ARCADIA, Calif. - Get used to memorable performances when Composure and Elloluv meet in major stakes.
When they first met in the Hollywood Starlet Stakes in December, Elloluv led throughout at 30-1 and upset Composure, who was coming off a second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.
In the rematch in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes on Feb. 9, Elloluv took her customary lead only to be caught late by Composure after an exciting stretch run.
NEW ORLEANS - Winning Fans was 108-1 when he finished third in the Lecomte Handicap at Fair Grounds on Jan. 25, and he will be a similarly priced longshot against such horses as Badge of Silver, Kafwain, and Peace Rules in Sunday's $750,000 Louisiana Derby. But an improbable victory would certainly be a tear-jerking conclusion to the heart-wrenching saga in which Winning Fans has been involved.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Wando, an impressive winner of the Grade 2 Grey Stakes here last October before disappointing in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, has been made the 7-2 choice in this year's "winter book" for the 144th running of Woodbine's Queen's Plate.
An owner and trainer with a good 3-year-old filly had lots of stakes options in the Midsouth this Saturday, including a new one at Delta Downs in Vinton, La.
The track has increased the purse for the inaugural Wishing Well, a seven-furlong race around two turns, from $50,000 to $75,000, and the race drew a field headed by shippers Souris, Cat's Cat, and Lady Mallory.
Other regional races for 3-year-old fillies Saturday are the Grade 2, $350,000 Fair Grounds Oaks, and the $75,000 Honeybee at Oaklawn Park.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Few jockeys were as accomplished in their careers as Chris McCarron, who won 7,141 races, the Kentucky Derby in 1987 and 1994, and had mounts who earned in excess of $264 million.
But even the Hall of Fame jockey will admit the experience gained from his career has not prepared him for his upcoming career switch, from retired jockey to the general manager at Santa Anita.
Magna Entertainment, Santa Anita's parent company, announced McCarron's appointment on Wednesday. He will take the position on March 31.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr., the world's winningest rider, will be out of action indefinitely after hospital tests on Wednesday revealed that he suffered two fractures to a cervical bone in his neck in a one-horse spill at Santa Anita on March 1.
The diagnosis will require Pincay to wear a halo cast for up to eight weeks, according to a statement released by Santa Anita.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - It is becoming increasingly unlikely that champion 2-year-old filly Storm Flag Flying will make her 3-year-old debut in next Friday's Forward Gal Stakes, trainer Shug McGaughey said Thursday.
"I'm leaning to not [running]," McGaughey said shortly after Storm Flag Flying breezed a half-mile in 50.40 seconds under exercise rider Cecil Putnam. "I'm going to run her when I think she's ready. If she comes back Monday or Tuesday and works real good then maybe. I'm not in any rush with her."
ALBANY, Calif. - For a Grade 3 race at one of racing's way stations, the El Camino Real Derby has had a surprising impact on the Triple Crown. Five horses who have won Triple Crown races, as well as Kentucky Derby runners-up Casual Lies and Cavonnier, ran in the El Camino Real.
The race, which will be run for the 22nd time Saturday, has been a regular stop along the Triple Crown trail for D. Wayne Lukas, one of the most successful Triple Crown trainers in history.
