JAMAICA, N.Y. - To date, Maryland-based trainer Anthony Dutrow has dominated the New York winter stakes action with three victories. Sunday, it's brother Richard's turn.
Saratoga Games and Private Ryan, two horses coming off powerful races in Maryland, are the headliners in Sunday's $75,000 John B. Campbell Handicap for older males at Laurel Park.
The 1 1/8-mile Campbell carries a $25,000 statebred purse supplement for the two eligible Maryland-breds in the 11-horse field, Saratoga Games and Really Irish.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - When heavily favored Pleasant County faded to finish out of the money at 2-5 in Friday's seventh race at Gulfstream, bridge jumpers who plunged on her were crushed, and the result was the highest show price in history.
Man I Love Clare, who ran second, paid a whopping $351.40 to show, a national record, according to Gulfstream officials. Emery Board, the race winner at 5-1, paid $12.20 to win and $86 to show. Third-place finisher Long Haul returned $125.80 to show.
ALBANY, Calif. - Trainer Jeff Bonde and jockey Jason Lumpkins agree on one thing: Fertile will be difficult to defeat in Sunday's Vallejo Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.
The $55,000-added Vallejo, a six-furlong stakes for 3-year-old fillies, was originally scheduled for Jan. 26 but was postponed when not enough entries could be found.
Bonde was ready to run Fertile then and will be even more ready Sunday.
Fertile won her first two starts last spring, winning a maiden race at Golden Gate Fields and the Nursery Stakes at Hollywood.
ARCADIA, Calif. - An aborted workout Friday has cast uncertainty over Printemps's status for the Grade 1 Santa Maria Handicap on Sunday at Santa Anita. Printemps and jockey Chris McCarron were passing the quarter-pole when McCarron unexpectedly pulled her out of the work.
"She stumbled behind and didn't feel quite right," McCarron said.
Instead of the scheduled blowout, McCarron slowed Printemps down, then guided her through an easy gallop once around the track.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Booklet and Harlan's Holiday, who finished one-two in last month's Holy Bull Stakes, renew their budding rivalry in Saturday's $200,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park, but they will be severely tested by a number of rapidly improving runners.
John Salzman Sr., trainer of Xtra Heat, will be decked out in a tuxedo on Monday evening in Miami at the Eclipse Awards, eagerly awaiting the announcement of the winners in the sprint and 3-year-old filly divisions.
About 48 hours earlier, Salzman and his Eclipse Award finalist have some business to attend to at Laurel Park. That's when millionaire Xtra Heat shoots for her 19th career win from 24 starts in Saturday's $200,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap, a Grade 2 race at seven furlongs.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The brief time that Chris McCarron spent aboard Denon last November for a win in the $500,000 Hollywood Derby left a favorable impression.
"He came with a real nice run," McCarron said. "He got a great trip. He was in the middle of the pack, and he closed quickly."
On Saturday, McCarron and Denon are reunited in the $200,000 San Luis Obispo Handicap at Santa Anita. Run over 1 1/2 miles on turf, the Grade 2 San Luis Obispo is Denon's first start outside his own age group and first start beyond 1 1/4 miles.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The Fountain of Youth Stakes may be the main event on Saturday's program, but it won't be the only race on the card that could impact the $1 million Florida Derby on March 16.
Saturday's fourth race, a preliminary allowance, drew a field of nine 3-year-olds, led by *, who will be making his main-track debut for trainer H. James Bond. The ninth race, a second-level optional claiming race, lured seven 3-year-olds, including High Star, Changeintheweather, and Thiscannonsloaded.