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Racing News Archive
Racing News Archived from Jan. 20, 2010 through the Triple Crown
March 7
Update: Kentucky Derby Graded Earnings Chart Team Pletcher Works at Palm Meadows Eight Male 3-Year-Olds from His Stable on Worktab Pool 2: Eskendereya Takes Over as Individual Favorite
March 6
Awesome Act Runs into Derby Picture with Gotham Win Alphie's Bet Makes Sham His with Late Run Win Totals in Pool 2: Early Saturday Field Favored in Pool 2 Subscriber Update Links Quick Notes
March 5
Sham Listed on Sunday Card, Just In Case Downey: 'Neighbor' Is Big Horse in Sham Commish: Jockey Call Could Mean Gotham Success Varied Field Makes Gotham Tough Read Sham Revs Up Again
March 4
Mendip Wins Al Bastakiya; Vale of York Fifth Lookin at Lucky: 'All Systems Go' Tahitian Warrior Declared for Dubai Turf Race
March 3
Blind Luck in Santa Anita Oaks Saturday Ten New Interests in Future Wager Pool 2 Major Defection Boosts Vale of York Quick Notes Weekend Weather Outlook Jockey Club Fact Book CDI Revenues Up, Net Income Down
March 2
Graded Earnings Chart Updated Gotham Probables Road to the Roses Update: Sham Stakes More Rain at Santa Anita Lookin at Lucky Breezes Seven Odysseus on Tab Fast Alex Moves Forward Citrus Kid Targeting Lane's End
March 1
Al Bastakiya Entries Include Vale of York, Tahitian Warrior Subscriber Update William's Kitten Off Derby Trail REVISIONS TO OUR LISTS
Feb. 28
Feb. 27
Vow to Wager Moved Up to Win in Battaglia Memorial Sham Set for Next Saturday Long-Range Forecast: 40% Chance of Rain Radiohead Victorious in GP Allowance Dont Blame the Cat Wins Miracle Wood Links Caracortado 'Happy Boy' Workouts of Note on Friday
Feb. 26
Morning Lines Posted for Sham, Battaglia KENTUCKY DERBY GRADED EARNINGS CHART Downey: Sham Runners Seek First-Time Graded Win WEBN Runners Meet Newcomer in Battaglia Memorial Toyota Blue Grass Draws 162 Nominations Derby Hopes on the Line in Sham Stakes Laurel Dark Today Even Dozen in Miracle Wood Turf Melody May Scratch Aqueduct Closed Today and Tomorrow
Feb. 25
Saturday GP Allowance Has Derby Prospect Sleepers Shippers to Bring Fresh Blood to Gotham Notice to Subscribers Maximus Ruler Out Until Summer
Feb. 24
Entry Closings for Saturday's Races Borderland Derby Entries Headed by Hollendorfer Barn Dryfly Off TC Trail Backtalk to Delta Downs in Sportsman's Paradise Latigo Shore, Afleet Express Clash Thursday Comedero Could Lead Mountain Valley Next-Race Plans
Feb. 23
Summary: Who's Going Where Next Weekend Beyers Lookin at Lucky Slow Work
Feb. 22
Conveyance Leaves; Cardiff Giant Stays Levine Reserves Judgment on Buddy's Saint Discreetly Mine Exits Risen Star in Good Order Machowsky Hopeful with Two in the Barn Quick Hitter Revisions to Our Lists
Feb. 21
Five Try Nine Furlongs Sunday at GP Teaks North Scratched Sham Stakes Probables
Feb. 20
Eskendereya Convincing in Fountain of Youth Conveyance Gets Over, Gets Win in Southwest Discreetly Mine Wires Risen Star Field Connemara Goes Last to First in El Camino Real Derby D' Funnybone Takes Hutcheson Florida Derby Considered Next Links Gomez Itinerary Omits All but Hutcheson on TC Trail Today's Weather Subscriber Updates 1 and 2
Feb. 19
Downey: Tough Southwest Could Now Belong to Home Team Commish: First to Pounce Takes Risen Star Same 10 Re-Entered in Southwest Stakes Eight of 10 Work Since Postponement Speed from Florida Rolls into Big Easy Buddy's Saint, Jackson Bend Lead Deep Fountain of Youth Field A Little Warm, D'Funnybone Meet Six Others in Hutcheson
Feb. 18
Morning Line Posted for Fountain of Youth, Hutcheson Dick's Picks: Fountain of Youth by Subscription Only --This Is a New Product-- Musir Draws Off to Win UAE 2000 Guineas Six Work for Southwest
Feb. 17
Lentenor Second in GP Allowance Liston: Most Troubled Trip of All Time? Odysseus Wins by 15 at Tampa 'Streak to the Derby' Rules--They're Easy Citrus Kid Back to Track Soon Quick Hitters
Feb. 16
Risen Star Morning Line Top Cal Derby Finishers Meet in El Camino Real Derby No Tahitian Warrior in 2000 Guineas REVISIONS TO OUR LISTS
Feb. 15
Sidney's Candy Finds Redemption in San Vicente Risen Star Attracts 12 Southwest Stakes Postponed Rescheduled for Saturday Quick Hitters Downey: Tough Southwest Could Belong to Shipper Commish: Deja Vu Is Sweet in San Vicente Field Closes at 3-2 in Pool 1 Just A Few Workouts Yesterday Today's Weather at Oaklawn Park
Feb. 14
Field of 10 Begins Derby Trail Separation in Southwest Caracortado to Point to San Felipe Buddy's Saint Puts in Final FOY Tuneup Future Wager: Day 2 Ends with $217,431 Wagered Fountain of Youth Probables/Possibles
Feb. 13
Rule Leads Throughout in Sam F. Davis Caracortado Extends Streak in Robert B. Lewis Blind Luck Gets Nod in Las Virgenes Links Last-Minute Quotes
Feb. 12
Downey: Rule Goes to School in Uptown Davis Commish: Sadler Begins Big Weekend with Robert B. Lewis Rule Leads Sam F. Davis Field Big Four Return in Shortened Lewis Roster Stakes Weather Forecast 89 Nominated to Oaklawn Series
Feb. 11
Road to the Roses Scoring Begins Feb. 20 Pulsion Feeling Better after Cold
Feb. 10
Santa Anita Weekend Forecast Kentucky Derby Future Pool 1 Released Notice to Subscribers Three Ship from Cal for Southwest Road to the Roses First Races Feb. 20 New Features Weekend Stakes Entries Quick Hitters Lookin at Lucky Makes Short Work Woolley Not on Derby Trail Big A Shut Down Today and Tomorrow
Feb. 9
Feb. 8KentuckyDerby.com Launched Includes Road to the Roses Contest Sam F. Davis Probables/Possibles Lewis Would-Be's Get in Monday Works MONDAY WORKOUTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY Cardiff Giant to Southwest? Laurel Calls Off Wednesday-Thursday Cards REVISIONS TO OUR LISTS Triple Crown Nominees Kentucky Oaks Story Unfolding? Quotes from Yesterday's Hallandale Beach Stakes
Feb. 7
Triple Crown Nominations Total 366 Our Lists Revised with Triple Crown Nominations Release Horsemen Go to Plan B at Santa Anita Pletcher Team Out in Force at Palm Meadows Buddy's Saint Drills at Gulfstream Park Eightyfiveinafifty Back in Training in Seven Days? Shippers Might Abound for Southwest Turfway Live Card Canceled Due to Winter Storm Will Race on President's Day California Horsemen Pick the Super Bowl
Feb. 6
Bedlam in Whirlaway Triple Crown Nominations Out Tonight Lewis, Las Virgenes, Strub Reset Noble's Promise Works at GP Picks Info Quotes Blue Grass Deadline
Feb. 5
Downey: Birthday Boy Tiz Chrome Pick in Lewis Commish: Winter Blast Blows in for Whirlaway Weekend Weather 28-Inch Snow Forecast Cancels Laurel Races Triple Crown Nominations Release Due Soon Interactif Entered in Sunday Hallandale Beach Blind Luck Training Well for Las Virgenes
Feb. 4
American Lion, Tiz Chrome Square Off Caracortado Goes for Five Straight in Lewis Two Expected Meet Surprise Whirlaway Entry Whirlaway Pre-Race Quotes $5 MILLION ON THE LINE AT OAKLAWN If Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra Both Run There Musir Wins UAE 2000 Guineas Trial
Feb. 3
UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Tomorrow Fountain of Youth Probables Blind Luck 2010 Debut in Las Virgenes Laus Deo Moved to Ocala Farm
Feb. 2
Winslow Homer Sidelined with Stress Fracture Contessa Hoping Eightyfiveinafifty's His Derby Horse SUBSCRIBER NOTICE Downey Profile Rankings Updated Hotep Takes FG Feature
Feb. 1
Say What Dept. Lookin at Lucky Nominated to UAE Derby Sam F. Davis Draws 42 Nominations Speaking of Pletcher Conveyance to Ship Out of Town Sidney's Candy's Next Start Drosselmeyer Wins GP Allowance Revisions to Our Lists
Jan. 31
Annual Ship to Florida
Jan. 30
