LEXINGTON, Ky. - There's an unbeaten horse in the Lafayette Stakes. Big deal. Unbeaten horses have won the race many times.
Yet here's the catch: From 1937 through 1981, the Lafayette was for 2-year-olds in the spring, which hardly gave anyone time to get beat. But since 1982, when Keeneland made the race for 3-year-olds, rare indeed has been the unbeaten racehorse to pass the Lafayette entry box.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - If speed and the rail are awfully good, then this must be Keeneland.
In the six dirt races Friday, the first day of the 16-day Keeneland spring meet, every winner either was on or very close to the lead, or rallied up the rail after lagging several lengths back in the early going.
Meanwhile, horses who were unfortunate enough to be caught three or fourwide on the final turn invariably faded toward the rear.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Darrell Vienna must have felt a little like Bobby Frankel heading into Sunday's $100,000 Miss America Handicap at Bay Meadows.
Frankel has been on a remarkable roll with his stakes runners (and did have three nominations to this race, although none will run).
Vienna, though, is holding the aces this time.
He nominated Grade 1 winner Janet and Queen of Wilshire to the race. Janet was the highweight among the nominees at 123 pounds with Queen of Wilshire listed second at 117.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Since she made her debut three years ago, Penny Marie has been a source of both potential and frustration.
Minor setbacks have limited the 6-year-old Penny Marie to 14 starts. She has won seven races, including two minor stakes, but has lost four graded stakes without winning one.
On Sunday, she can reach that milestone with a victory in the $100,000 Las Cienegas Handicap at Santa Anita, a Grade 3 over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.
"For her value as a broodmare, we need to win a graded stakes," said trainer Bob Hess, Jr.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Raven Power may turn out to be the latest star sprinter for Bruce Headley, who trains Kona Gold and Kalookan Queen, but Headley was not anxious to try him on a national stage following an impressive win in an allowance race on Friday.
Raven Power won a $53,000 allowance race by four lengths, finishing 6 1/2 furlongs in a quick 1:15.11. It was the 3-year-old Raven Power's second win in four starts, following a maiden victory on Jan. 6 and losses in two allowance races, at a mile and 1 1/16 miles.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Jockey Tim Doocy will try to remain perfect in four starts on Powder on Sunday in the $100,000 Carousel Breeders' Cup at Oaklawn Park. A two-time riding champ in Hot Springs, Doocy is in the midst of another strong season at Oaklawn, and after the meet will ride at Lone Star Park regularly for the first time since 1998.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Blink and you might miss it. The $100,000 Carousel Breeders' Cup will go as the first race at Oaklawn Park on Sunday, with four fast fillies in a six-furlong race that is new this year to the Racing Festival of the South.
The race is something of a grudge match between Powder and Spanish Glitter, who finished one-two, respectively, last month in the $50,000 Spring Fever Stakes at Oaklawn. The Carousel has also drawn Miss Seffens, who will launch what will likely be her final season on Sunday, and explosive allowance winner Southern Tour.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Most of the big names have left town, but the good racing is far from over here this meet. Three $75,000 stakes will be run in the week ahead, each bringing together top-caliber horses and the potential for some intriguing matchups.
On Friday, Best of the Rest will try to get back on the winning track as the 119 pound highweight in the 1 1/16-mile Unbridled Handicap. Best of the Rest finished fifth in the
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Some trainers may fret and spend endless hours watching The Weather Channel before running a horse in a turf stakes. But it's a cinch Bill Cesare will not lose any sleep before he sends out Cellars Shiraz in Sunday's $75,000 Via Borghese Stakes.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - On Thursday night, two men rode under the lights at Lone Star Park, as they did in Dubai last month. For one - Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, who won the Dubai World Cup aboard Street Cry - the trip to Dubai is a yearly occurrence. For the other, Gerard Melancon, it was the opportunity of a lifetime.