NEW ORLEANS - If Publication is the forgotten horse in Sunday's Louisiana Derby, it won't be the first time he has been overlooked.
Publication went off at 103-1 last November in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. "I don't think I've ever started a 100-1 shot before," trainer Terry Knight said. Twelfth early in the race, Publication began a sustained rally midway through the race and finished fourth, beaten about three lengths by the winner, Johannesburg.
NEW ORLEANS - You'llbeinmyheart has been in a different league than the horses she has beaten up on in her first two career starts. Sunday, her connections can get a better fix on her ability when You'llbeinmyheart moves into stakes company for the first time.
You'llbeinmyheart faces five rivals in the $75,000 Battler Star Handicap, a six-furlong race for Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies. At least one of them, C J's Princess, a multiple stakes winner, will test You'llbeinmyheart in a way she has not yet experienced in her racing career.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Four months ago, Rize won the Creme Fraiche Handicap at The Meadowlands. Sunday at Gulfstream Park, he will try to win . . .the Creme Fraiche Handicap.
"We're going to try to double up," said Norman Pointer, trainer of Rize.
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.
