HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - With a superior Beyer Speed Figure at 2, a two-turn stakes win by January of his 3-year-old year, and a perfect race record, it is difficult to get past Smarty Jones in the $100,000 at Oaklawn Park on Saturday.
That's not to say the field is lacking in quality. There are 10 promising colts, including Pro Prado, Proper Prado, Wildcat Shoes, Two Down Automatic, and South Africa in the one-mile race that starts the march to the $1 million Arkansas Derby.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Anywhere you turn, there are questions to be answered regarding the leading contenders in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 The Very One Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
come into The Very One off victories, but none of the three has raced beyond 1 1/8 miles. Savedbythelight is a proven long-distance runner, but trainer Rick Violette isn't sure she is a true turf horse. Ocean Silk, another proven route horse, may need a race. She has been idle since Oct. 17.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Storm Flag Flying, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2002, made a triumphant return to the races Thursday, winning a classified allowance race by 3 3/4 lengths at Gulfstream Park.
It was her first race since she finished sixth in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes last June 6 at Belmont Park. And it was her first victory since she captured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in the fall of 2002, a win that capped off an undefeated season for the regally bred filly.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Azeri, the 2002 Horse of the Year who was briefly retired last fall before resuming training in late December, is being pointed for stakes in the Midwest in the spring, owner Michael Paulson said.
Unraced since finishing second in the Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap at Santa Anita last September, Azeri has had three published workouts since early February. The most recent was a half-mile breeze in 47.80 seconds on Wednesday.
PORTLAND, Ore. - With the State of Washington's 60-day legislative session scheduled to end March 9, legislation deemed vital to the state's $330 million Thoroughbred industry is still awaiting action from the House Commerce and Labor Committee.
NEW ORLEANS - Thursday afternoon, Seattle Fitz was riding on a van somewhere in Alabama or Mississippi. How blase.
This is a horse who was bred and raised in Argentina, and taken as a 2-year-old to Dubai, where he was sold and began his career. He immigrated to this country less than a year ago, and already has run at six different racetracks. The last of them was Gulfstream Park, where Seattle Fitz turned in the best performance of his life, finishing second to Medaglia d'Oro in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap.
HALLANDALE Beach, Fla. - Linda Rice may have a reputation as a top trainer of 2-year-olds, but she isn't too shabby with turf horses either. Double Booked and Tenski are two of the best horses Rice has trained and they made their mark on grass.
Rice may have another budding turf star in Lucifer's Stone, who rates a slight edge in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Herecomesthebride Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Fourteen 3-year-old fillies were entered in the nine-furlong race, but only 12 will be able to start on turf. Irish Melody will run only if the race is moved to dirt.
NEW ORLEANS - During 18 Fair Grounds race cards in February, the turf course was deemed dry enough to use only seven times. The rain-offs might have hurt the racing product, but for the first time all meet, the grass here really looks green. Just in time for Bedanken's return to New Orleans.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Even though Minister Eric finished second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last October, his credentials do not guarantee him a berth in Saturday's $100,000 at Santa Anita.
Scheduled for about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course, the Baldwin Stakes drew 14 3-year-olds but will be limited to 12 starters. In order of preference, Roi Charmant and Minister Eric are on the also-eligible list but still might find their way into the race.