Kera's Kitten Breaks Well, Finishes the Job Next Race Plans: Pletcher Stable Multiple Track Closings Pulsion, Drosselmeyer Lead Tough Allowance Field Robert B. Lewis Probables American Lion to Make 2010 Debut Just In Case Horses in at Fair Grounds Dixie Band Finally Returns to Worktab
Jan. 29
WinStar Fantasy Derby Contest Kitten Boys Try to Make Noise in WEBN Dancing Count Attracts Short Field Noble's Promise Brought Back East
2010 Dual Qualifiers
Experimental Free Handicap Lookin at Lucky, Vale of York Co-High Weights Lookin at Lucky Set to Breeze Tell Us What You Really Think Dept. NEXT RACE PLANS For 17 More Horses on Our Lists Alfarabi to Be Kept on Turf Becky's Kitten Heads GP Turf Allowance Field
Uh Oh Bango Returns to Worktab
Mission Impazible Breezes Cool Bullet: On to Arkansas?
Notice to Subscribers
NEXT RACE PLANS For 28 Horses on our Lists
Worldly, Citrus Kid to Get Time Off
Post-Race Quotes, Lecomte Stakes Queen of Hearts Update on Super Saver Rumor Has It Dept. Revisions to Our Lists Promotions, Demotions, Additions
Jan. 24
Make Music for Me Works at Hollywood Super Saver Finally Works Tahitian Warrior Breezes Ron the Greek Blows by 'Em in Lecomte Winslow Homer Cuts Through Field to Take Holy Bull
Jan. 23
Connecting the Dots What to Make of Colizeo's Win at GP Amoss on Ron the Greek Kentucky Derby Returning to Traditional Pill Pull Vale of York's Status: Who Knows? Peitz Sends Moojab Out
Jan. 22
Jan. 21Colizeo Emerges Conan Shows Off New Mascot: Mine That Bird Citrus Kid Feeling Good Trainers Assess Holy Bull Four Demoted from Looking Good TrackNet, MidAtlantic Reach Agreement TRIPLE CROWN NOTES Whiting: 'No polytracks'; Brake Lights Out of Derby Picture; Plans Altered for Tiz Chrome Denis of Cork Retired National Handicapping Championship on TwinSpires.com Pletcher Suspended for Cup Infraction Nine Entered in Contentious Holy Bull Lecomte Kicks Off Fair Grounds Series Citrus Kid, Maximus Ruler, Worldly Trainers Comment Don't Know Whether to Laugh or Cry Dept. Take Control: Gone from Derby Trail
Jan. 20 Update: Derby Graded Earnings Chart With $210,000 in graded earnings, Grade III Gotham winner Awesome Act is now tied for the thirteenth spot in our Kentucky Derby Graded Earnings Chart. Alphie's Bet, with $90,000 from his win of the Grade III Sham Stakes, is sitting at number 21 along with Caracortado, Connemara and Sidney's Candy. Eskendereya, the lead individual betting interest at the end of day 2 of the Derby Future Wager, is ranked number 19 with $150,000. Team Pletcher Works at Palm Meadows Team Todd Pletcher was out in force today at Palm Meadows, with the following workouts recorded for his 3-year-old males: AIKENITE Aikenite breezed four in :49.00 (12/56) at PMM. DISCREETLY MINE breezed four in :49.30 (16/56) at PMM. ESKENDEREYA breezed four in :49.30 (16/56) at PMM. IBBOYEE breezed four in :49.80 (21/56) at PMM. INTERACTIF breezed four in :49.80 (21/56) at PMM. MISSION IMPAZIBLE breezed four in :51.40 (49/56) at PMM. RULE worked five in :1:01.30 (6/31) at PMM. SUPER SAVER breezed five in 1:00.60 (2/31) at PMM. "I thought (Eskendreya) worked very well,” said Pletcher. “We were looking for him to go a half in 49 and that’s exactly what he did. He galloped out well and I’m very pleased. Our most likely scenario for him is to run in the Florida Derby. He still has one work to go, but I don’t see any reason to change anything at this point. That would be the logical thing to do.” Rule's workout was in company with 5-year-old Harlem Rocker, a probable starter in next Saturday’s $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap. Pletcher said a decision is pending whether Rule would race in the Florida Derby or be separated from Eskendereya. “(Rule) went five-eighths in 1:01 and went extremely well. I’d like to keep them (Eskendereya and Rule) separated. I’ll have to talk to Elliott (Walden of WinStar Farm), but the backup would be the Wood Memorial,” said Pletcher. Down at Gulfstream Park, there were two workouts of note today. D' FUNNYBONE breezed four in :49.00 (11/39) at GP. PLEASANT PRINCE worked five in 1:00.50 (3/25) at GP. Eskendereya Takes Over as Individual Favorite Eskendereya emerged as the 6-1 individual favorite in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager at the close of wagering on Saturday. “All Others” remained the overall choice at 3-1, with one day remaining in Pool 2. More.... Saturday, March 6, 2010 Awesome Act Runs into Derby Picture with Gotham Win Awesome Act made his return to the U. S. a successful one with an easy win in the Grade III Gotham Stakes under steady urging by Julien Leparoux in his first career start on dirt. More.... Alphie's Bet Makes Sham His with Late Run Alphie's Bet, a Cal-bred, made it two wins in a row for trainer Alexis Barbra by prevailing in the Grade III Sham Stakes with a late run to the wire. More.... Field Favored in Pool 2 Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2 ended day one of its three-day wagering period with All Others favored at 2-1 off a morning line of 7-2. The two favored individual horses in the wager are Lookin at Lucky at 7-1 (morning line 6-1) and Eskendereya at 9-1 (6-1). More.... Subscriber Update Segment 9 NOTES were posted Friday with recommendations on Derby Future Wager Pool 2. Links Dick's Picks The Commish Gotham Stakes Sham Stakes Quick Notes HRTV says Conveyance (Looking Good) will start next in the Grade III Sunland Derby on March 28. Caracortado (Looking Good) worked five furlongs in company yesterday at Santa Anita under regular rider Paul Atkinson in :58.60 for next Saturday’s Grade II San Felipe Stakes. “Actually, he went six furlongs in 1:12,” trainer Mike Machowsky said. “He worked great. I’m tickled.” Bob Baffert is probably tired of being asked. “Today, I’m going to the Rebel,” the trainer said yesterday when asked about Lookin at Lucky (Looking Good). The San Felipe on the same date is the other option, with Baffert saying a couple of days ago he'd make up his mind before the plane leaves for Arkansas on Wednesday. Noble's Promise (Looking Good) worked a sharp five furlongs in 1:00.20 yesterday at Gulfstream Park for trainer Ken McPeek as he gets closer to his season debut in the Grade III Rebel on March 13. Noble’s Promise worked in company with 3-year-old filly Beautician, who was timed two-fifths slower as she prepares for her first start of the year. Other workouts of note on Friday: Citrus Kid (Worth Watching) worked four in :48.20 (4/35) at PMM. Cardiff Giant (Worth Watching) breezed six in 1:17.20 (2/2) at OP. Uh Oh Bango (Looking Good) breezed five in 1:03.20 (11/15) at OP. Ron the Greek (Looking Good), winner of the Grade III Lecomte Stakes Jan. 23 but sixth in the Grade II Risen Star behind a moderate pace, remains on target for the Grade II Louisiana Derby on March 27. Ron the Greek breezed four furlongs last Monday in :50.60 (66/117) at Fair Grounds. Trainer Tom Amoss termed it a maintenance move, saying yesterday, “His big work will come next week." The Amoss-trained Backtalk (Worth Watching), who made his first start of 2010 on Feb. 26 to win Delta’s $75,000 Sportsman’s Paradise Stakes, is still under consideration for the Louisiana Derby but not as certain as Ron the Greek. “I’m a little concerned that coming back that quick might be a shade too fast for him,” Amoss said. “We’ll see how he does over the next few days.” Stay Put (Worth Watching), fifth in the Risen Star after a troubled trip, breezed a half-mile in 49.80 Thursday morning at Fair Grounds and remains on track for the Louisiana Derby. “So far, so good,” said trainer Steve Margolis on Friday. “He worked well yesterday, and he came out of it real well today. We’ll work him going five-eighths another seven or eight days from now, and