LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Trainer Elliott Walden is without a Kentucky Derby starter for the third straight year, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have a lot going on at his Churchill Downs barn.
Walden, whose three Derby starters have included the 1998 and 1999 runners-up, Victory Gallop and Menifee, reported Tuesday on a recent retirement, a recent purchase, and tentative plans for some of the up-and-coming stars in his stable.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Several trainers have targeted Saturday's $100,000 Fort Marcy Handicap at Aqueduct - the first turf stakes of the season in New York - to bring their horses out of hibernation. Six of the nine horses expected to run in the Grade 3 race will be making their seasonal debuts.
Trainer Dr. John Fisher, who took over the training of late last summer, said the Fort Marcy has been on his mind since Dr. Kashnikow crossed the finish line first in the Grade 3 River City Handicap last Nov. 11 at Churchill Downs.
CICERO, Ill. - Cashel Castle cut a lonely gray figure Tuesday morning at Sportsman's Park, where he had his final workout before racing Saturday in the Derby Trial at Churchill Downs. Breezing just before 10 a.m., Cashel Castle had a smoothly groomed Sportsman's surface almost to himself, and he skipped comfortably over it while recording a four-furlong work in 48.20 seconds. Cashel Castle, ridden in the work by jockey Eddie Razo, galloped out five furlongs in about 1:01.60, trainer Chris Block said.
CALGARY, Alberta - The complexion of the May 4 Stampede Park Sprint Championship has changed following Tyko Tycoon's nose victory here in last Saturday's major prep for the $40,000 Sprint Championship, the first stakes of the meet.
Tyko Tycoon prevailed over 19-1 longshot They Call Me Cody, with the late-running Rancour a head back. Sixthirtyjoe, taken well back after breaking sharply, closed well for fourth, three lengths back of Rancour and a nose in front of the heavily favored Timely Ruckus.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting begins on Wednesday with the $75,000 Harry Henson Stakes for 3-year-olds sprinting on turf, a race that's a difficult puzzle to solve.
The spring-summer meeting, which runs through July 21, will be available to home bettors in California for the first time this year through telephone and Internet betting, provided the Thoroughbred Owners of California and Hollywood Park reach an agreement on distribution of revenue. As of Monday, the two sides were still in negotiation.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Cetewayo has been recycled more times than a Coca-Cola can. Now an 8-year-old with just 23 lifetime starts, Cetewayo has won stakes in four of the last five years, but only after returning from lengthy absences, as per the familiar mad-genius methods of trainer Michael Dickinson.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Santa Anita ended its winter-spring meeting on Sunday with a rise in mutuel handle but a drop in on-track attendance.
The 85-day meeting had an average overall handle of $12,050,726, a gain of 9 percent. The most significant gain came through nationwide handle, which rose 13 percent to $5,024,307. There were smaller gains in on-track handle and betting throughout the state.
GROVE CITY, Ohio - Trainer Larry Roe has been suspended for the remainder of the calendar year and fined $250 by the Beulah Park stewards after a sweep of his barn area uncovered hypodermic syringes, needles, and bottles of injectable substances.
The ban follows an April 11 ruling against Roe in which Gone Gone, who won the eighth race here on March 3, tested positive for Guanabenz. Roe was suspended 90 days and fined $250 for the incident and Gone Gone was disqualified from all purse money.
JAMAICA N.Y. - The Paraneck Express continued to roll when longshot Liveitupnow ($83) battled back in deep stretch to overtake Multiple Wins by a head in the $100,000 Park Avenue Division of the New York Stallion Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at muddy Aqueduct.
Meanwhile, heavy favorite Trial Prep ($2.80) also came back after surrendering the lead in the stretch to win the $100,000 Times Square Division for 3-year-old colts and geldings.
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Easter Butter assumed command before a half-mile and posted a 6 1/2-length win over 10 Ohio-bred filly and mare rivals in the $40,000 Angenora Stakes at six furlongs. Honey Bee Mine finished second, a half-length in front Eye Slew the City, who took third.
Under jockey Luis Gonzalez, Easter Butter got the six furlongs in 1:10.26, a stakes record.