INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Trainer , who won two legs of this year's Triple Crown with Point Given, was given a 60-day suspension on Sunday by California Horse Racing Board stewards after one of his starters tested positive for a trace level of morphine at Hollywood Park in May 2000.
Baffert and his attorney, Neil Papiano, indicated they plan to appeal the suspension, which is set for June 25 through Aug. 23.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Starrer gave owner George Krikorian his first win in a graded stakes in Saturday's $100,000 Princess Stakes at Hollywood Park.
Ridden by Chris McCarron for trainer David Hofmans, Starrer caught Love at Noon, the 3-5 favorite, in deep stretch to win the Grade 2 Princess Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths.
Starrer ($9.80) ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.90. Affluent finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Love at Noon.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Guided Tour was late joining the field for the Grade 2, $831,000, Stephen Foster Handicap, becoming an 11th-hour entry only after trainer Niall O'Callaghan convinced owner Morton Fink that the gelding had a decent chance.
On Saturday, Guided Tour certainly wasn't late to the finish line in the Foster. After a terrific inside trip under veteran jockey Larry Melancon, Guided Tour overtook heavily favored Captain Steve near the wire to pull off an upset at 15-1.
MIAMI - Trainer Angel Medina had planned to be in Kentucky with American Halo this past weekend, taking on the likes of Captain Steve and Unshaded in Saturday's Grade 2 Stephen Foster Handicap. But those plans had to be scrapped when Medina was unable to make the proper shipping arrangements for his handicap star.
"The timing just wasn't right to get him out there last week," Medina said. "So instead I'll keep him home and point for the Primal Stakes here June 30."
ELMONT, N.Y. - Dat You Miz Blue completely dominated Dream Supreme, one of the country's best sprint fillies, winning Saturday's $106,800 Vagrancy Handicap by 6 3/4 lengths on a sultry summer day at Belmont Park.
Dream Supreme, the 4-5 favorite and 122-pound highweight, finished second, two lengths ahead of Katz Me If You Can. Finder's Fee and Lucky Livi completed the order of finish.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Not too many horseplayers believed.
Saudi Poetry, an upset winner of the Louisville Breeders' Cup in her last start, wheeled right back to defeat five of the fillies and mares she beat in that race by capturing the $333,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap at 6-1 Saturday at Churchill Downs.
"Everyone was surprised, but not me," said Victor Espinoza, who rode Saudi Poetry to her 1 1/4-length victory for The Thoroughbred Corp. and trainer Bob Baffert.
After finding the waters too deep in last month's $1 million Preakness, Bay Eagle, Griffinite, and Marciano have an easier task awaiting them in Sunday's $200,000 Leonard Richards Stakes at Delaware Park.
Those three meet two others -- Sir Barton winner Burning Roma and Prairie Mile winner Junior Deputy - in the 1 1/16-mile Leonard Richards, the fifth event on a 10-race card.
Of the three Preakness starters entered here, Griffinite had the best finish (fifth) and that might gain him slight favoritism in this spot.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kris Prather is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery Monday in Jackson, Miss., on her injured shoulder. Agent Steve Elzey said the 22-year-old apprentice rider has been informed that she will miss a minimum of six weeks because of recovery time and subsequent physical therapy.
The Kentucky Racing Commission recently approved an extension of her apprenticeship to Dec. 7 because of time lost to injury. Elzey said he will file for another extension after Prather returns again to action, which most likely will be at the fall meet in September at Turfway Park.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The powerful Sam-Son Farm entry of Catch the Ring and Mountain Angel should be all the rage in Sunday's Ontario Matron Handicap, a 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares at Woodbine.
Catch the Ring won the Sovereign Award for champion 3-year-old filly last year, when she captured two-thirds of the Canadian Triple Tiara. She nailed Mountain Angel on the wire in the Canadian Oaks, then took the Bison City Stakes at Fort Erie, but she was second to entrymate Misty Mission in the third leg of the Tiara, the Wonder Where Stakes on turf.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The parimutuel hope is that Bayou the Moon and Until Sundown are legitimate, that both colts can leap successfully into a graded stakes. Bettors want to accept their consistency, project further improvement, and wager with confidence in the
Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap on Sunday at Hollywood Park.