he’ll probably have another work after that.” Cool Bullet (previously delisted), Stay Put’s stablemate who finished eighth in the Grade III Southwest on Feb. 20, will be shortened up and may compete at Turfway Park on March 27. “Right now, we’re thinking about sending him to Turfway for the Hansel if we can’t find a race for him here,” said Margolis. “I think we’re going to keep him sprinting for awhile.” Friday, March 5, 2010 Sham Listed on Santa Anita Sunday Card, Just In Case The Grade III Sham Stakes is listed as race 10 on Santa Anita's Sunday card in case Saturday's program is again scrubbed by rain on a faulty track that won't drain properly. Post time is listed at 8:09 a.m. ET, two hours after Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2 closes. Two horses listed in Pool 2, Nextdoorneighbor and Setsuko, are entered in the Sham. There's still a 70% chance of rain at Santa Anita on Saturday, a forecast that's been in place all week. However, the National Weather Service forecasts only about a half-inch of rain. A few showers are expected in the morning, with steady rain in the afternoon. Downey: 'Neighbor' Is Big Horse in Sham I really hope it doesn't rain too hard at Santa Anita on Saturday. More.... Commish: Jockey Call Could Mean Gotham Success At first glance, it's pretty difficult to make a case for the Grade III Gotham Stakes to play out as a legitimate Kentucky Derby prep race. But with $250,000 on the line, that's a boatload of graded green for the winner, and an interesting jockey move has me looking ahead to the Wood Memorial, just like this runner's connections might be. More.... Varied Field Makes Gotham Tough Read A diverse field of ten, ranging from a recent maiden winner, to the first three finishers in the Whirlaway, to an English colt who last ran in the Breeders’ Cup are entered in the 58th running of the Grade III Gotham on Saturday. More.... Sham Revs Up Again The weather forecast in Arcadia says it will be mostly cloudy and rainy on Saturday, and that's not good. Still, horsemen with good 3-year-olds always have hope at this time of year. Thus this comment from Mike Machowsky, trainer of Nextdoorneighbor: “This track can handle a little rain, as long as it doesn’t come down all at once." More.... Thursday, March 4, 2010 Mendip Wins Al Bastakiya; Vale of York Fifth Godolphin Stable's Mendip (Worth Watching), a Kentucky-bred, may be looking at the Ketucky Derby after upsetting his stable mate Vale of York and beating 13 in all, easily winning the Al Bastakiya at Meydan Racecourse today. Mendip won the race by 6 1/4 lengths and was timed in 1:59:42 for 1 3/16 mile. Vale of York was beaten 7 3/4 lengths. More.... Lookin at Lucky: "All Systems Go" That's what Bob Baffert said yesterday when commenting on Lookin at Lucky's (Looking Good) Monday seven-furlong workout in 1:25.20 under Martin Garcia. Lookin At Lucky worked in company with El Martillo, who was clocked in 1:27.20. “That work caught him right up,” Baffert said. “He worked really well. He broke off six or seven behind El Martillo, and I got him a lot faster than what they gave him. I got him in like 1:23 4/5. I’m still considering either the Rebel or the San Felipe.” Tahitian Warrior Declared for Turf Race Godolphin's Frozen Power, second to Musir in the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas, will be a popular choice for Friday's Meydan Classic in Dubai. However, the one-mile race on turf also features the awaited Dubai debut of stable companion Tahitian Warrior (Just In Case). Some of the locals feel that Tahitian Warrior could be Frozen Power's main competition. At this point, only initial declarations are in--but final entries are expected soon, and Tahitian Warrior is expected to be named. The Meydan Classic, an ungraded race worth $150,000, is the third on the card with a post time of 11:15 a.m. ET. Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Blind Luck in Santa Anita Oaks Saturday Blind Luck (Worth Watching) seeks her fourth Grade I victory Saturday in the $250,000 Santa Anita Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 mile. The daughter of Pollard’s Vision trained by Jerry Hollendorfer made her 3-year-old debut with a desperate nose victory in the Grade I Las Virgenes Stakes at one mile on Feb. 13. The field for the Santa Anita Oaks: Sister Dawn, Victor Espinoza; Crisp, Joel Rosario; Riviera Chic, Michael Baze; All Due Respect, Garrett Gomez; Blind Luck, Rafael Bejarano; Warren’s Jitterbug, Joe Talamo; Cozi Rosie, Mike Smith; and Zilva, Jose Valdivia Jr. Each carries 122 pounds. Blind Luck is expected to be a heavy favorite. Ten New Interests in Future Wager Pool 2 There are 10 new betting interests in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2 opening this Friday: Robert B. Lewis winner Caracortado, El Camino Real Derby winner Connemara, Hutcheson winner D’Funnybone, Risen Star Stakes winner Discreetly Mine, allowance winner Odysseus, recent allowance winner Radiohead, Sham-bound Nextdoorneighbor and Setsuko, San Vicente winner Sidney’s Candy and Risen Star runner-up Tempted to Tapit. Mpre.... Major Defection Boosts Vale of York There's been a major defection in tomorrow's Al Bastakiya at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Trainer Mike de Kock's Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas winner Musir, the presumptive favorite for the race, is a late scratch, boosting the chances of Vale of York, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last November. The Al Bastakiya is the 2010 debut of Vale of York, who'll again be ridden by Ahmed Ajtebi. More.... Quick Notes Entries close today for the Grade III Gotham and Grade III Sham. Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager opens this Friday and will run through Sunday at 6:00 p.m. ET. Weekend Weather Outlook There's a 50% chance of rain at Santa Anita tonight, then on Saturday the chance of rain at the track is 70% as of this morning, up from a 60% probability in yesterday morning's forecast. High temperature in the low 60's on Saturday. In Ozone Park, New York, home of Aqueduct, light snow is expected today through Friday, with sunny skies on Saturday and a high of 46 degrees. Very little snow accumulation is expected. Jockey Club Fact Book The Jockey Club’s 2010 Online Fact Book, published annually as a statistical and informational guide to the North American Thoroughbred industry, was released yesterday. Pari-mutuel handle on Thoroughbred racing in North America fell by more than $1 billion for the second consecutive year in 2009. The 9.5% decline in handle to $12,972,615,606 contributed to a 5.9% decrease in gross purses to $1,233,172,714. Total auction sale receipts in 2009 decreased 32.2% to $659,646,413, the lowest annual total since 1996. The significant reduction in the number of mares bred in recent years is expected to result in an accelerated decline in the annual registered Thoroughbred foal crop in 2009 and 2010. For details, click to the Jockey Club Fact Book. CDI Revenues Up, Net Income Down Churchill Downs, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHDN), reported results for the fourth quarter and year-ended Dec. 31, 2009. For the full year, net revenues from continuing operations grew to $439.7 million, a 2 percent increase from the prior year total of $430.6 million. Total EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) decreased $14.7 million from $80.2 million from the previous year to $65.5 million, primarily the result of the recognition of $17.2 million of hurricane insurance recoveries during 2008. Net earnings from continuing operations totaled $17.7 million for 2009, or $1.27 per diluted common share, down from $2.09 per diluted common share in 2008. The decline was caused primarily by the decline in EBITDA. In addition, the company's effective income tax rate increased from 41% in 2008 to 49% in 2009. The 2009 effective income tax rate reflects the impact of $2.3 million of income tax expense related to proposed adjustments resulting from an IRS audit of income tax returns of the years 2004-2007. Tuesday, March 2, 2010 Graded Earnings Chart Updated The Downey Profile Derby Graded Earnings Chart was updated this morning. Awesome Act ($60,000), Northern Giant ($30,000) and Soaring Empire ($11,476) have been added. William's Kitten (off the Derby Trail) has been deleted. There were very minor adjustments correcting the earnings of Dublin and Ron the Greek due to faulty source information. Interactif's graded earnings are less than originally reported due to an error at The Downey Profile. He has $240,450 in graded earnings. Gotham Probables The probable field for the Grade III Gotham on Saturday: Afleet Again, Awesome Act, I've Got the Fever, Nacho Friend, Peppi Knows (Worth Watching), Shrimp Dancer, Wow Wow Wow (Worth Watching), and Yawanna Twist. Middle of the Nite (Worth Watching) was considered possible but is not going to run. Turf Melody (Worth Watching) and Quiet All American are considered possible. A DRF.com note about the race last evening did not include any mention of Tiz Chrome (Worth Watching), whom trainer Bob Baffert mentioned last week for the Gotham. The weekend weather outlook is pretty good. A partly cloudy sky on Friday is expected to yield to sunny conditions on Saturday. Some light snow is expected tonight and tomorrow, unlikly to interfere with shipping plans. --Updated 10:16 a.m. ET Road to the Roses Update: Sham Stakes The popular Road to the Roses contest will honor the postponed Grade III Sham Stakes--weather permitting--as a scoring race this Saturday, according to Merv Huber. The Sham was rescheduled after rain and a problematic track led to the cancellation of last Saturday's race card at Santa Anita. More Rain at Santa Anita? Even as Kettle River (Worth Watching), Nextdoorneighbor (Worth Watching) and Setsuko worked again yesterday at Santa Anita toward the Sham, as of this morning there's a 60% chance of rain at the track on Saturday. Another one-week postponement of the race would put it on the same day as the Grade II San Felipe, set for March 13. Meanwhile, Magna's Frank Stronach has reversed position, saying he will not replace the marred surface at Santa Anita at the end of the current meeting unless some unspecified government deregulation of racing occurs in California. How or why these two issues should be tied together was not made clear and could not be discerned. Lookin at Lucky Breezes Seven Lookin at Lucky (Looking Good) followed up a slow work on Feb. 22 (six furlongs in 1:15.40) with a brisk seven-furlong move yesterday at Santa Anita, timed in 1:25.20 (1/3). It was the penultimate workout for an expected start in the Grade II Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 13 for trainer Bob Baffert's 2-year-old champion of 2009. Following that Feb. 22 workout and a report here that voiced some degree of skepticism, Baffert termed the work "nice" and told Bloodhorse.com, "He went very smoothly. He actually went seven-eighths and did it in hand. He looked good. You have to be careful on this track; you can’t do too much. You have to adapt to it. He didn’t have much time off and he’s a very fit horse. He’s doesn’t need much.” Yesterday's workout was the fourth one for Lookin at Lucky since Feb. 9, following a 24-day hiatus from the worktab. Odysseus on Tab Meanwhile, Odysseus (Worth Watching), 15-length winner of a Tampa allowance on Feb. 17, returned to the worktab yesterday at Palm Meadows, breezing five furlongs in 1:01.00 (7/32) for trainer Tom Albertrani. The son of Malibu Moon is two-for-three lifetime. His time in that allowance race was only 22/100 second slower than Rule was clocked in winning the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes four days earlier. Fast Alex Moves Forward Fast Alex (promoted to Worth Watching) took a positive step on the Derby Trail with an allowance win on a sloppy track at Fair Grounds yesterday. Ridden by Curt Bourque, Fast Alex was unhurried early but closed with a late rush to win by 1 1/2 length. He was timed in 1:41.16 for a mile and 40 yards. Fast Alex is owned by Jim Tafel, who won the 2007 Kentucky Derby with Street Sense. With the win, Fast Alex has suddenly jumped into consciousness for the Grade II Louisiana Derby March 27. Greg Geier trains the son of Afleet Alex. It was Fast Alex' second win in three starts. He broke his maiden running 1 1/16 mile at Fair Grounds on Feb. 23 after finishing third at the track in his six-furlong debut on Jan. 23. Fast Alex was the 2-1 second choice in yesterday's race. Favored Island Soul (7-5) finished second after taking the lead in upper stretch only to be overtaken by the winner. Awesome Encore set early splits of :25.04 and :49.11 before weakening to the third spot. Seven ran. Citrus Kid Targeting Lane's End The Grade II Lane's End Stakes on March 27 is being targeted by the connections of Citrus Kid (Worth Watching). He had an easy breeze yesterday at Palm Meadows (four furlongs in :50.00)--his second since an undescended testicle was removed. Trainer John Terranova II plans to give the son of Lemon Drop Kid two more strong breezes, after which a definite decision about the Lane's End will be made. Monday, March 1, 2010 Al Bastakiya Entries Include Vale of York, Tahitian Warrior Officially rated at 118 pounds, Vale of York (Worth Watching) tops 23 declared for Thursday's Al Bastakiya at Meydan Racecourse. Also declared for Godolphin is Tahitian Warrior (Just In Case), who's rated at 100 pounds, the same weight assigned to him after declarations for the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas. He was not entered in the race. The best in the field based on recent performance is Musir, handy winner of the 2000 Guineas for trainer Mike de Kock and owned by Sheik Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum. Musir carries a 117 rating but would be expected to be favored over Vale of York when the gate opens. Musir was bred in Australia and is considered a 4-year-old under North American racing rules. The Al Bastakiya is the second race on the Meydan card. The field will be limited to 16 runners. Subscriber Update Segment 8 NOTES are now posted, with comments about the Borderland Derby; Radiohead, Homeboykris and Backtalk; Miner's Reserve; and the Sham Stakes/Frank Stronach William's Kitten Off Derby Trail Jude Feld of Horse Racing Radio Network reports that, according to owner Ken Ramsey, William's Kitten is off the Derby trail with a suspensory issue. Ramsey told Feld that a hyperbaric chamber is being used in an attempt to quicken healing. Ramsey's hope is to have William's Kitten back in time for the Belmont Stakes. William's Kitten, a son of Kitten's Joy, last breezed on Feb. 6 at Gulfstream Park after finishing third in the Grade III Holy Bull Stakes in his first start of 2010. Last year, he was second to Super Saver in the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes after finishing eighth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. REVISIONS TO OUR LISTS Promoted from Worth Watching to Looking Good Aikenite. He has the graded earnings that are needed, according to our Graded Earnings Chart. This marks a return to the Looking Good list for Aikenite. He had been demoted after a less-than-inspiring effort in the Grade III Holy