HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Paloma Parilla, winner of the second division of the $75,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park, will miss the track's Grade 3, $100,000 Rebel on Saturday because of a quarter crack in his left front hoof.
The injury has forced the colt to lose six days of training, and he will now be pointed to either the $75,000 Northern Spur Stakes at Oaklawn on April 10, or the $100,000 Grand Prairie Turf Challenge at Lone Star Park on April 6.
OLDSMAR, Fla. - The undefeated Bunk N Ted will face the stiffest test of his career on Sunday when he takes on a host of dangerous south Florida ship-ins topped by Tropical Park Derby winner Political Attack in the $200,000 .
In recent years such notables as Impeachment, Wheelaway, and Menifee have run in the Tampa Bay Derby en route to good showings in the Triple Crown, prompting the grading committee to reinstate the race's Grade 3 status this year.
ALBANY, Calif. - Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer seems to be holding the aces (again), this time for the $55,000 Silky Sullivan Starter Handicap, Sunday at Golden Gate Fields.
Hollendorfer sends out the entry of Ninebanks and Anstar in a field of eight, which includes a second coupled entry of Suspicious Minds and Withholding Info.
Hollendorfer nominated Ninebanks to Saturday's Golden Gate Breeders' Cup Handicap, which drew only five entrants. He opted to run in the Silky Sullivan, a 1 1/16-mile turf race, instead.
NEW ORLEANS - They were lined up, saying farewell, good luck, and good riddance, as the van carrying Bonapaw from Fair Grounds to Dubai pulled away last week. Sunday, Bonapaw will be training at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai, pushing closer to a start in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen. The local sprinters he left behind will be running in the $150,000 Pelleteri Breeders' Cup Handicap.
Rusty Spur ran a great race, but was no match for Wrangler when the two met in last month's Grade 2 General George. Rusty Spur, at 27-1, finished second, 2 3/4 lengths behind favored Wrangler, after setting a quick pace in the seven-furlong race
The good news for Rusty Spur is that he won't have to face Wrangler, one of the country's hottest sprinters, in Sunday's $50,000 Endless Surprise Stakes at Laurel Park.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The World Throughbred Championship races for 2-year-olds will be lengthened to 1 1/8 miles for the 2002 runnings next fall at Arlington Park. The change, approved in a Breeders' Cup board meeting held at the Diplomat-Westin Hotel in Hallandale Beach on Friday, is only for the 2002 runnings.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Talk about your March Madness. Here it is, seven weeks until the first Saturday in May, and the unwieldy nature of the 2002 Kentucky Derby picture is daring to make the NCAA basketball tournament look as wild and disorderly as Martha Stewart's living room.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Wrangler is well spotted and well drawn to continue his winning ways Saturday when he meets six rivals in the $100,000 Toboggan Handicap at Aqueduct.
Wrangler, who has won three straight races including the General George Handicap at Laurel Park, drew the outside post in the seven-horse field and is the starting co-highweight at 119 pounds along with Affirmed Success.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Even though she gives up experience to all of her rivals, Ask Me No Secrets faced company in her last race that points her out as the horse to beat in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Oaklawn Breeders' Cup at Oaklawn Park.
The 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares is the final local prep for the Grade 1 Apple Blossom, and for the first time it will share a program with the Grade 3, $100,000 Razorback Handicap, a race that will produce starters for the Grade 1, $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap.
Both the Apple Blossom and Oaklawn Handicap will be run April 6.
ARCADIA, Calif. - One horse had a bad trip last time. Another was racing on unfamiliar ground. Denon and Straight Flush return to preferred conditions Saturday at Santa Anita, where both are qualified to win the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Handicap at 1 1/2 miles on turf.
Nine older horses entered the $250,000 race, including consistent California-bred Continental Red; New York shipper Coyote Lakes; the mare Keemoon; lukewarm contenders Ringaskiddy and El Gran Papa; and longshots Speedy Pick and Our Main Main.
