OLDSMAR, Fla. - Full fields of competitive runners are becoming the watchword at Tampa Bay Downs and nothing illustrates that trend better than Saturday's $60,000 Pelican Stakes, a six-furlong race with a field of 14.
Deer Lake, a 4-year-old colt trained by Charlie Simon, may not race often but when he does he usually runs well. Deer Lake has won 4 of 8 starts this year and 8 of 16 lifetime. He is the choice in a race where the favorite could be 3-1 or higher.
SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - Sunland Park's plan to join the Kentucky Derby prep picture begins Saturday afternoon, with the $175,851 Riley Allison Futurity at 6 1/2 furlongs. The Allison is the first leg of a series that culminates with the $500,000-guaranteed WinStar Derby on March 28.
A $250,000 bonus awaits any horse who can sweep the Allison, the $100,000-added Borderland Derby at a mile on Feb. 29, and the 1 1/16-mile WinStar.
FLORENCE, Ky. - Dubai Sheikh's greatest worry in Saturday's $50,000 Holiday Cheer Stakes may not be alongside him, but overhead. A stakes-winning sprinter on a fast track, he has been considerably less effective in the mud, putting him at the mercy of the weather.
But if conditions are dry - and the early Saturday forecast for the Turfway area calls for party cloudy skies - his opponents are likely running for second-place in the six-furlong Holiday Cheer.
While the king is away, one of Maryland's best young riders is making the most of the opportunity.
Abel Castellano Jr. has capitalized on the absence of Ramon Dominguez, who is on vacation, to capture the first riding title of his career.
With just four days of live racing remaining in Laurel Park's fall meet, Castellano holds an insurmountable 62-48 lead over Dominguez in wins.
ARCADIA, Calif. - On opening day of the Santa Anita winter racing season, nothing comes easy. The favorite for the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Friday is buried on the rail going seven furlongs. How can Midas Eyes possibly win from post 1 in a 13-horse field? Simply by being the best and fastest horse.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Age is not slowing down Redattore. In fact, the 8-year-old may be speeding up. A multiple Grade 1 winner, Redattore worked five furlongs Monday at Santa Anita in a blazing time of 57.60 seconds, the fastest work of the morning and Redattore's final drill before he runs a 1 1/8 miles on grass Sunday in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Handicap. Redattore returned to form Nov. 29, winning the Grade 2 Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park, and has won 14 of 31 lifetime. "He's on a tear," trainer Richard Mandella said after the work.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Classic Jourdan and Lasting Kiss will make their Portland Meadows debuts in Friday's 5 1/2-furlong headliner, an $8,000 claiming race for fillies and mares that has drawn a highly competitive field of six.
Classic Jourdan, a 4-year-old from the barn of trainer Robbie Baze, won twice last summer at Emerald Downs. She defeated $12,500 company at six furlongs in June, then bested $8,000 rivals at a mile in September. While she has not raced since Sept. 19, Classic Jourdan has had four five-furlong works here.
ARCADIA, Calif. - A hot pace enabled He's the Rage to score an upset victory last month in the California Cup Juvenile, and he should get a similar opportunity Friday in the $125,000 California Breeders' Champion Stakes, the supporting feature to another seven-furlong race, the Grade 1 Malibu, on the opening-day card at Santa Anita.
ARCADIA, Calif. - After Del Mar and Fairplex Park enjoyed substantial gains last summer, business at Southern California racetracks slumped in the fall, enough to cause purse cuts at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting and at Hollywood Park.
Breaking that trend is a priority at the Santa Anita's winter-spring meeting, which begins an 84-day run on Friday.