Bull. Dublin, who looks very much like a Kentucky Derby horse with graded earnings of $242,000. Radiohead, who made a successful return to racing on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, and who has graded earnings of almost $200,000. Promoted from Just In Case to Worth Watching Backtalk won at Delta Downs on Friday night in his first race of the year. He has graded earnings of $172,566. Tiz Chrome. We had demoted him from Worth Watching after a lead-and-fade effort in the Robert B. Lewis. With the announcement he's being shipped to the Grade III Gotham, it's evident his stable hasn't given up on Derby aspiriations. Added to Worth Watching Miner's Reserve, off his good-looking win in a one-mile maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Raise the Bridle and Storming Saint, who finished one-two in the Borderland Derby on Saturday. The order of finish was reversed by stewards. Neither horse was early-nominated to the Triple Crown, but they can be late-nominated by March 27. Soaring Empire, following his off-the-pace win of a seven-furlong allowance race at Gulfstream Park last Thursday. Demoted from Worth Watching to Just In Case Hawaiian Springs, who hasn't put in a published workout since Jan. 24. Leothelion, who hasn't worked since winning a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Santa Anita on Jan. 23. Overcommunication, whose last-place finish in a Gulfstream allowance on Feb. 6 was followed by an easy Feb. 19 breeze, but there's nothing for him on the worktab since. William's Kitten, who is off the Derby Trail; however, connections are still hopeful for the Belmont Stakes. Deleted from Just In Case Afleet Express. Last Thursday at Gulfstream in a seven-furlong allowance, Afleet Express finished fifth at even money. General Maximus. He finished fourth to Radiohead and Homboykris on Saturday at Gulfstream. Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010 Vale of York Set to Race This Week While declarations haven't been made yet for this Thursday's Al Bastikaya at Meydan Racecourse, Bloodhorse.com reports that Vale of York will return to action in the 1 3/16-mile race, a prep for the Group 2 UAE Derby on March 27. "Vale of York has been a bit behind schedule but runs in the Al Bastakiya to start him off," Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said. "He will need the race, and we will see how he gets on before deciding about the UAE Derby." Vale of York's Kentucky Derby status is iffy. Early in February, Crisford said it was 50-50 whether the Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner would be returned to the U. S. for the May 1 Derby. He has not raced on dirt, a reason that was given at the time for Vale of York's possible absence from the first leg of the Triple Crown. All of Vale of York's five races before Breeders' Cup were on turf. The Al Bastakiya willl be the second race on Thursday's card at Meydan. Post times haven't been announced yet. Appeal of Borderland Decision Possible Raise the Bridle, owned by the Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine, the same connections that own Mine That Bird, might have another chance at winning yesterday's Borderland Derby. Co-owner Leonard Blach told the El Paso Times said that the ownership group will look at the tape of the Borderland Derby, and that an appeal of the race could be filed. Stewards took Raise the Bridle (Worth Watching) down and awarded the win to Storming Saint after determining that Raise the Bridle bore out into Storming Saint (Worth Watching) throughout the stretch run. Raise the Bridle hit the finish line first by a head. "It was unlucky," said Juan Ochoa, who rode Raise the Bridle. "I felt I was on the better horse. These two horses will meet again. My horse ran a great race." "Raise the Bridle is a very good horse," Blach said. "He has so much potential." "My horse got bumped twice," Luis Contreras said. "It was a tough race, a great finish. I felt I should have won. Storming Saint is a great horse. He was ready to go; the race set up perfectly." Henry Dominguez trains each horse, both of whom will be pointed to the Grade III Sunland Derby, now worth $800,000, on March 28. Neither Storming Saint nor Raise the Bridle was early-nominated to the Triple Crown, but connections have until March 27 to late-nominate at a cost of $6,000. Chip Woolley is listed as trainer of record for Mine That Bird and campaigned him to a win in the Kentucky Derby, a second in the Preakness Stakes and a third in the Belmont Stakes last year for Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine Aqueduct Open Today Aqueduct will be open for live racing on today after two dark days caused by a winter storm. The card will be comprised of nine races, featuring the $65,000 Broadway, a six-furlong sprint for New York-bred fillies and mares, carded as the eighth race. The Grade III Gotham Stakes is set for this Saturday, and with the severe winter being experienced in the area, potential shippers have to keep a wary eye out. At present, the long-range forecast calls for a moderate chance of some snow each day this week through Thursday, with partly cloudy or sunny skies on Friday and Saturday. Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 Vow to Wager Moved Up to Win in Battaglia Memorial Vow to Wager, the longest shot in the field at 23-1, was awarded the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park Saturday after Codoy was disqualified for interference in the stretch. Trainer Dale Romans said Vow to Wager would return for the Grade III Lane's End Stakes. More.... Sham Set for Next Saturday Long-Range Forecast: 40% Chance of Rain Everybody complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it. There is probably no one that wishes for better weather more than officials at Santa Anita, who either underestimated problems at the Arcadia track before the current meeting began on Dec. 26, or simply had no time to replace the racing surface after Breeders' Cup was held on Nov. 6-7. The field for the postponed Grade III Sham Stakes will be redrawn and run next Saturday, March 6--weather permitting. Saturday's long-range forecast for Arcadia from the National Weather Service calls for a 40% chance of rain. The Sham joins the Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes as the second Derby Trail race at Santa Anita to be postponed due to rain on the track's problem-laden synthetic surface. Today’s cancellation marked the fifth such weather-related closure of the current meet. “This is terribly disappointing to everyone involved,” said Santa Anita President Ron Charles in a release from the track. “Our main problem continues to be with the way the main track is draining. We’ve had a very problematic area near the finish line, and we were successful in keeping the surface area there dry with the use of tarps, but we have standing water in other areas, and it therefore would not be suitable to run on, especially with the prospect of more heavy rain through the afternoon. “As we’ve said many times, in this very difficult situation, safety has to be our number one priority. As disappointing as it is to our horsemen, fans and employees, we simply cannot jeopardize the well-being of our athletes, be they human or equine.” --By Dick Downey Radiohead Victorious in GP Allowance Radiohead (promoted to Looking Good), last seen finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile for English trainer Brian Meehan, won the third race today at Gulfstream Park, a closely watched one-turn, one-mile allowance. Rick Dutrow, Jr. was the winning trainer; Edgar Prado handled the mount. Radiohead was timed in 1:35.90 