Thu, 01/30/2003 - 00:00

Spawr fined for positives

ARCADIA, Calif. - Trainer Bill Spawr was fined $8,500 on Wednesday as a result of two of his winners at Santa Anita in 2001 and 2002 testing positive for an excessive amount of albuterol, a medication used to aid horses with breathing problems.

According to a ruling released by the California Horse Racing Board, Spawr reached a stipulated agreement with the board that will not include a suspension. There was no hearing in the case.

Albuterol is allowed to appear in postrace tests at minute levels, but the Spawr horses were found to be over the legal limit.

Thu, 01/30/2003 - 00:00

Two Gulf races canceled

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Thursday's eighth and 10th races at Gulfstream Park were canceled after a section of the inside rail located between the three-eighths and five-sixteenths poles on the main track was damaged during the running of the afternoon's seventh race.

The ninth race, carded on the turf course, went off as scheduled.

Thu, 01/30/2003 - 00:00

Century City needs best foot forward

PHOENIX - Nine months ago, Century City was in Ireland, scaring the dickens out of the horse many considered the best in the world last year, Rock of Gibraltar.

Century City's strange journey since has now brought him to Arizona as likely the horse to beat in Saturday's $150,000 Turf Paradise Breeders' Cup Handicap, a 1 1/16-mile turf race that is the middle leg of a stakes tripleheader that also includes the $100,000 Turf Paradise Derby and $75,000 Arizona Oaks.

Thu, 01/30/2003 - 00:00

Is Siberland the real deal? We'll find out

By running in races in Arizona or restricted to California-breds, Siberland has been flying below the radar. That all might change quite soon.

Siberland faces just four runners in Saturday's $100,000 Turf Paradise Derby, in which he figures to be a heavy favorite. If he runs as well in that race as he has in his last four starts - all victories - he will then step up and face the best Kentucky Derby prospects on the West Coast at Santa Anita.

Thu, 01/30/2003 - 00:00

Easy going for Offlee Wild

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Offlee Wild, upset winner of the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes, worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 with jockey Mark Guidry aboard at Gulfstream Park on Thursday as he begin preparations for his next start, the Grade 1 Fountain of Youth Stakes on Feb. 15.

Offlee Wild rallied to a game head decision over Powerful Touch in his 3-year-old and two-turn debut, the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull.

Thu, 01/30/2003 - 00:00

Familiar cast of turf challengers

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Last season, the Calder-based Cellars Shiraz dominated the 3-year-old filly turf division in south Florida, beginning with a victory in the $100,000 Herecomesthebride Stakes.

Saturday, another Calder resident, Sweettrickydancer, will attempt to follow in Cellars Shiraz's footsteps when she puts her four race-win streak on the line against 10 others in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride at Gulfstream Park.

Thu, 01/30/2003 - 00:00

Mystery Giver looks ready

NEW ORLEANS - Handicappers will have no trouble finding horses to include Saturday in the $150,000 Fair Grounds Breeders' Cup Handicap. Finding horses to leave out is another story.

Thu, 01/30/2003 - 00:00

When it comes to his star, Block is willing to share

NEW ORLEANS - Not many trainers willingly part with the star of their stable. But the last two winters, Chris Block has waved a fond farewell to Mystery Giver, sending him into the Fair Grounds barn of Richie Scherer.

Block's choice is easier to make because there's no question he will get his horse back when the winter ends. Mystery Giver was bred by Block's parents, David and Patricia, and is owned by a Block family partnership.

Thu, 01/30/2003 - 00:00

Team Valor turns to plan B

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Its top 3-year-old, Added Edge, knocked off the Triple Crown trail due to injury, Team Valor Stables hopes to keep its Kentucky Derby dream alive with Colita.

Team Valor purchased a half-interest in Colita following a 3 1/4-length maiden victory at Aqueduct going six furlongs on Jan. 5. Fifteen days later, Colita successfully stretched out to a mile and 70 yards, winning an entry-level allowance race by 1 3/4 lengths. Colita, trained by Carlos Morales, earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 94 for the effort.

Thu, 01/30/2003 - 00:00

Siberland has little to fear in derby

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Siberland has been unchallenged and untested in two races at Turf Paradise, and unless something strange happens, look for the same scenario Saturday when he goes off an overwhelming favorite in the $100,000 Turf Paradise Derby.

The meet's premier race for 3-year-olds, the derby is the first leg of a stakes tripleheader on Turf Paradise's biggest day of the meet. The Derby is race six on the nine-race card, followed by the $150,000 Turf Paradise Breeders' Cup and the $75,000 Arizona Oaks.