The $75,000 Houston Turf Stakes on Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park had the potential to be a showdown between the two most recent Texas-bred horses of the year – Direct Dial and Mr Money Bags – but that will not happen after trainer Mike Neatherlin said Wednesday that Mr Money Bags will be scratched. The horse would have been favored off a recent Sam Houston stakes win for which he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 100.
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DRF Past Performances
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Max Player, the Grade 3 Withers Stakes winner and a member of Daily Racing Form’s Derby Watch, returned to the work tab Wednesday morning, breezing five furlongs in 1:03.75 over the Belmont Park training track.
Max Player, a son of Honor Code trained by Linda Rice for owner George Hall, is pointing to the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 4.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – A hearing to determine whether the New York State Gaming Commission will take action against trainer Linda Rice for “corrupt and improper acts in relation to racing” has been postponed for a second time. The new dates are March 24 and 26, and April 14-15.
The hearings had originally been scheduled for December and then were rescheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday and March 3-4.
A spokesman for the gaming commission said the new dates were “upon agreement of the parties.”
Like Willie Nelson, Bill Mott just can’t wait to get on the road again. The Derby road, that is.
Mott is the defending training champ for the Kentucky Derby, winning it last year when his colt Country House was placed first following the disqualification of Maximum Security. Mott last Saturday put himself in position to get back to this year’s Derby when Modernist scored an upset victory in the second division of the 1 1/8-mile Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds.
Jockey Jose Ortiz will have the mount on Serengeti Empress in the Grade 2, $350,000 Azeri on March 14 at Oaklawn, trainer Tom Amoss said Wednesday. Ortiz was aboard the filly for her win in last year’s Kentucky Oaks.
“As a team they’ve done very well together,” said Amoss.
Serengeti Empress, who races for Joel Politi, has been training for the Azeri at Fair Grounds and will likely ship to Oaklawn about a week out from the race, said Amoss.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Gouverneur Morris has eased back into training at Palm Beach Downs following a successful 3-year-old debut as trainer Todd Pletcher considers what will come next for his top prospect for the 146th Kentucky Derby.
Gouverneur Morris won a first-level allowance last Friday at Tampa Bay Downs in his first start since finishing second to Maxfield in the Breeders’ Futurity last October at Keeneland. A Constitution colt, Gouverneur Morris most likely will have just one chance to earn enough qualifying points to make the May 2 Derby, Pletcher said.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Math Wizard, who was the lone Grade 1 winner on the Monday card at Oaklawn, was to head back home to Gulfstream Park on Wednesday following his eighth-place finish in the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap, said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Math Wizard was making his first start since closing for fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He was beaten six and three-quarter lengths by wire-to-wire winner Warrior’s Charge in the Razorback.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Horses trained by Brad Cox locked up the second- and third-place spots in the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes on Monday at Oaklawn, with Wells Bayou earning 4 Kentucky Derby points for his runner-up finish and Answer In earning 2.
Silver Prospector moved past Wells Bayou in the later stages for a length win. Wells Bayou was making his stakes debut. He earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 96.