Eric Halstrom has been named the vice president and general manager of racing for Indiana Grand Racing and Casino in Shelbyville, Ind., according to the track’s parent company, Caesars Entertainment.
Halstrom, who was most recently the vice president of operations at Louisiana Downs, will fill a position that became empty when Jon Schuster, a longtime Indiana Grand executive, passed away late last year. Halstrom will officially begin his duties on Feb. 17, the track said.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Hidden Scroll, a late scratch from a Jan. 17 allowance at Gulfstream Park after becoming fractious in the starting gate, has resumed training for Bill Mott at Payson Park and could make his delayed return within the next few weeks, said Garrett O’Rourke, general manager for the colt’s owner-breeder, Juddmonte Farms.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Taraz, the undefeated filly nominated to the Triple Crown, will remain at Oaklawn Park and point to the Grade 3, $300,000 Honeybee for 3-year-old fillies on March 7, trainer Brad Cox said Monday.
The 1 1/16-mile race carries points for the Kentucky Oaks.
Taraz picked up 10 points for the Kentucky Oaks with her Saturday win in the $150,000 Martha Washington at Oaklawn. She has now won the first three races of her career by a combined margin of more than 22 lengths.
Mailman Money was marked down for the Feb. 15 Risen Star Stakes after he won a first-level, two-turn dirt allowance race Jan. 12 at Fair Grounds, but it turns out he’ll be just one of three horses trainer Bret Calhoun plans to enter Saturday for the Risen Star.
Digital has come out of a Jan. 18 allowance race in good enough form for Calhoun and owner Tom Durant to aim him for the Risen Star, a decision firmed up after Digital turned in a strong breeze this past weekend, and Calhoun said he’ll also enter the recent maiden winner Mr. Big News in the Risen Star.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Ginobili won a maiden special weight race on the Pacific Classic program at Del Mar last August in the manner of a 2-year-old with immense promise.
That still holds true, despite two losses in stakes last summer and fall. After a late autumn rest, Ginobili is approaching a key test in Sunday’s Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita.
ARCADIA, Calif. – United won his first stakes in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Marcos at Santa Anita, a performance that has trainer Richard Mandella planning a trip to Dubai on March 28 for the $6 million Sheema Classic.
United has run well in recent world-class races, having finished second at 51-1 to eventual Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar in the Breeders’ Cup Turf here in November. The BC Turf is run at 1 1/2 miles, the same distance as the Sheema Classic, which annually draws runners from Europe and Asia and horses based in Dubai through the winter.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Midcourt ran so well from the front to win Saturday’s Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita that trainer John Shirreffs is already expecting another peak performance in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 7.
The $600,000 Big Cap is run at 1 1/4 miles, a new distance for Midcourt.
“No reason to worry,” Shirreffs said Sunday morning.
At least six challengers are expected for heavily favored Independence Hall when entries are drawn Wednesday at Tampa Bay Downs for the Sam F. Davis Stakes.
The Grade 3, $250,000 Sam Davis will be run Saturday at Tampa in Oldsmar, Fla., as the lone qualifying event of the weekend toward the May 2 Kentucky Derby. The 1 1/16-mile Davis is one of just three 17-point races (10-4-2-1) left on the Derby trail, with all others carrying higher values.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Tiz the Law wasn’t the only 3-year-old to turn heads with a graded stakes victory on Saturday at Gulfstream. An hour earlier, Mischevious Alex drew off to a seven-length triumph in the seven-furlong Swale Stakes, winning with something left after being geared down during the closing stages by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. His final time of 1:22.83 was nearly two seconds faster than the undefeated filly Tonalist’s Shape covered the same distance capturing the Grade 3 Forward Gal earlier on the card, earning him a lifetime-best 93 Beyer Figure for his performance.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Barclay Tagg was packing the car and heading off to Ocala shortly after training hours on Sunday, but not before relaying the news that Tiz the Law came out of his impressive three-length victory over Ete Indien in Saturday’s Grade 3 Holy Bull in good order.
“He scoped clean after the race, ate up last night, and his legs are good,” said Tagg.
