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.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The Florida Derby may not be the only Kentucky Derby prep on Saturday's 13-race program at Gulfstream Park. Not if Ethan Man runs to expectations in the $150,000 Swale Stakes, a seven-furlong dash that drew only five starters and tops the Florida Derby undercard, along with the $100,000 Equalize and One Dreamer handicaps for Florida-breds.
ARCADIA, Calif. - It will be easy to spot the momentum in the San Felipe Stakes on Sunday. The gray 3-year-old U S S Tinosa is the only expected starter entering the Derby prep off a win. And Kent Desormeaux, U S S Tinosa's rider, is currently one of the hottest jockeys at Santa Anita.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Squirtle Squirt will be out of action for at least three months to recuperate from athroscopic surgery on his left knee. The surgery is scheduled for this week.
Squirtle Squirt finished second in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Handicap on Jan. 27, and was training toward the Grade 1 Carter Handicap on April 13 at Aqueduct. Trainer Bobby Frankel said the setback is not considered serious.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - He says he didn't do it on purpose.
Even though it looks as if Smooth Jazz became a last-minute entry in the Florida Derby with the apparent intention of adding considerable pace to the race, that just isn't the case, insists trainer Todd Pletcher.
"They paid a lot of money for this horse," said Pletcher, referring to the recent private purchase of Smooth Jazz by owner Michael Tabor and his advisers. "They wouldn't just use him like that, because they think so highly of him."
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Under normal circumstances Yvonne Azeff would be leading Booklet into the paddock for Saturday's $1 million Florida Derby and perhaps posing with him in the winner's circle. That's what she did after Booklet captured the Holy Bull Stakes earlier this winter and after Monarchos's victories last year in both the Florida and Kentucky derbies.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Shug McGaughey acknowledges he is getting a later-than-planned start down the Kentucky Derby trail with his top 3-year-old Saarland, who will make his seasonal debut in Sunday's $200,000 Gotham at Aqueduct.
But, as McGaughey has watched the Kentucky Derby prep season unfold, he doesn't feel has a lot of catching up to do in order to become a legitimate Derby contender.
NEW ORLEANS - Hallowed Dreams was not entered Thursday in Saturday's Victoria Lass Handicap, a race in which she was expected to start as a heavy favorite.
Hallowed Dreams was considered a likely starter in the Victoria Lass as late as Wednesday, but trainer and co-owner Lloyd Romero told Fair Grounds officials Thursday morning that Hallowed Dreams had come up with a touch of colic. Romero, who could not be reached for comment Thursday, said Hallowed Dreams will recover, but will not race this weekend.