ARCADIA, Calif. - Neither time nor money will guarantee victory for horseplayers attacking the pick six races Wednesday at Santa Anita, where a $205,959 carryover is at stake in races 3-8.
In fact, hours of handicapping may lead many to consider Wednesday's pick six virtually unhittable. None of the six races includes a standout, many apparent contenders are flawed, and only one sure-fire way exists to insure a winning ticket.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - His former cronies are done, at least the more celebrated ones. Point Given, Monarchos, and A P Valentine, all of whom at one point outdid Invisible Ink during the Triple Crown last year, have gone to the breeding shed, leaving Invisible Ink as one of the few luminaries still remaining from the class of 2001.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Mr Ross, one of the top handicap horses in the region with earnings of $1 million, and Crafty Shaw, who earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 113 last month winning his fourth consecutive race in the Grade 3 Essex at Oaklawn Park, will meet for the first time Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Razorback Handicap. Both horses are based in Hot Springs.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Win the Breeders' Cup Classic. Win it again. Then, get fired.
Four months after Tiznow's second Breeders' Cup victory, and with no foreseeable resolution to a strained relationship, trainer Jay Robbins and Tiznow's co-owner Michael Cooper have split company. Ordinarily, the breakup would be no big deal. After all, Tiznow has retired from racing.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Lightly-raced Azeri, the only 4-year-old in the Grade 1 for fillies and mares Sunday at Santa Anita, scored a decisive win that propelled her to the head of the West Coast distaff division. Making only her fifth career start, the daughter of Jade Hunter outfinished runner-up Spain by three lengths. It was one length farther back to third-place finisher Printemps, the 2-1 favorite.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Powder led from start to finish to win the $50,000 Spring Fever Stakes at Oaklawn Park by two lengths over 3-10 favorite Spanish Glitter. It was a head back in third to Southern Tour.
Powder($9.20) broke like a shot in the 5.50 furlong race for fillies and mares, and proceeded to set fractions of 21.51 seconds for the opening quarter, 45.12 for the half, and 57.42 for five furlongs while clear of her rivals. Never threatened in the stretch, she went on to cover the distance in a blazing 1:03.74 under regular rider Tim Doocy.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Hal's Hope reverted to the style that led him to his Florida Derby victory here two years ago, leading throughout en route to a convincing two and one quarter length victory over 37-1 longshot American Halo in Sunday's $100,000 Creme Fraiche Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The announcement came as the horses were walking into the paddock for Sunday's eleventh and final race at Gulfstream Park.
"Ladies and Gentlemen an important announcement," said track announcer Vic Stauffer. "Sunday's eleventh race has been taken off the turf and will be run on the main track."
Trainers looked at one another incredulously following Stauffer's announcement while a cascade of boos rained down from the grandstand.
NEW ORLEANS - Repent overcame a slow pace, his own quirky behavior, and a tenacious bid from rival Easyfromthegitgo to win Sunday's , but the narrow margin of victory must have put a scare into those in the crowd of 5,104 who sent him off as the 2-5 favorite.
ARCADIA, Calif. - You was officially anointed drama queen of the West Coast 3-year-olds fillies on Saturday with a narrow victory over arch-rival Habibti in the $300,000 , as Bobby Frankel continued his Grade I onslaught.
You's winning margin of a half length, at the end of 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.70, was more conclusive than it looked given her tendencey to idle along in neutral when she reaches the lead.
"She waits," Frankel said as he headed to the track to greet his filly. "Then when that filly got to her hip, she saw her and went on again. She does that every time."
