ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Mike DePaulo had a quiet winter at Gulfstream Park, starting just four horses and failing to win a race.
But it didn't take long for DePaulo to make some noise back on his home grounds when he sent out two winners here last Saturday, the opening day of the 167-day Woodbine meet.
SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - Trainer Ted H. West made a wise move by claiming Himalayan for $80,000 on Dec. 31. A win in Saturday's $250,000-added WinStar Sunland Park Oaks would make it seem brilliant.
In two races since the claim, Himalayan, a Mountain Cat filly out of the Clever Trick mare Polly Daniels, has finished third in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez and the La Habra - both sprints - for owner Jeffrey Sengara. On Saturday, Himalayan will be a leading contender to take down a big purse while West and Sengara find out if she can handle two turns.
Trainer Mike Reavis's streak for consecutive days with at least one winner came to an end in the last race Sunday when his only entrant, Ebony Angel, finished second, beaten a half-length.
Reavis had saddled at least one winner on each of the first 16 days of the meet, which began March 1.
It didn't take long for Reavis to start a new streak. He saddled one winner Monday and four Tuesday - Pikester ($4.80), Holly's Wager ($6.60), Miss Spragg ($8.20), and Ft. Mann ($5.80).
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Bill Conyers saddled three winners from three starters on the March 21 card. Conyers sent out Nanocity to a $3.40 score in the second race, Miss Shares ($7) in the seventh, and closed out the 10-race card with Lil'redheadeddevil ($6.80).
Conyers entered the weekend with three wins at the meet, and added another on Saturday to move into a three-way tie for second in the trainer standings with Ricky Gustafson and Marv Johnson. The three trail leading trainer David Anderson.
Casey Fuselier, who as an apprentice won 15 races at the recently concluded Delta Downs meet, will ride next at Lone Star Park, which opens on April 3.
Fuselier, 16, began riding on Jan. 5. He said he plans to ride later this year in Chicago and Kentucky. Rick Mocklin, agent for three-time Lone Star riding champ Corey Lanerie, will book mounts for Fuselier.
Last year, the winningest jockey at Sam Houston Race Park was decided on the final night, when John Jacinto won four races to edge Glen Murphy, 67-64. This year, things could be as tight.
Don Simington and Terry Stanton were deadlocked at 71 wins each heading into the final week of racing Thursday. The 80-day meet will close Sunday, and each night until then, the progress of the riders will be tracked by a sign in the winner's circle at Sam Houston.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Tuesday was a dark day on the local racing schedule. But for trainer Shug McGaughey it was business as usual during training hours at Gulfstream Park as he sent out several of his top runners to work, including Storm Flag Flying and Saarland.
McGaughey continues to take it slow and easy with Storm Flag Flying, his undefeated Juvenile Filly champion who worked a half-mile in 50.20 seconds.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Oaklawn Park agrees with Twinwinwin. The filly has won 2 of 3 starts since she shipped in from New York two months ago, which makes her the one to beat Thursday in the featured ninth race, a $45,000 optional claimer worth $34,000.
The 1 1/16-mile race drew six, including stakes winner Sarah Jade, who gets back to arguably her best distance for her second start since August.
Twinwinwin has been in a zone at Oaklawn, winning her last two races, both conditioned allowances at 1 1/16 miles. In her other start at the meet, she ran second.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Alysweep, who successfully stretched out his speed around two turns winning the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 16, is likely to make his next start in the $500,000 Illinois Derby on April 5, trainer Pat Reynolds said Tuesday.
Reynolds, who trains Alysweep for owners Michael Dubb and Mark Doneson, did not rule out running him in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 12, but mentioned several reasons why he likes the Illinois Derby better.