hardly has the best recent form.