OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Thursday's live racing program at Aqueduct was canceled because of snow that began falling around 9 a.m. The track remained open for simulcasting.
Since Jan. 1, Aqueduct has canceled three full cards and two partial cards because of bad weather. One of those full cards was made up two days later, a day that Aqueduct was originally scheduled to be dark.
NEW ORLEANS - San Diego Sue was rained out of a turf race here Feb. 17, and the concerns trainer Al Stall had going into that start pertain to Friday, when San Diego Sue is scheduled to run again.
San Diego Sue was one of 13 entered for Friday's ninth race, a first-level allowance at about 7 1/2 furlongs on grass. Ten of the 13 horses entered will be permitted to run if the race remains on turf.
NEW ORLEANS - Bobby Frankel apparently likes Bourbon Street more than cable cars. After saying on Tuesday that he would "probably go up north" with Peace Rules for Saturday's El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields, Frankel on Wednesday reversed course and decided to send Peace Rules to Sunday's $750,000 Louisiana Derby, making an outstanding race that much better.
ALBANY, Calif. - A field of eight now appears likely for Saturday's $200,000 Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.
On Wednesday, trainer Bobby Frankel decided to send Peace Rules to Fair Grounds to run in the Louisiana Derby and trainer Mike Machowsky opted not to run Southern Image. Trainer Wally Dollase will enter Ten Most Wanted, who came out of a Saturday work with a minor problem that has now been remedied.
Also scheduled to run are Ministers Wild Cat, Crackup, Mr. Technique, Ocean Terrace, Onebadshark, Ozzie Cat, and Winning Stripes.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Lured by the prospect of earning a placing in a major stakes race, the connections of three fillies have decided to tackle favorites Composure and Elloluv in Saturday's $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks.
The prospective field for the Grade 1 Oaks, a leading prep to the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs May 2, is at a whopping five 3-year-old fillies.
Composure and Elloluv are both Grade 1 winners in the last three months. The trainers of Go for Glamour, Harbor Blues, and Long Term Wish are hoping to run third to enhance the value of their young fillies.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Chris McCarron, the Hall of Fame jockey who retired last June, has been appointed general manager of Santa Anita, the track parent's company, Magna Entertainment, announced Wednesday.
McCarron will take his position on March 31. He will assume a title currently held by Jack Liebau, who is also Santa Anita's president. Liebau also serves as president of Magna's two other California tracks - Bay Meadows in San Mateo and Golden Gate Fields in Albany.
McCarron will report to Liebau, the company stated. Liebau was not available for comment.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Saturday's ungraded Stymie Handicap at Aqueduct could be looked upon as a step down for Snake Mountain, who has won three consecutive Grade 3 stakes races.
Following a win in an allowance race in October at Belmont, Snake Mountain went on a tear and won the Stuyvesant, Queens County, and Aqueduct handicaps in succession at Aqueduct. Snake Mountain, a son of A.P. Indy, earned triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in each of his last four starts.
PORTLAND, Ore. - There is a new hat in the Oregon Derby ring, and it belongs to Cee Cruiser.
Cee Cruiser, an Oregon-bred son of Cee's Tizzy who races for breeder Troy Lange and partner Dan Miller, earned serious consideration for the April 13 Oregon Derby with a breakthrough performance in last Sunday's McFadden Memorial at Portland Meadows.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Todd Pletcher has a lot of important decisions to make in the next 10 days regarding several of his most prominent horses.
In Lion Tamer, Indy Dancer, and Aristocat, Pletcher has a trio of legitimate Kentucky Derby prospects. Initially, his plan was to run Indy Dancer in the $1 million Florida Derby on March 15, Aristocat in the $250,000 Tampa Bay Derby on March 16, and Lion Tamer in Turfway Park's $500,000 Lane's End Stakes on March 22.