ARCADIA, Calif. - Polygreen deserves to be a strong favorite when she attempts to win her first stakes in nearly two years in Wednesday's $75,000 Tuzla Handicap at Santa Anita.
After finishing second by a nose to Icantgoforthat in the Grade 3 Monrovia Handicap over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course on Dec. 29, stretches out to a mile on turf for the Tuzla.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Now that it appears he has returned to form, Peeping Tom will return to graded stakes competition for his next start, which will likely be the Grade 2, $200,000 General George Handicap at Laurel Park on Feb. 16. Peeping Tom won the General George in 2001 and finished second in 2003.
Ontrack business at Oaklawn Park was strong during its three-day opening weekend that ran from Friday through Sunday. A crowd of 25,137 turning out opening day, followed by 25,780 who braved rainy weather Saturday. Total attendance for the weekend was 62,982, while ontrack handle on Oaklawn's races was $4,678,966.
Last year, a total of 46,304 patrons attended the three-day opening weekend and bet $4.2 million ontrack.
ALBANY, Calif. - Russell Baze comes back from the longest injury-related layoff of his career Wednesday at Golden Gate Fields. Baze spent two days short of two months on the sidelines after suffering a displaced fracture of his right collarbone.
Baze, fourth on the all-time rider list for career victories with 8,484, is scheduled to ride four horses Wednesday and will ride four more on Thursday.
ALBANY, Calif. - Owners Jeff Obstfeld, Mike Connors, and Jack Owens thought enough of Night Owl Nick to claim the 3-year-old colt for $12,500 from his debut at Golden Gate Fields on Nov. 21.
He ran just twice for them, finishing seventh in a straight maiden race and then third on Jan. 18 in a $16,000 claimer. Night Owl Nick pulled up with a condylar fracture after the race, and the owners agreed to pursue surgery instead of having Night Owl Nick put down.
The $125,000-added La Senora Handicap provided a debutante party for the New Mexico-bred 3-year-old filly Icy Lane, who drew off by four lengths over a more seasoned group of her peers to win her third race, and first stakes, from as many starts.
With Tony Noguez aboard, Icy Lane covered the six furlongs in 1:11.87 and returned $3.80 as the heavy favorite. Second choice Queen of Slots stumbled a few strides out of the gate and then weakened in the stretch to finish fourth. Devil Lace (29-1) finished second, and Vipervapor (5-1) was third.
SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - Ciento carried 127 pounds to victory in the $125,000-added New Mexico State University Handicap, proving once again his dominance in the New Mexico-bred handicap division. Ciento, with regular jockey Sal Gonzalez Jr. in the saddle, settled off the pace as usual while Hesa Bad Cat controlled the pace through a half in 46.45 seconds. Hesa Bad Cat resisted the bid of Ninety Nine Jack on the far turn and had a clear lead entering the stretch, but Ciento was beginning to roll and by the sixteenth pole had taken command.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Apprentice jockey Pablo Fragoso and the 3-year-old filly Island Sand continued their winning ways, as Fragoso gave Island Sand a perfect ride to win the $80,375 Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct.
It was the third consecutive victory for Island Sand, a daughter of Tabasco Cat, and it capped a week in which Fragoso rode nine winners to vault to the top of the inner-track jockey standings. Fragoso, a finalist for the Eclipse Award as the nation's top apprentice, also won his second career stakes.
Jockey Carlos Marquez Jr. has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung and four broken ribs following a spill in the fifth race Saturday at Oaklawn Park. Roman Chapa and Luis Quinonez were also involved in the accident, but both escaped serious injury and rode on Sunday.
Marquez is expected to spend the next few days in St. Joseph's Hospital in Hot Springs, according to track officials. There is no timeline for his return.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Island Fashion became the undisputed leader of the Santa Anita female sprinters with her victory in Sunday's $250,000 Santa Monica Handicap.
The win came four weeks after she scored a six-length win in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes against 3-year-old fillies. Despite her impressive sprint wins, she is unlikely to remain in shorter races. As the winner of the Alabama Stakes over 1 1-4 miles at Saratoga last August, Island Fashion is proven over longer distances and is expected to try such races in coming months.