after pressing pacesetter General Maximus (deleted from Just In Case), who set initial fractions of :24.18, :47.92 and 1:12.20. The winner drew off to prevail by 3 1/4 lengths over Homeboykris (Worth Watching)--also trained by Dutrow--who came from an early position in fifth, albeit only a length-and-a-half back in the early going. Six ran. Call Shot finished third, while General Maximus faded to fourth. Favored at 8-5, Radiohead paid $5.20, $3.20 and $2.60. IEAH Stables purchased the English-bred son on Johannesburg last year, and the organization is the winning owner along with partners Pegasus Holding Group, Carmen Burrell and Jonathan Harvey. Radiohead was beaten four lengths for it all by Vale of York in the Juvenile last November. The colt was scratched from the Grade II Hutcheson Stakes last Saturday, won by Dutrow's D' Funnybone, who's owned by Paul Pompa, Jr. Dont Blame the Cat Wins Miracle Wood Mary Raymond’s Dont Blame the Cat flew around the field and charged to victory in the $70,000 Miracle Wood Stakes today at Laurel Park. Trained by Rick Dutrow and ridden by Erick Rodriquez, Dont Blame the Cat won for the second straight time at Laurel. Now three-for-four lifetime, the son of Catienus finished the seven-furlong distance in 1:23.22, a length ahead of late charging 47-1 longshot Regal Warrior, as speedy Cole T. held on to third. The favored winner paid only $4.60 but topped a $122.20 exacta and $974.00 trifecta. “The instructions were just to take him back but be close,” Rodriguez said. “It was good to be on the outside, because I let the speed go and get good position. I got a really good trip.” Dont Blame the Cat wasn't early-nominated to the Triple Crown. The only nominated entry was Turf Melody (Worth Watching), but he was scratched by trainer Graham Motion, who'd previously said he might wait for the Grade III Gotham on March 6. Dutrow runners have won seven of nine starts at Laurel during the current winter meeting. Four of the previous 14 winners of the Miracle Wood started in a Triple Crown race, including Sweetnorthernsaint (2006), who was the betting favorite in the Kentucky Derby and finished second in the Preakness. Links Kentucky Derby Contender Graded Earnings Chart Downey on the Sham Stakes More on the Sham; Morning Line John Battaglia Memorial Stakes; Morning Line Toyota Blue Grass Nominations Derby Trail Video Replays Caracortado 'Happy Boy' Triple Crown hopeful Caracortado, prepping for the Grade II, $150,000 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 13, went five furlongs on Pro-Ride in 1:01.20 under regular rider Paul Atkinson for trainer Mike Machowsky. “He went really good. He came home in 22 and change the last quarter. He’s doing great," said Machowsky, who referred to the chestnut gelding as “the little red horse." Said Atkinson: “He went slow early and quickened late. He’s a happy boy.” Workouts of Note on Friday On Feb. 26, SCHOOLYARD DREAMS breezed five in :59.80 (1/19) at TAM. On Feb. 26, UPTOWNCHARLYBROWN breezed five in 1:00 (2/19) at TAM. On Feb. 26, SIDNEY'S CANDY worked five in 1:00.40 (7/41) at HOL. On Feb. 26, CARACORTADO worked five in 1:01.20 (38/81) at SA. Friday, Feb. 26, 2010 Morning Lines Posted For Sham, Battaglia Memorial. Kentucky Derby Graded Earnings Chart It's posted now on the Derby Contender Graded Earnings Chart page. We have 47 horses listed at this point. Downey: Sham Runners Seek First-Time Graded Win The Grade III Sham Stakes brings together a mixture of local horses looking to break out of maiden and allowance company in a big way. Only one of the 10 entries has graded stakes experience. More.... WEBN Runners Meet Newcomer in Battaglia Memorial The top five finishers in last month’s WEBN Stakes return to Turfway Park Saturday for the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes, the last local prep for the Lane’s End Stakes on March 27, and they meet up with one that last ran in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. More.... Toyota Blue Grass Draws 162 Nominations Champion Lookin At Lucky and Eskendereya, an 8 1/2-length winner of the Grade II Fountain of Youth, are among 162 three-year-olds nominated to Keeneland’s Grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes to be run April 10. More.... Derby Hopes on the Line in Sham Stakes Trainer Mike Machowsky’s Nextdoorneighbor, Bob Baffert’s The Program, Eoin Harty’s Kettle River and Richard Mandella’s Setsuko are among 10 that will attempt to get their Triple Crown aspirations started on Saturday in Santa Anita’s Grade III Sham Stakes. And Mandella wants to see Setsuko step up. More.... Laurel Dark Today Due to high winds, Laurel Park has cancelled the live racing card today. Laurel and Pimlico will be open for simulcasting. Laurel is expected to be open tomorrow for live racing. The 10-race card includes the $70,000 Miracle Wood Stakes. Even Dozen in Miracle Wood A dozen are entered to race seven-furlongs in Saturday's Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Park. Turf Melody (Worth Watching), the only runner in the field who is Triple Crown-nominated, is the 3-1 morning line favorite--but he may be scratched. Turf Melody has raced at eight different racetracks in eight starts, with victories at Laurel, Colonial Downs and Remington Park, where he captured the Springboard Stakes. Turf Melody ran a disappointing sixth in the Grade III Lecomte in his most recent outing. “I am on the fence about running,” trainer Graham Motion said. “I like him a lot, but thought this would be a conservative spot for him, but he does not stand out like I had hoped. I really want to keep him going around two turns so the Gotham is possible.” Sheldon Russell, who was aboard for Turf Melody's victory at Laurel, regains the mount from post 1. New York shipper Dont Blame the Cat (7-2) has won two of three lifetime. After breaking his maiden and then finishing fourth in Aqueduct’s Damon Runyon Stakes, the Catienus offspring won as a 1-9 favorite at Laurel despite stumbling at the start. Erick Rodriguez continues as rider for the Rick Dutrow trainee. Dutrow has won six of eight starts at Laurel during the current winter meeting. Deputy Daney (4-1) brings a three-for-three record and a victory in the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes at Aqueduct. Trainer Cathal Lynch saw the Officer gelding win twice at home at Philadelphia Park before his stakes win in New York. Angel Arroyo will ride. “He has done nothing wrong and beaten the horses we have put in front of him so far. That’s all you can ask,” Lynch said. “He’s a nice, well balanced horse with a great attitude. The race came up stronger than I thought. It looks as if only a couple of lengths separate four or five of the horses so the trip and the pace could dictate the winner.” The parade of shippers includes Turbo Speed (5-1), who has won three of four starts for trainer Bernie Houghton including the Penn National Nursery. His most recent effort was a third place finish in Aqueduct’s Count Fleet Stakes. David Cora is his rider. Cole T (8-1) has finished in the money in all six career starts with a victory at Laurel on Jan. 1. The speedy Desert Warrior colt carries Harry Vega for trainer/co-owner John Salzman, Jr. Our Commander (10-1) finished last in the Count Fleet but before that he had won three in a row, including the Maryland Juvenile Championship on Dec. 12. Josean Ramirez will carry the reins for Gary Capuano. Ramirez is a perfect three-for-three aboard the son of Tenpins. Day Flight (12-1) rides a two-win streak into the Miracle Wood for trainer Rodney Jenkins. Travis Dunkelberger helped him break his maiden and then beat optional/claimers. Both victories were at Laurel. Completing the field are outsiders B’wanagoldmine (20-1), Kens Cape (20-1), Regal Warrior (20-1), Savatron (30-1) and Proud of Midway (30-1). --Edited from track release Aqueduct Closed Today and Tomorrow Due to forecasts that call for snow and wind, live racing has been cancelled at Aqueduct Racetrack for Friday and Saturday. On Saturday, the facility will be open for simulcasting, and telephone and internet wagering will be available. The NYRA Racing Office will be closed today, and will take double entries on Saturday for Wednesday, March 3, and Thursday, March 4. On Wednesday, post time changes to 1:00 p.m. The Stymie, originally scheduled to be run on Saturday, February 27, has been moved to Sunday, March 7. Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010 Saturday GP Allowance Has Derby Prospect Sleepers Saturday’s program will feature an allowance race that could yield a Kentucky Derby or Triple Crown race prospect. Trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. sends out two of the seven entered in the one-turn, one-mile test with Julien Leparoux named to ride Homeboykris (Worth Watching), owned by Louis Lazzinnaro and partners; and Edgar Prado aboard Radiohead (Worth Watching), owned by IEAH Stables and partners. Both Radiohead and Homeboykris are Kentucky Derby sleepers at the moment. The latter has $250,500 in graded earnings, and the former $196,332. But both have something to prove if they are to be taken seriously for Derby consideration. Homeboykris will bid to bounce back from a disappointing fifth-place finish behind Winslow Homer and Jackson Bend in the Grade III Holy Bull Stakes on Jan. 23 in his first start of the season. The son of Roman Ruler won the Grade I Champagne in October in his first start for Dutrow after a private purchase from Calder connections. Radiohead will be making his first start for Dutrow and first since finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile for English trainer Brian Meehan. IEAH purchased the English-bred son on Johannesburg before that Breeders’ Cup race, in which he was beaten only four lengths for it all by the winner. Radiohead was scratched from the Grade II Hutcheson Stakes last Saturday. Two lightly-raced but promising contenders in Saturday’s allowance are General Maximus (Just In Case) (Michael Imperio and Elizabeth Loftus) with Javier Castellano to ride for trainer Joseph Imperio; and Thomas Got Even (Tomisue Hilbert and John Menard) for trainer Nick Zito and jockey Corey Nakatani. General Maximus is a New York-bred son of Freud that has won both of his starts wire-to-wire--his debut against state-breds at Belmont Park on July 9 by four lengths, and a six-furlong allowance at the track on Jan. 30. Thomas Got Even is a homebred son of Stephen Got Even and won his only start at seven furlongs at Belmont Park on Sept. 11 by 9 1/2 lengths. Completing the field for this test are William Lawrence’s Quick Ride, Joe Bravo; Gary and Mary West’s Call Shot, John Velazquez; and James Steil’s Gesu, Paco Lopez. --Edited from track notes with additional content by Dick Downey Shippers to Bring Fresh Blood to Gotham According to Andrew Byrnes, stakes coordinator for NYRA, four new faces to Winter racing in New York are expected for the Grade III Gotham on March 6: Awesome Act, Nacho Friend, Tiz Chrome and Wow Wow Wow. If plans follow through, they'll contest the race against at least two from the Whirlaway, one-two finishers Peppi Knows and Afleet Again. All but the latter were early-nominated to the Triple Crown. More.... Notice to Subscribers While this information will be posted on the free portion of The Downey Profile on Friday, subscribers may view our Kentucky Derby Graded Earnings Chart now on the Subscription Page at Segment 7 NOTES. We believe this is the first such chart published in 2010. Maximus Ruler Out Until Summer Maximus Ruler (to be deleted from Worth Watching) won't race again until late spring or early summer, DRF.com reports. Maximus Ruler finished second in the Grade III Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds but was withheld from the Grade II Risen Star with what was called a bruise foot. Trainer Clark Hanna had hoped Maximus Ruler would be off only a week, but a bone scan performed Tuesday has convinced Hanna more time is needed. "A couple things lit up on the bone scan," Hanna said. "There's nothing fractured, nothing chipped off. They just said that if you press on, you could make things worse. Hopefully he'll be ready for a good summer campaign." Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010 Entry Closings for Saturday's Races Entries close today for the 1 1/8-mile, Grade III Sham Stakes at Santa Anita and the seven-furlong Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Park. Thursday is the closing date for the 1 1/16-mile John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park and the six-furlong Mountain Valley Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Borderland Derby Entries Headed by Hollendorfer Barn Entries are in for the Borderland Derby at Sunland Park. Leading the list is Tango Tango from the Jerry Hollendorfer barn, at a 9-5 morning line. Henry Dominguez trains Storming Saint (5-2), a multiple stakes-placed winner. Todd Fincher, whose barn was hot in January, conditions Chuchuluco (7-2), a New Mexico-bred. Chuchuluco won the the six-furlong Pepsi Cola Stakes at six furlongs on Jan. 23 at Sunland. Fincher also trains Guiltybyassociation, a colt by Mine That Bird’s sire, Birdstone. He's 10-1 on the morning line. Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine, owners of Mine That Bird, have entered Raise the Bridle (25-1); however, Chip Woolley is not the trainer. Raise the Bridle is trained by Dominguez. Nine are entered in the 1 1/16-mile Borderland Derby. It's race 10 on the card, with a post time of 6:31 ET. Dryfly Off TC Trail Dryfly (recently demoted to Just In Case) is off the Triple Crown Trail with an injury to his front left knee after a ninth-place effort in Saturday's Grade III Southwest Stakes. "He has what I would term an incomplete fracture," trainer Lynn Whiting told Daily Racing Form. "It's just the start of a problem. And it's something that probably, I would say, is going to require time rather than surgery. I expect he'll be out of training for 90 to 120 days. We sent the images to Dr. Bramlage, and we're going to rely on his expertise. But I don't envision it being a surgery case. I think it's something that is just going to require time." "It's not something that's ever been there before," Whiting said. "It kind of explains his race to you." The Charles Cella-owned colt opened his three-year-old campaign with a convincing 2 1/4-length win in the one-mile Smarty Jones on January 18. Sent off the 3-1 second choice in the Southwest, Dryfly raced within striking range until retreating at the top of the Oaklawn Park stretch. Whiting said he hopes to get Dryfly back to the races this fall. Backtalk to Delta Downs in Sportsman's Paradise Backtalk (Just In Case) makes his 2010 debut this Friday night at Delta Downs in the Sportsman's Paradise Stakes, a one-mile race with a post time of 7:22 ET. Trained by Tom Amoss, Backtalk made a splash at Churchill Downs in June when he won the Grade III Bashford Manor Stakes, his second victory in as many starts. Sent to Saratoga, he took the Grade II Sanford with a late move. But things began to tailspin after that. Backtalk finished fourth to Dublin, Aspire and Aikenite in the Grade I Hopeful, followed by a finish well off the board in his first try at two turns, the Grade I