Peace Rules heads a field of 10 horses that have been entered for Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.
Peace Rules, the Bobby Frankel-trained winner of the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds in his last start, drew post 2 and is listed as the 7-5 Blue Grass favorite under jockey Edgar Prado.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Some 18 months ago, a 2-year-old named Political Attack served fair warning that he could become a stakes-quality turf horse by winning a two-turn grass race at Keeneland in his fourth career start.
Twelve races later, and after having been sold to Erdenheim Farm about a year ago, Political Attack returns to Keeneland. Having fulfilled some of the promise originally held for him by winning five races and slightly more than $300,000, Political Attack is part of a well-matched group of older horses assembled for Friday's $200,000 Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Ocean Terrace, who finished last in Saturday's Santa Anita Derby after winning the first three starts of his career, will get another chance to prove his Kentucky Derby mettle by running in the $325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland April 19, trainer Bob Hess Jr. said Wednesday.
Ocean Terrace, however, will have a new jockey for the Lexington. David Shimmon, the co-owner of Ocean Terrace with Bill Bianco, was upset with Kent Desormeaux's ride, as was trainer Bob Hess Jr., so Desormeaux will be replaced.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - A New Twist splashed to a handy victory Wednesday in the $132,769 Madison Stakes at Keeneland, overtaking Flaxen Flyer in midstretch en route to the second stakes triumph of her career.
Trained by John Kimmel and ridden by Pat Day, A New Twist returned $8.80 as the longest shot in a field of just four fillies and mares. Three other scheduled starters scratched from the seven-furlong Madison, led by the morning-line favorite, You, who trainer Bobby Frankel said would run instead in the Doubledogdare at Keeneland next week.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Patton's Victory, who was racing for a claiming price of $7,500 in October, picked up his fifth straight win Wednesday when he led throughout for a length score in the Grade 3, $100,000 Fifth Season at Oaklawn Park.
Patton's Victory ($26.60) broke well, and led the field uncontested through fractions of 23.60 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.60 for the half before covering 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:43.26.
Churchill Downs is offering prize of up to $5 million for picking the precise order of finish of the entire field in the May 3 Kentucky Derby.
The Kentucky Derby $5 Million Pay Day is a free online contest on www.kentuckyderby.com. The $5 million can be won only if the Derby field includes 15 or more starters. For 12 to 14 starters, the payoff is $1 million. For fewer than 12 starters, the payoff is $50,000. The prize money will be paid as a 30-year annuity.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Saarland, one of last year's top Triple Crown prospects, returns to the races for the first time since November as a short-priced favorite in a Friday allowance race at Aqueduct.
Saarland has run only once since finishing 10th in the 2002 Kentucky Derby. He came out of the Kentucky Derby with ankle chips that required surgery and didn't make it back to the races until Nov. 15, when he won a mile allowance race at Aqueduct. He came out of that race with a grabbed quarter.
CALGARY, Alberta - They Call Me Cody lands in a winning spot in Friday's $16,200, six-furlong allowance feature for non winners of two at Stampede Park.
A 5-year-old gelding, They Call Me Cody was competitive against the best older horses on the grounds here last spring and will be heavily favored to capture his first race of the year. He is trained by Dave Toner.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Max Fast Flight heads a field of eight older horses who will seek a second career win in Friday's top offering at Portland Meadows, a 1 1/16-mile race for $4,000 claimers.
Max Fast Flight, who won his maiden at the $8,000 level in February, is coming off a fast-finishing second to Ichiro Run in a mile race for $4,000 claimers on March 30. He figures to relish the added distance on Friday, when he will again be ridden by Danny Boag at 122 pounds.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Fun House raced nearly 1 1/16 miles last time. Unfortunately, the turf route was run at a distance of only a mile. Parked wide throughout, Fun House lost by only a head while producing an effort that will make her the solid favorite in the richest race Friday at Santa Anita.