HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Post-position draws for major stakes usually offer few surprises. But such was not the case when entries were drawn Wednesday morning for Saturday's $1 million at Gulfstream Park.
At the draw, three unexpected entries - Smooth Jazz, Monthir, and Peekskill - became part of the field, and Stephentown was not entered because of a minor injury.
French Assault appears to be recovering from the intestinal disorder that kept him from running Sunday in the Louisiana Derby, but even with a speedy recovery it will be several weeks before the colt is ready to race again. Trainer Keith Desormeaux said that if French Assault's condition continues to improve, he will tentatively be pointed for a start next month in the Arkansas Derby.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Came Home, who was an impressive winner of the San Rafael Stakes on March 2, had his first workout since that race postponed on Wednesday because he became cast in his stall on Tuesday night, trainer Paco Gonzalez said Wednesday morning at Santa Anita.
"I just jogged him this morning to make sure he was okay," Gonzalez said at his barn. "The night watchman called me around 9 o'clock last night. [Came Home] gets cast a lot. He rolls a lot. He was fine this morning, but he seemed a little quiet. He's usually full of himself. So I jogged him. He jogged fine."
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Though it is mid-March and he has an undefeated 3-year-old in his barn, trainer Tony Dutrow does not have a case of Derby fever.
Dutrow said on Wednesday that Saratoga Blues will skip Sunday's $200,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct and will not be pointed to the Kentucky Derby on May 4. Instead, Saratoga Blues will make his next start in the $500,000 Lane's End Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park on March 23 and may be pointed to the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 18.
ALBANY, Calif. - Saturday's $200,000 Golden Gate Breeders' Cup Handicap is coming up light.
Only four horses are listed as definite for the 1 1/8-mile Grade 3 turf race after trainer Laura deSeroux indicated Agol Lack would pass the race.
"I really wanted to run, but things just didn't work out," said deSeroux, whose Azeri won the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita last Sunday.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - As men who have spent virtually all of their adult lives in the sport, owner John Oxley and trainer John Ward have an especially deep appreciation of horse racing history.
So it is not difficult to understand why they are excited about the prospect of becoming only the second owner-trainer team to win back-to-back runnings of the Florida Derby.
"That, to me, would be quite an accomplishment," said Ward.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Search Party will try to go out a stakes winner Saturday in the $200,000 Oaklawn Breeders' Cup for fillies and mares. The 1 1/16-mile race is the richest of two Grade 3 stakes on the program at Oaklawn Park, the other being the $100,000 Razorback Handicap, which matches Crafty Shaw, a winner of his last four races, against Mr Ross, a winner of $1 million.
Search Party, a graded stakes-placed earner of $250,254, was flown from Miami to Oaklawn on Wednesday morning, and will be making her career finale start on Saturday.
Jockey Terry Houghton made a successful visit to Sportsman's Park last Saturday, winning on both of his mounts, including Secret Romeo in the Lost Code Handicap. It was so rewarding for Houghton, the leading rider at Tampa Bay Downs this winter, that he is considering switching his base from Great Lakes Downs to Chicago for all or part of this summer and fall.
GROVE CITY, Ohio - The hottest horse on the grounds this winter at Beulah Park is also one of the oldest.
On Sunday, the 11-year-old gelding Yarny's Star scored his third straight victory in a 30-day period for owner-trainer Kerny Hancock by defeating a field of $7,500 claimers. Rex Stokes III has been aboard for all three of the wins. Overall, Yarny's Star has 22 career victories - 21 of them at Beulah - and has earned more than $210,000.
VINTON, La. - With four more weeks remaining in the mixed meeting, six track records have been lowered between the Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses.
The latest record to fall was the 22-year-old mark of 1:38 for a mile, set by Norm's Promise. This past Sunday, Freon Flier ($3.20) eclipsed the previous time, defeating a good group of allowance rivals by five lengths in 1:37.52.