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.
NEW ORLEANS - Bonapaw is taking his show on the road early next month, flying to Dubai for the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen. Maybe someone there can keep up with him.
No one in New Orleans can, and Bonapaw cemented his position as the best sprinter in the region with a three and three-quarters lengths win in the $100,000 Taylor's Special Handicap on Sunday at Fair Grounds.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Ms Brookski burst out of the shadows of Calder Racecourse and into the national spotlight with an impressive three and three quarter length victory over Colonial Glitter in Sunday's $100,000 Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Smok'n Frolic, the even money favorite in the Grade 2 event for 3-year-old fillies, finished a tiring seventh.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Mizzen Mast, the winner of the Malibu Stakes and Strub Stakes in the last two months, will miss Saturday's $1 million Santa Anita Handicap due to a foot injury.
Trainer Bobby Frankel confirmed on Sunday that a quarter crack appeared over the weekend. Initially, Frankel hoped that the quarter crack could be patched and that Mizzen Mast could work this weekend, but he abandoned any hopes for a start on Sunday.
"He's going to have to miss the race," Frankel said.
