HOT SPRINGS, Ark.- Spanish Glitter was dazzling in her last two starts at Oaklawn Park, winning an allowance race and the $50,000 American Beauty by a combined
11 lengths, accomplishments that make her appear invincible in Sunday's $50,000 Spring Fever Stakes.
But is she?
Maybe not. Spanish Glitter has controlled the pace in both of her local wins, but on Sunday will face a quality front-runner in Powder, who like Spanish Glitter, is undefeated in two starts at Oaklawn.
ARCADIA, Calif. - A confusing field of fillies and mares entered the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Handicap on Sunday at Santa Anita, where Spain tries to halt her slide in the richest filly-mare race of the winter meet.
Eight entered the $300,000 Santa Margarita, a 1 1/8-mile race for a division that lacks definition. Spain was expected to lead the filly-mare division into spring, but she has fallen short. In losing both starts at the meet, Spain has extended her losing streak to nine, even while increasing her bankroll to more than $3 million.
ARCADIA, Calif. - A suspensory injury has ended the career of the 4-year-old stakes filly Love at Noon, who won 2 of 7 races and set a track record at Churchill Downs for owner Mike Pegram and trainer Bob Baffert.
Wednesday at Santa Anita, Love at Noon finished off the board at 2-5 in a two-other-than allowance sprint, leading to massive show payoffs on three other runners. Of the $339,653 wagered to show, $308,765 was on Love at Noon. The imbalance led to show payoffs of $17.20, $23, and $36.40 in the five-horse field.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Puck all but cinched a spot in Saturday's Grade 1 Florida Derby after working six furlongs in 1:12.80 at Calder on Thursday.
"It was an exceptional work," trainer Bill White said. "He wouldn't have been able to work like this 30 or 45 days ago, which is an indication he is an improving horse who hasn't peaked out yet. He also came out of the work in great shape. If there are no surprises over the next few days he will definitely start in the Florida Derby."
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Arromanches, the amazing 9-year-old who had his 10-race winning streak snapped in his last start, has been transferred back to the barn of trainer Scott Lake.
Owner Bruce Golden claimed Arromanches from Lake for $50,000 on Feb. 2 and gave him to lifelong friend Arthur Wendel to train. At the time, Wendel was on a 94-race losing streak dating back to May 5, 2000.
ALBANY, Calif. - Trainer Howard Belvoir hopes Power to Burn can add one ingredient to her repertoire in Sunday's Golden Gate Fields one-mile allowance feature.
"She can run long, short, or in between," Belvoir said. "She can run on or off the pace."
Power to Burn, who has run second in all three of her starts this year, lacks only one thing: luck.
"She's had a couple tough losses," Belvoir said.
ARCADIA, Calif. - You, the overachiever of trainer Bobby Frankel's barn, can book a ticket to the Kentucky Oaks with a strong performance in Saturday's $300,000 .
Since she was purchased privately last summer by Edmund Gann, You has become a pleasant surprise for Frankel, scoring victories in three important races - the Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga last summer, the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park last fall, and the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita last month.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Hook and Ladder, who has been invincible at Gulfstream Park over the past two winters, will put his unblemished local mark on the line Saturday when he seeks to defend his title in the $200,000 Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Sprint Championship.
Despite the presence of Hook and Ladder, who has won all four of his starts at this track, a field of nine was drawn for the seven-furlong race. Heading the competition will be Burning Roma, who will run for the first time since coming to trainer Bill Mott's barn, and Fappie's Notebook.
NEW ORLEANS - certainly doesn't have a respect problem in New Orleans. Her 8 1/2-length win three weeks ago at Fair Grounds in the Silverbulletday Stakes left an indelible impression on the trainers of horses who, somewhat reluctantly, return Saturday to challenge her in the Fair Grounds Oaks.
"I put her in there with the top three or four fillies anywhere," said Neil Howard.
"Awesome," said Niall O'Callaghan.
"I can tell you that I don't have anything to go out and run 1:42," said Steve Asmussen.
ALBANY, Calif. - Northern California's leading trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer, knows Saturday's running of the at Golden Gate Fields will tell him a lot about the three colts he has entered.
Hollendorfer will run Lawn Mower and Cappuchino as an entry and Yougottawanna as a separate interest.
"Prep races like this are to tell you what you have," Hollendorfer said. "You need to run well to go on to the next level. I want them all to run well."
Hollendorfer's three will have eight rivals in the $200,000 Grade 3 race at 1 1/16 miles.
