Tue, 03/18/2003 - 00:00

They're all talknbout him now

ARCADIA, Calif. - Buddy Gil got the money, but Atswhatimtalknbout is getting all the attention. The 3-year-olds finished a nose apart in the Grade 2, 1 1/16-mile San Felipe last Sunday, and the strong finish and super gallop out by runner-up Atswhatimtalknbout has made him the clear favorite for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles on April 5.

Tue, 03/18/2003 - 00:00

Cal-bred may prove too much

ARCADIA, Calif. - European imports Tangle and Katdogawn will feel right at home in the first of three turf races Thursday at Santa Anita, but race 3 figures to be won by a California-bred dirt sprinter. Just Too Too, whose front-running style is favored by the outermost placement of the temporary rails (30 feet), could be long gone, even though he is trying two turns and grass for the first time.

Tue, 03/18/2003 - 00:00

Speedy Kona Breeze pick in turf feature

ALBANY, Calif. - For the first time in more than a year, Golden Gate Fields racing secretary Greg Brent was forced to hold up entries and bring them back a second day.

His perseverance paid off after suspending entries on Sunday when no race had more than five entrants. The Thursday co-feature, a one-mile $40,000 starter allowance race on the turf, has nine entrants and looks to be a wide-open race.

Tue, 03/18/2003 - 00:00

Badge of Silver: Blue Grass next?

NEW ORLEANS - Trainer Ronny Werner on Tuesday said he may give Badge of Silver an extra week until his next start and run him in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 12 instead of the $500,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne on April 5.

Both races are at 1 1/8 miles and would serve as Badge of Silver's final prep for the May 3 Kentucky Derby. The Illinois Derby had been considered the next stop for Badge of Silver, but Werner said the colt may benefit from an extra week in light of recent throat surgery.

Tue, 03/18/2003 - 00:00

'No Jacket' vs. absentees

NEW ORLEANS - Taking a stand against No Jacket Required in Fair Grounds's featured race Thursday may require a leap of faith. There are two opponents who may be better, but between them they have just one start in the last 18 months.

No Jacket Required probably will be favored in the ninth race, which is for second-level allowance horses or $40,000 claimers at about 5 1/2 furlongs on turf. Though he steps up in class after a first-level allowance win in his last start, No Jacket Required presents seven rivals with a formidable target.

Mon, 03/17/2003 - 00:00

New York Hero to try Lane's End

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - New York Hero, scratched from Sunday's $200,000 Gotham at Aqueduct, will run in Saturday's $500,000 Lane's End Stakes at Turfway Park.

New York Hero drew post 10 for the Gotham - a major concern given the short run into the first of two turns - and his connections decided they would rather run in the Grade 2 Lane's End, a 1 1/8-mile race.

"We hated the post and we can run for more money in Kentucky," said Jennifer Pedersen, New York Hero's trainer.

Mon, 03/17/2003 - 00:00

Local stakes sweep for Champali?

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Lion Tamer returns to the Gulfstream winner's circle following his victory in the Hutcheson.

Lion Tamer and Champali are the most accomplished 3-year-olds likely to run in Turfway Park's signature race, the $500,000 Lane's End Stakes on Saturday.

Mon, 03/17/2003 - 00:00

Norman praises team for 1,000 wins

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Trainer Cole Norman reached a personal milestone of 1,000 career victories Saturday, and this week, will likely break the record for trainer wins in a season at Oaklawn Park.

Norman, 34, enters the week six wins from breaking trainer David Vance's record of 50 set in 1974.

"It would be a nice accomplishment to look back on," said Norman, who has six horses in Wednesday. "The whole team wants to do it."

Mon, 03/17/2003 - 00:00

Sanibel Sunset faces four in softer spot than Oaks

ALBANY, Calif. - If Sanibel Sunset, the likely favorite in Wednesday's Golden Gate Fields feature race, were in another barn, she might have run in Saturday's $75,000 California Oaks.

She hadn't run badly when a troubled third to Oaks favorite Lucky Sabre two races back. She rebounded from that loss to win a $40,000 starter allowance race at a mile in her next start. On Wednesday, she meets four rival 3-year-old fillies in a $25,000 optional claimer at a mile.

Patience is a way of life in Art Sherman's barn.

Mon, 03/17/2003 - 00:00

Delta Downs track report

* Believe Im Special ($8.60) overtook pacesetter Fine Story late for a neck win in the $50,000 Cajun Express for statebreds Sunday night at Delta Downs in Vinton, La.