Talk about getting some bang for your buck. Spritely Walker, who is widely considered the best Louisiana-bred in training; Zarb's Luck, who last out earned a 107 Beyer Speed Figure; and Prince Slew, who is marching toward $500,000 in earnings, will all meet for a $50,000 purse on Friday night in the Bayou State at Delta Downs in Vinton, La.
The seven-furlong race will be held around two turns, and it is restricted to horses bred in Louisiana.
Get Solid, who was supplemented to the American Quarter Horse Association Racing Challenge program for $20,000 in January, will try to earn some of that investment back when he starts in the last of three trials to the MD Barns New Mexico Challenge on Friday at Sunland Park.
The eight fastest finishers from the 870-yard trials qualify to run in the $50,000-added finals on March 21.
Redrockn and Rockin the Ship, the two fastest Thoroughbred qualifiers, will be challenged by six Quarter Horses in the Grade 3, $57,800 Catalina Derby over 870 yards at Los Alamitos on Saturday night. Redrockn has spent his two-race career at the 870-yard distance against Quarter Horses. He finished second in his career debut, then won his Catalina Derby trial by 3-1/2 lengths in 46.015 seconds for 870 yards.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - A routine end-of-winter program may be brightened considerably Friday when the promising 3-year-old heads a field of five in a $100,000 optional claimer.
Song of the Sword, of course, was not entered to be claimed by Ernie Paragallo's Paraneck Stable, nor were any of his rivals in the mile-and-70-yard race that carries allowance conditions for non-winners of three lifetime.
Though he has run only twice, Song of the Sword has gained a good amount of experience, both times winning by open lengths beneath Richard Migliore.
PORTLAND, Ore. - A bill supported by Washington's Thoroughbred industry gained key approvals from two legislative committees in recent days and now awaits a vote on the floor of the state's House of Representatives.
Substitute Senate Bill 6481 would legalize advance deposit wagering in Washington. It would also extend full-card simulcast wagering to Emerald's 21 satellite sites, and it would remove restrictions on the days per week and hours per day that parimutuel wagering can be conducted.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Darrell Vienna had a quick answer when asked what it would take for Star Cross, whom Vienna trains, to beat top older horse Pleasantly Perfect in Saturday's $1 million .
"Maybe he will scratch," Vienna said.
Despite the presence of Pleasantly Perfect, who won the 2003 Breeders' Cup Classic here last October, nine horses entered the Big Cap on Wednesday. Saint Buddy drew the rail, followed by Southern Image, Royal Place, Island Fashion, Pleasantly Perfect, Star Cross, Toccet, Olmodavor, and Buddy Gil.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Southern Image has already won a race worth $1 million for trainer Mike Machowsky. But for a racing fan who grew up in Southern California and watched the likes of Ack Ack and Vigors win the Santa Anita Handicap, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that compares to the Big Cap. On Saturday, Machowsky will be going for the most important win of his career with the best horse ever to have graced his stable.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Thursday's third-level allowance turf feature at Gulfstream Park is so competitive that even a runner from the seemingly unbeatable Kiaran McLaughlin barn figures to be vulnerable.
Of course, McLaughlin also stands an excellent chance to win the race with , the stronger half of McLaughlin's uncoupled two-horse entry. An overflow field of 14 was entered, with 10 permitted to run.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Tapit worked a mile in 1:47 on trainer Michael Dickinson's Tapeta Farm in Maryland on Tuesday, after which David Fiske, racing manager for owner Ron Winchell's Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, confirmed that the undefeated colt will make his much-anticipated 3-year-old debut in the $1 million Florida Derby on March 13.
"It's 60 days and five hours until the Kentucky Derby, and we've got to make a move and see what we've got," Fiske said.
Fiske said Dickinson was very pleased with Tapit's work, which came with regular exercise rider Ellen Gorman aboard.
ARCADIA, Calif. - An optimistic weather forecast of sun and clear skies through the weekend means the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on Saturday will be run on a fast track. It also means Thursday's card will be run on dry land, though the condition of the turf course is likely to remain damp following heavy rain that swept through the area Monday night.
