SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - Sunland Park closes out its 80-day winter-spring meet looking to the future with the $186,384 Copper Top Futurity for New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds going 4 1/2 furlongs.
Last year in this race, Rocky Gulch lost against statebreds for the only time in his career. Several good prospects are in line this time around.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The first start of his career was delayed until October. His second start this year has been delayed, too. Now, the waiting is over for Lion Heart. He is expected to start as the favorite in Saturday's $750,000 at Keeneland, and if all goes well, he will head to the Kentucky Derby three weeks later, and to the remainder of the Triple Crown.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Shake You Down showed grit to hold off a late bid by Where's The Ring and win the Grade 3, $150,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap by a head Thursday at Oaklawn Park. It was another length and a quarter back in third to Aloha Bold.
Shake You Down ($4.80) broke slow, but rushed up for the lead soon afterward, and was clear through fractions of 21.80 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.60 seconds for the half-mile mark. He went on to cover the six furlongs in 1:09.27.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The Gotham was designed to be an educational experience for the promising 3-year-old Eddington. Saturday's $750,000 at Aqueduct will determine if Eddington learned enough to get into his school of choice - the May 1 Kentucky Derby - or if he'll be left on the equine version of a waiting list.
In a year when graded stakes earnings will most likely determine the 20-horse field for the Kentucky Derby, Eddington would need to finish first or second in the Grade 1 Wood to secure a spot in the Churchill Downs starting gate.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - In a year of inconsistent performances by 3-year-olds, Smarty Jones has done everything asked of him. Perfect in five starts, he appears to have just two more hurdles to clear Saturday in the Grade 2, $1 million at Oaklawn Park before heading to the Kentucky Derby.
The first is distance. Smarty Jones will be racing over 1 1/8 miles for the first time, and that is often the distance at which horses start to separate themselves.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Todd Pletcher gave Strong Hope high praise when he said the horse reminded him of Left Bank, a champion he trained. On Saturday at Aqueduct, in the $350,000 Carter Handicap, Strong Hope will try to prove he's worthy of that comparison.
, the 119-pound highweight, is the likely favorite in his quest for his first Grade 1 win. Ten entered the seven-furlong Carter, including the speedy Pico Central from California and Well Fancied, a top local runner with five stakes wins from his last six starts.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Forest Danger is not headed to the Kentucky Derby, but don't be surprised if he ends up being one of trainer Todd Pletcher's most accomplished 3-year-olds by year's end.
After winning his first two starts, both at Gulfstream Park, Forest Danger will make his stakes debut in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct. Forest Danger will face seven rivals, including the Canadian champion 2-year-old Judiths Wild Rush in the seven-furlong Bay Shore.
Victory U. S. A. finally got the measure of Halfbridled on Thursday when she rolled to an 8 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2, $250,000 Stonerside Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland.
Victory U. S. A. last year was third to Halfbridled in the Del Mar Debutante and third to her in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Both lost their first start of 2004 and were using the Beaumont as a prep to the Kentucky Oaks on April 30.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - One time, and one time only, Action This Day has jumped up to stun the racing world. The last-to-first rally the colt used to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile remains an isolated curiosity, a race currently viewed as anything from a harbinger of further accomplishment to a downright fluke.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The race must go on. No doubt the untimely defection of Congaree takes some luster off the 18th running of the Commonwealth Breeders' Cup, but the six older horses that remain in the seven-furlong race still should provide plenty of entertainment for the Blue Grass throng that will assemble Saturday at Keeneland.
