HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Crafty Shaw, who won last year's Grade 3 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, is on the verge of establishing himself as one of the top handicap horses in the Midwest. A blossoming 4-year-old, Crafty Shaw goes for his fourth straight win Saturday in the Grade 3, $75,000 Essex Handicap.
The 1 1/16-mile race is the first graded race of the meet, and the first of two local preps for
NEW ORLEANS - Publication, the fourth-place finisher in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last fall, might ship from northern California to New Orleans to launch his 3-year-old campaign in the Louisiana Derby on March 10.
Trainer Terry Knight, based at Bay Meadows, said he had nominated Publication to several 3-year-old stakes races, but that he was leaning toward the Louisiana Derby. "Louisiana is my first choice," Knight said.
"I like the track surface and the distance of the race [1 1/16 miles]. I'd prefer to keep him off the harder tracks out here."
JAMAICA, N.Y. - A contentious 18th renewal of the Best Turn Stakes will be run Saturday at Aqueduct, with six of the nine 3-year-olds coming off victories and lifetime best Beyer Speed Figures. The Best Turn is run at six furlongs over the inner track.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Lord ofthe Thunder, a promising New York-bred 3-year-old son of Saint Ballado, is in South Carolina recuperating from a pulled gluteal muscle and a bruised left front foot and most likely will not be pointed to the Kentucky Derby.
His connections hope that Lord ofthe Thunder will resume training on Saturday, and he will be pointed toward a race in late March, with a possible longer-term goal being the Preakness Stakes on May 18.
When Emeraldforajudge was last seen at Turfway Park in November, she made up more than 11 lengths in the last half-mile to win an entry-level allowance going away as the 2-5 favorite. Back from a brief trip to New Orleans, Emeraldforajudge returns to Turfway in Florence, Ky., Saturday to head a tightly matched field of 3-year-old fillies in the $50,000 Valdale Stakes at one mile.
EAST BOSTON, Mass. - Calling Saturday's Waquoit Stakes the first local step on the road to the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap is a bit far-reaching, but don't tell that to the connections of Basil's Rhythm, who has been entered in the Waquoit.
PHOENIX - Coming back is the underlying theme to Saturday's $30,000 Palo Verde Handicap at Turf Paradise.
* Can Duddly Doo Run return to the site of his fine maiden win last spring and pick up where he left off after a good campaign in northern California?
* Can Jetson return to his best form now that he is back doing what he likes best, namely sprinting?
Morluc, one of the most accomplished turf sprinters in the nation, will launch his 2002 campaign Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park in the $50,000 Sam Houston Turf Sprint Cup. The five-furlong race is one three turf stakes on the program, which is highlighted by the $200,000 Connally Breeders' Cup Turf.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Serious handicappers from many destinations will be at Gulfstream this weekend when the Turf-Vivor contest, worth a total of $128,000 in prize money, is held for the first time.
The three-day contest begins Friday. First prize is $100,000, with the balance being distributed to the second- and third-place overall finishers and to the top earners during the Friday and Saturday preliminary rounds. Entries, which closed Feb. 15, were $750.