OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Since he has already shown an abundance of speed, one wouldn't think blinkers would do Sinister G much good. For the last month, however, Sinister G has trained in blinkers though he doesn't wear them when he races.
The blinkers on, blinkers off method has worked beautifully thus far as Sinister G enters Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 Wood Memorial off an upset win in the Grade 2 Lane's End Stakes at Turfway Park.
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - The Ohio racing season hits its stride this week when Thistledown opens on Thursday, River Downs starts racing Friday, and Beulah Park keeps running until May 1.
Once again, the 187-day Thistledown season will be split into four meetings - Summit, Thistle-down, Randall, and Cranwood. The Cleveland-area track plans to pick up where it left off last season, with the full fields and also-eligibles that produced one of the most successful Cranwood meets.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - They are coming from California, Florida, Maryland, and Pennsylvania to run in Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, with as many as 12 horses expected to compete in New York's final prep for the May 1 Kentucky Derby.
There is no clear-cut favorite for the Wood, which has produced three of the last four Kentucky Derby winners. Master David, who has not run since winning the Sham Stakes on Feb. 8, figures to vie for favoritism with Eddington, the third-place finisher in the Gotham, and Value Plus, the Florida Derby runner-up.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Action This Day, the 2-year-old champion who will try to regain some lost luster Saturday in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, arrived safely early Monday afternoon at Keeneland following a flight from Southern California.
Trainer Richard Mandella said he may work Action This Day "a little half-mile a couple days out" from the Grade 1 Blue Grass, but that a one-mile work last week at Santa Anita essentially completed Action This Day's major preparations for the Blue Grass.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Smarty Jones, who is unbeaten in five career starts, indicated his readiness to remain perfect when he turned in a powerful work last Saturday in preparation for this Saturday's $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. He is expected to face 10 others in the 1 1/8-mile race, which will be drawn on Wednesday.
Smarty Jones worked five furlongs in a bullet 58.69 seconds under jockey Willie Martinez. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:10.80 and seven-eighths in 1:23.74.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - It appears the scare involving Halfbridled last week was only that - a scare.
Trainer Richard Mandella said Monday that Halfbridled has fully recovered from the cramping incident that precluded her from running in the Ashland Stakes last weekend at Keeneland and that he intends to run her Thursday in the $250,000 Stonerside Beaumont Stakes. The Beaumont will serve as Halfbridled's final prep for the April 30 Kentucky Oaks.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park last Saturday was an example of two great professionals doing what they do best. That's winning for Azeri and training for D. Wayne Lukas.
Azeri, who was Horse of the Year in 2002 and champion mare in 2003, returned from a six-month layoff to win the Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom for a record third time. The race was her first start for Hall of Fame trainer Lukas, and she won in a field that included Grade 1 winners Wild Spirit, Star Parade, and Island Fashion.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The last time trainer Paulo Lobo was in New York was August 2002, when he won the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga with Farda Amiga, who later was named champion 3-year-old filly. On Saturday, Lobo returns to New York with Pico Central, a good-looking winner of the Grade 2 San Carlos in March at Santa Anita, for Aqueduct's Grade 1 Carter.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - No one could have reasonably expected that the $175,000 Vinery Madison Stakes Wednesday at Keeneland would come up as wickedly tough as it did. At least Steve Asmussen, who will start the probable favorite, Lady Tak, has a sense of humor about it.
"I can't exactly run her in a maiden race any more," said Asmussen.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The outcome of the Grade 3, $100,000 Fifth Season Breeders' Cup at Oaklawn on Wednesday is difficult to predict because of its competitive field, but there does appear to be one certainty in the race: Spanish Empire will be closer to the pace than he was last time, in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap.