HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Tim Ritvo does not have to be asked whether he thinks Star Over the Bay can win Wednesday at Gulfstream.
All that needs to be known is Ritvo fully believed the colt would have been very competitive Saturday if rain had not forced the Grade 3 Canadian Turf Handicap off the grass. Star Over the Bay was one of five horses, including Hap, who was scratched from the race.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Stephentown was the "now" horse coming into the Grade 1 Fountain of Youth Stakes but failed to live up to all the hype, finishing a tiring sixth behind as the 5-2 second choice in the final major prep for the $1 million Florida Derby on March 16.
Nobody was more disappointed in Stephentown's performance than his trainer, Anthony Reinstedler. He is more concerned about focusing on his colt's future than dwelling on the past.
Ideveter ($8.80) wired the field to win her first stakes in the $50,000 Valdale at Turfway Park.
Ridden by Greta Kuntzweiler, Ideveter won by 1 1/2 lengths over Art Fair in a time of 1:38.95 for one mile.
The Valdale was Ideveter's fourth consecutive win this winter at Turfway and her third straight at a mile. Her win in the Valdale pushed her career earnings over $80,000. Ideveter is trained by William Bradley.
New York shipper Irving's Baby made easy work of her four rivals in the $50,000 Maryland Racing Media Handicap at Laurel Park to win her fourth stakes in Maryland.
Irving's Baby ($2.80) won the 1 1/8-mile race by eight lengths after setting the pace through comfortable fractions.
Maria finished second and was followed under the wire by Double Trick, three-quarters of a length behind in third.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Beginning Friday, California trainers will be required to pay substantially higher rates for workmen's compensation insurance after recent negotiations with one of the two providers, Legion Insurance, collapsed.
Many trainers who had used Legion were notified over the weekend by State Fund, the only remaining provider, of the increased rates, which in many cases have doubled. In addition, trainers have been informed they must pay a significant advance deposit by Thursday before their policies will start on Friday.
The share price of Churchill Downs Inc. soared nearly 9 percent on Monday, one day before a bill that would legalize slots-type gambling at its track in Indiana was scheduled to go to a vote.
Churchill, which has a majority interest in Hoosier Park and owns five other tracks outright, was up $3.22 on Monday, or 9 percent, to $39.32, just short of its 52-week high.
The Indiana House of Representatives was scheduled to vote on the bill Tuesday, after spending Monday debating amendments to it.
ARCADIA, Calif. - With a nagging foot problem in his past, Touch of the Blues launches his 2002 campaign in Wednesday's $75,000 Reb's Policy Handicap at Santa Anita.
If he returns to his 2001 form, Touch of the Blues has an excellent chance to win his first race in the United States.
Run over about 6 1/2 furlongs on turf, the Reb's Policy has drawn an oversubscribed field of 12. Only 10 will start since the temporary rails will be 30 feet from the inside on Wednesday, limiting the width of the course.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Squirtle Squirt, the champion sprinter of 2001, is being pointed for the Carter Handicap at Aqueduct on April 13, trainer Bobby Frankel said.
A 4-year-old, has made one start this year, finishing second to Snow Ridge in the Palos Verdes Handicap at Santa Anita on Jan. 27. Last year, Squirtle Squirt won two stakes in New York - the King's Bishop at Saratoga and the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Belmont Park.
The $350,000 Carter Handicap is run over seven furlongs on the same day as the Wood Memorial, a key prep for the Kentucky Derby.
Jim Mineo, a veteran horseplayer from Plantation, Florida, defeated Benjamin O'Connell to win first prize in Gulfstream Park's Turf-Vivor Thoroughbred handicapping contest.
Mineo, 46, beat a field of 120 handicappers who came from all over the U.S. as well as Canada and Venezuela for the tournament. He earned a first prize of $100,000.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Shuffling Kid held off a late rally from a herd of contenders to win Sunday's $114,400 Baldwin Stakes at Santa Anita and remain unbeaten in two starts in this country.
Shuffling Kid's upset victory in the Grade 3 Baldwin Stakes gave jockey Patrick Valenzuela his first stakes win at Santa Anita since he returned from suspension for personal problems in late December. Valenzuela also won Saturday's Ken Maddy Sprint at Golden Gate Fields.