ELMONT, N.Y. - Congaree, winner of the Wood Memorial and Swaps Stakes last year and the third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, could make his 4-year-old debut in the $750,000, Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on May 27, trainer Bob Baffert said Monday.
Baffert said the $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap the same day is also a possibility for Congaree, but sounded as if the Met Mile was the first choice.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Jockey Corey Nakatani is expected to miss another week of racing while recovering from the effects of a concussion suffered in a spill on May 2, according to his agent, Bob Meldahl.
Nakatani has not ridden since the third race on May 2 when his mount, Whirlwind Trip, clipped heels with a rival. Nakatani was thrown and struck his head on the ground.
On advice of doctors, Nakatani did not travel to the Kentucky Derby on May 4.
Last week, he underwent tests and was advised by doctors to take more time off.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Mellow Fellow, winner of Saturday's Grade 3 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Sprint, has been pulled from the Bart Heller Estate Dispersal Sale at the Barretts Sale in Pomona on Tuesday.
Mellow Fellow ran the fastest time of the meet for six furlongs, 1:08.35, as he defeated Explicit and Swept Overboard in the Sprint. He earned a 108 Beyer Figure for the victory. It was the sixth straight win for the 7-year-old Mellow Fellow, who was named horse of the meeting at the Golden Gate Fields in March.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Wiseman's Ferry, winner of the Grade 3, $500,000 Lone Star Derby last Saturday, is the latest in a long line of successful European imports for trainer Niall O'Callaghan.
O'Callaghan recommended the private purchase of from Ireland last year, and in his third North American start, Wiseman's Ferry won the Lone Star Derby. The win came less than a month after the O'Callaghan-trained Hail the Chief, another European purchase, won the Grade 3 National Jockey Club Handicap by 11 1/4 lengths at Sportsman's Park.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The plan had called for El Prado Essence to prep for last Sunday's George C. Hendrie Handicap in an allowance race at Woodbine on April 28.
But when that card was canceled in midstream because of deteriorating track conditions, and the Hendrie prep later was rescheduled for May 3, trainer Audre Cappuccitti was forced to reevaluate her position.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Beginning in June, the shape of the Hastings Park racing schedule will change dramatically.
Wednesday evening will be dropped and the races lost from the mid-week card will be added to the Saturday and Sunday cards. In addition, nine Friday evenings will be added to the schedule.
Post times will also change. Saturday, Sunday, and holiday Monday's will now begin at 2:23 pm, Friday's cards will start at 5 p.m. Weekend post time changes will begin Saturday but the final three Wednesdays will remain at the usual 5:53 pm.
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Waist Gunner John won the Quick Step Handicap by 2 1/2 lengths over 1-2 favorite Down Thepike Mike.
He paid $39.80 for the victory in the Quick Step, for Ohio-bred 3-year-olds and up.
Down Thepike Mike finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of Count On My Word, who was third.
ALTOONA, Iowa - That an Iowa-bred won Saturday night's Prairie Rose Stakes wasn't a big suprise; that it was Trisha Runs instead of 9-5 co-favorite Sumthintotalkabout was.
Trisha Runs ($25.80), under Perry Compton, took command early and was never headed enroute to a 3 1/2-length victory in the Prairie Rose. Trisha Runs covered the six furlongs in 1:09.54 over sloppy going.
Princess Jen rallied to gain the place over co-favorite Soul Onarazoredge.
The win was Trisha Runs's sixth in 11 career starts and her first since May 28.
Sunday Break, the third-place finisher in the Wood Memorial, will not run in the Preakness Stakes, trainer Neil Drysdale confirmed Sunday night.
"We're going in the Peter Pan and Belmont," Drysdale said after conferring with owner Koji Maeda.
The Peter Pan, a $200,000 Grade 2 race at nine furlongs, is run on May 25 at Belmont Park. The Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown, will be run on June 8. In 1992, Drysdale sent out A. P. Indy to win both the Peter Pan and Belmont after he was scratched the morning of the Kentucky Derby with a foot injury.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Sky Jack overwhelmed five opponents in Sunday's $150,000 at Hollywood Park, drawing off in the final furlong to win by 5 1-2 lengths.
Sent off as the favorite, Sky Jack led throughout the Grade 2 Mervyn LeRoy. Ridden by Laffit Pincay, Jr., Sky Jack broke from the rail and set fractions of 23.75 and 46.78 seconds. Bosque Redondo got within a half-length midway down the backstretch, but Sky Jack, racing along the rail, slowly extended his lead. He put away Bosque Redondo on the second turn and quickly pulled clear, finishing 1 1-16 miles in 1:41.36.
