OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Not that he needs any, but trainer Phil Johnson has added incentive to get back to his barn.
One Tough Dude, a promising 3-year-old, won an entry-level allowance race by 11 lengths here on Wednesday, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 93. One Tough Dude is now 2 for 2 at one mile over Aqueduct's main track, which makes him a logical candidate for the Grade 3, $150,000 Withers Stakes here May 1. The Withers is run at one mile.
Water Cannon remained winless after the first six races of his career. Since trainer Linda Albert added blinkers, however, Water Cannon has reeled off three consecutive victories.
So instead of looking like he might be destined to remain a professional maiden, Water Cannon has quickly become one of the leading 3-year-olds in Maryland.
Water Cannon goes for his fourth straight win and second against stakes company in Saturday's $60,000 Private Terms at Laurel Park.
You know that spring has sprung in Kentucky when those 18-wheeled Brookledge and Sallee vans begin pulling into Churchill Downs and Keeneland with regularity. Horses and horsemen are just now returning home from their wintertime digs, and before long, pretty much everyone will be back where they were just a few months ago.
PHOENIX - Three of the four highweights have never even tried the turf. So, it's easy to make a case that Society Cat goes into Turf Paradise's $40,000 Scottsdale Handicap on turf Saturday with a significant edge, because she comes off a big recent win on the grass.
A field of six was entered in the mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies.
Society Cat, trained by David Van Winkle, had been knocking on the door for some time. Finally, after five straight runner-up efforts, she broke through and won her maiden at Turf Paradise on Feb. 20, sprinting on dirt.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - A strong field of eight will run in the $25,000 Budweiser-Tondi Handicap at six furlongs, the highlight of which might be the matchup between Tonight Rainbow, last year's horse of the meet, and Death Trappe.
In addition, two Oaklawn Park invaders, Abbi's Choice and Getaway Holme, will move their rivalry a few hundred miles to test the locals here at Fonner.
Be Like Mike has suffered his share of setbacks in his brief career, but when the gray son of Unbridled's Song has run he has made a favorable impression. Be Like Mike is the likely favorite in a field of seven in Hawthorne's $34,000 feature, a four-other-than allowance race with a $50,000 claiming option.
Be Like Mike, from the barn of Niall O'Callaghan, did not get to the races until early in his 4-year-old season last year. After a disappointing debut, Be Like Mike was treated with Lasix and proceeded to win his next two starts, both at Gulfstream Park.
GROVE CITY, Ohio - Floater, winner of last year's Best of Ohio Juvenile, looks to rebound from his first career loss, when he heads a field of 12 Ohio-bred 3-year-olds in Saturday's $40,000 Howard B. Noonan Stakes at Beulah Park.
Trained by Tim Girten, Floater won his first four starts, including two stakes races around two turns, the $75,000 Juvenile at Thistledown in September and the Best of Ohio here Oct. 4.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Sometimes understanding the way a trainer manages a horse can lead the way to a longshot winner. Jack Carava may be tipping his hand with Power Boy in Friday's featured seventh race at Santa Anita.
most recently won a $32,000 claiming race that was restricted to 4-year-olds. He is facing older runners on Friday, and is stepping up in class further, into a 1 1/16-mile race for $40,000 claimers or first-level allowance horses.
ALBANY, Calif. - Jets Fan and Yougottawanna may be the two sharpest older horses stabled at Golden Gate Fields.
The two have become measuring sticks for each other and will meet again in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Berkeley Breeders' Cup Handicap at one mile.
The field will likely be a small one, with Gold Ruckus, who could be considered in similar company with Jets Fan and Yougottawanna, and invaders Snorter and Taste of Paradise the only other confirmed runners. Honeagle will be considered if there is a rainstorm, as predicted.