Wed, 02/19/2003 - 00:00

Beulah cancels back half of card

GROVE CITY, Ohio - Although racing resumed at Beulah Park on Tuesday after Saturday and Sunday programs were canceled because of a snowstorm that hit the central Ohio area over the weekend, the track could not make it through Wednesday's card.

Beulah Park had to cancel the last four races of its eight-race program Wednesday after the jockeys refused to ride, citing unsafe track conditions. Wednesday's card was a makeup day for this past Saturday's card.

Wed, 02/19/2003 - 00:00

Sunland Park track report

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - Trainer Todd Fincher has done an excellent job of running his horses in the right spots at this meet and the result has been 14 wins from his 36 starters, a remarkable 38-percent win average.

Wed, 02/19/2003 - 00:00

Fonner Park track report

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Fonner Park lost one racing program and two-thirds of another in the aftermath of the snowstorm that whipped through Nebraska last weekend and later left its mark on the East Coast.

Following rain all day Friday, the precipitation switched over to snow later that night making for dangerous driving conditions. While the Grand Island area escaped with only about three inches of snow, locations to the east received considerably more.

Tue, 02/18/2003 - 00:00

Is it finally Windsor Castle's year?

Equi-Photos
Windsor Castle's victory in the Hal's Hope last month at Gulfstream has his connections hoping that the 5-year-old colt will finally reach his potential in this, his fourth season of racing. He runs next in Saturday's Donn.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - This meeting has already seen the renaissance of the 5-year-old mare Harmony Lodge, who has recorded two graded stakes victories after having been somewhat of a disappointment earlier in her career.

The connections of Windsor Castle hope the same rejuvenation is in store for their 5-year-old colt, who will attempt to build on a victory in last month's Hal's Hope Handicap when he runs in Saturday's Grade 1 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

Tue, 02/18/2003 - 00:00

Desormeaux to try Keeneland meet

ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Kent Desormeaux said earlier this week that he plans to leave California to ride the spring meet at Keeneland, which runs April 4-25.

Desormeaux, 32, said the move from California is temporary, but he may spend time later this spring riding at Belmont Park or Churchill Downs. He has traveled to Keeneland to ride in major stakes races in past years, but has never been based there.

Tue, 02/18/2003 - 00:00

Three with last-race trouble

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trip handicappers will have plenty of options from which to choose when doping out Thursday's featured entry-level allowance race for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles over Gulfstream Park's turf course.

Ballado Hill, Storm Clipper, and Constancy all had their share of trouble in their last starts, though Ballado Hill was talented enough to overcome hers and win. Storm Clipper encountered her problems when racing in stakes company, while Constancy makes a return visit to this allowance condition.

Tue, 02/18/2003 - 00:00

Table is set for Sky Mesa's return

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - John Ward said we would know he was getting serious about Sky Mesa's training when he shipped the colt to Gulfstream Park from his winter home at Palm Beach Downs for a workout.

Tuesday morning, Sky Mesa showed up at Gulfstream Park and did he ever get serious, drilling five furlongs in 1:00.40 under his regular rider, Edgar Prado. The time equaled the fourth-fastest of 31 moves at the distance on a track that yielded some fast times early because of its moisture content.

Tue, 02/18/2003 - 00:00

Affirmed Success waits

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The postponement of the $200,000 General George at Laurel Park from Monday to Saturday means that Affirmed Success, who was the 2-1 morning-line favorite, will miss the race.

Instead, Affirmed Success will be pointed to Aqueduct's $100,000-added Toboggan Handicap on March 15.

A major snowstorm canceled racing at Laurel in Maryland on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The General George and $200,000 Barbara Fritchie, scheduled for last Saturday, were redrawn on Tuesday and will be run on Saturday.

Tue, 02/18/2003 - 00:00

Derby hopes on the line

ARCADIA, Calif. - The preliminary races are over for the five 3-year-olds entered in a $56,000 allowance race at Santa Anita on Thursday.

A win or a placing in Thursday's race over 1 1/16 miles could vault some of these colts into the preps for the Triple Crown. A loss could force their owners and trainers to reconsider a start in the big races this spring.

The allowance race in question is the second race on an eight-race program that includes the $75,000 San Marino Handicap, which was postponed last weekend because of a wet turf course.

Tue, 02/18/2003 - 00:00

Red-hot Jones prepares to unleash 'A' team

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - This is the kind of meet Larry Jones is having at Oaklawn Park: He has the highest win percentage among the top 10 trainers and hasn't even started the two best horses in his barn, Ruby's Reception and Don't Countess Out.

Ruby's Reception, a 7 3/4-length winner of the $100,000 Debutante at Ellis Park in August, worked a bullet five furlongs in 1:02.20 on Saturday in preparation for her 3-year-old debut, which is scheduled to come in the $75,000 Honeybee at 1 1/16 miles March 8.

Her goal at the meet is the Grade 2, $200,000 Fantasy on April 11.