ARCADIA, Calif. - Bluesthestandard, the winningest horse in Southern California last year, will make his stakes debut in Saturday's $200,000 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap at Santa Anita.
A winner of a remarkable 12 of 19 career starts, and seven races in 2002, the 6-year-old Bluesthestandard has trained so aggressively since winning an optional claiming race March 12 that owner Jeffrey Sengara paid a $4,000 supplemental fee last Sunday to make him eligible to the Potrero Grande.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Given all Raging Fever has done in her first three years of racing, it would have been no surprise had her owner, Edward Evans, decided to retire and breed her.
According to trainer Mark Hennig, the decision to keep Raging Fever in training wasn't a difficult one.
"He didn't sound like he was mulling it over too much," Hennig said of Evans. "When he discussed who he wanted to race and who he wanted to breed, she was one of the ones he wanted to race."
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - There are only 36 days until the Kentucky Derby, and it's a long way from allowance company to the world's most famous horse race. But, the connections of Kissin Saint aren't giving up hope that their 3-year-old has enough time to earn a trip down the Triple Crown trail.
ARCADIA, Calif. - After starting in several of the top sprints in France last year, War Zone will face a weaker field in a $65,000 allowance race at Santa Anita Friday.
In his U.S. debut and first start for trainer Bobby Frankel, War Zone faces only four rivals in a race at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. Of his four opponents, only Nuclear Debate, third in the Atto Mile, has run well against top company in the last year.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Callie Mae is dropping to score in Friday's best race at Portland Meadows, a one-mile race for $8,000 fillies and mares that has drawn a field of six.
Friday's headliner will mark the first time in eight starts at the meeting that Callie Mae has been entered for a claiming price.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Stronach Stable had a good meeting last year, especially in the fall, when its horses finished one-two in several races.
The trend could continue Friday at Woodbine, when the Stronach pair of Alpha Heat and Number One Cat compete in the featured eighth race, a 6 1/2-furlong preliminary allowance for fillies and mares.
NEW ORLEANS - Friday is Vulcan Stakes day at Fair Grounds!
If you're confused about the significance of the Vulcan, just try handicapping the card.
The Vulcan, a $35,000 stakes restricted to 3-year-old Alabama-breds, starts a program as heavy on chaos as it is on entries.
The average number of starters per race has declined at Fair Grounds the last month, but 99 horses were entered Wednesday for Friday's 10 races. Besides the 'Bama-breds, there will be plenty of Louisiana-bred action and five races for maidens on tap. As for allowance races - wait until Saturday.
PORTLAND, Ore. - "He ran a beautiful race," trainer Delmer Webb said Sunday morning, a day after his star 3-year-old, Cee Cruiser, won the Preview Stakes at Portland Meadows. "Barring bad luck, he'll be awfully hard to beat in the Oregon Derby."
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Ruling Star, who just missed against stakes winner Cowboy Stuff in his last start, will not have to face him again Friday in Oaklawn's featured 10th race, a six-furlong allowance worth $34,000.
But Ruling Star will meet the comebacking Richest Half, who won the $50,000 Mountain Valley at Oaklawn in 2002, and the Ron Moquett-trained entry of Devil's Dust and Cold Stone Steve.
Ruling Star lost a nose decision to Cowboy Stuff in his last start, and since that race Cowboy Stuff has returned to win an optional claimer at Oaklawn.
NEW ORLEANS - Defrere's Vixen is a somewhat small, nondescript Colorado-bred colt, whose pedigree holds no intimations of greatness. But Defrere's Vixen is a useful horse, and after a five-furlong breeze here on Tuesday, he is on track to start next in the Grade 2 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn on April 12.
He was timed in 1:03 for his breeze, which trainer Steve Asmussen described as "strictly maintenance."
"We've done a lot with this horse," Asmussen said. "He doesn't need much right now."