Dixiana Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland--his final race of 2009. Although he was early-bird nominated to the Louisiana Derby series, Backtalk was sent to Gold Mark Farm in Ocala, where he galloped and put in three published workouts before being sent to Amoss' barn at Fair Grounds in late January. Gold Mark Farm owns Backtalk. The son of Smarty Jones has put in four more works since. The second of those four was Feb. 6, which Amoss said was intended to be a serious one; future plans for the colt were to be made off that workout, according to the trainer. The Sportsman's Paradise helps wrap up the stakes schedule at Delta. Five others are entered in the race, with Backtalk expected to be the favorite at post time. Latigo Shore, Afleet Express Clash Thursday Two horses from our Just In Case list, Latigo Shore and Afleet Express, are set to meet 10 others in a seven-furlong allowance at Gulfstream Park on Thursday in race 8, post time 4:43 ET. Trained by Nick Zito, Latigo Shore will make his first start of the year. In his second career start in 2009--and most recent race--Latigo Shore broke his maiden at Calder, winning by 7 1/2 lengths at a distance of 6 1/2 furlongs under Joe Bravo. The son of Malibu Moon led throughout and held a five-length lead at the furlong marker. He finished in 1:18.30. The colt is owned by Thoroughbred Legends Racing Stable, the consortium that leads early nominations to the Triple Crown with 12. The partnership has parceled its horses to Zito, D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert. At 4-1, Latigo Shore is the second morning line choice. Latigo Shore has put in four published workouts at Palm Meadows this year between Jan. 4 and Feb. 19, with a significant break in his workout regimen between Jan. 4 and Jan. 31. Joe Bravo has been named to return in the irons. Afleet Express, owned by Gainesway Stable, is trained by Jimmy Jerkens. On Dec. 5, Afleet Express won his career debut going six furlongs at Aqueduct. Taken to Florida, he finished second at 6-5 odds in a six-furlong allowance at Gulfstream on Jan. 30 after breaking awkwardly and finally hitting his best stride late. General Maximus won that race on the lead. John Velazquez returns to the saddle on Afleet Express, who's the tepid morning line favorite at 3-1. Soaring Empire (6-1) was on a Kentucky Derby Top 10 list put together by Kellie Reilly on opening day of the Churchill Downs website kentuckyderby.com. Owned by Louisvillians Rick Pitino and Ed Glasscock, Soaring Empire broke his maiden last year going 5 1/2 furlongs at Monmouth Park. In his second career race, he finished third, beaten four lengths, by Thiskyhasnolimit in the Grade III Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Dowsn on Nov. 1. Tomorrow's start is his first of 2010. Mine N Gems (5-1) goes out for Wesley Ward after breaking his maiden at the distance at Gulfstream on Jan. 23. That was his second start. He lost his debut at Calder to Latigo Shore by 7 1/2 lengths. Comedero Could Lead Mountain Valley Of the 20 nominated for the six-furlong Mountain Valley Stakes at Oaklawn Park this Saturday, the most impressive credentials may be those of an Arkansas-bred, Peter Redekop's Comedero. The son of Posse is three-for-three in six-furlong races, including the Old Hickory Stakes at Fair Grounds in November and the Razorback Futurity at Louisiana Downs in October. Trained by Mike Stidham, Comedero has been working well at Fair Grounds in recent weeks and could easily go off as the favorite on Saturday. Comedero was not early-nominated to the Triple Crown. Entries for the Mountain Valley close tomorrow. --From Oaklawn track notes Next-Race Plans Conveyance: He could be shipped to Dubai for the Group 2 UAE Derby on March 27 or wait for Grade I Wood Memorial on April 3 or Grade I Arkanas Derby on April 10, but not the Rebel. Lookin at Lucky: The Grade II San Felipe on March 13 or Grade II Rebel at Oaklawn the same date. Noble's Promise: Said to be heading to the Rebel. Tiz Chrome: Being pointed to the Grade III Gotham on March 6. For other next-race plans, please scroll down to Feb. 23 Racing News. Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010 Summary: Who's Going Where Next Aikenite (Worth Watching) will compete in the Grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes on April 10. He finished a fast-closing second to Noble's Promise there last Fall in the Grade I Dixiana Breeders' Futurity. Blind Luck (Worth Watching): the Grade I Santa Anita Oaks on March 6. While next-race plans are being thought and talked about, it's too early to know, and trainer Bruce Levine has not been able to fully assess how Buddy's Saint (Looking Good) is doing. His confidence shaken, Levine told DRF.com, "I won't bring him to Churchill Downs just for the sake of running in the Derby if it's not the right thing to do." Caracortado's (Looking Good) connections have him pointing to the Grade II San Felipe on March 13. Cardiff Giant (Worth Watching) will probably compete in the Grade II Rebel on March 13. Connemara (Worth Watching) in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby on April 3. Assistant trainer James Barnes said that Conveyance (Looking Good) may return for the Rebel, although trainer Bob Baffert told Santa Anita track notes on Feb. 21 that he has nothing in mind yet for the undefeated colt. Connections are looking at the Grade I Florida Derby next for D' Funnybone (Worth Watching). Dave in Dixie (Worth Watching) is probable for San Felipe. Todd Pletcher said the Florida Derby would be next for Eskendereya (Looking Good). The Grade II Louisiana Derby on March 27 looks probable for Discreetly Mine (Looking Good). Dublin (Worth Watching) will race next in the Rebel. While his next-race plans are not known, the Preakness may be in the sights of Fly Down (Worth Watching). "This is a lightly raced horse, and the Triple Crown has three races, right or wrong? Maybe that gives a little hint about what we're thinking," trainer Zito told DRF.com. The Florida Derby is probably next for Ice Box (Worth Watching). Jackson Bend (Looking Good) is done with Florida for now and will contest the Grade I Wood Memorial on April 3. It would be his first start out of Florida. Trainer Nick Zito said it would be "suicide" to return so quickly in the March 20 Florida Derby. Grade III Sham this Saturday or the San Felipe for Kettle River (Worth Watching), who missed a work last week after getting a little sick. Santa Anita track notes have said that Lookin at Lucky (Looking Good) will start next in the San Felipe, and it's being widely reported that way. Make Music for Me (Looking Good)? Wish we knew. The Sham for Nextdoorneighbor (Worth Watching). OBS Championship winner Quiet All American is expected to see action in the Grade II Lane's End Stakes at Turfway Park on March 27. Presumably the Louisiana Derby for Ron the Greek (Looking Good). Florida Derby next for Rule (Looking Good). Sidney's Candy (Looking Good) is possible for the Grade III Gotham Stakes on March 6. Super Saver (Looking Good) has been mentioned for either the Gotham or Rebel. Tempted to Tapit (Worth Watching) might return for the Louisiana Derby or head west for the Grade III Sunland Derby on March 28. The Sham for The Program (Worth Watching). Uh Oh Bango (Looking Good) has been mentioned for the Rebel. Presumably, the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby for Uptowncharlybrown (Worth Watching). Weekend Beyers Eskendereya (Looking Good) ran a 106 Beyer Speed Figure in the Grade II Fountain of Youth, the best of the year by any 3-year-old. Discreetly Mine (Looking Good) got a 94 in the Grade II Risen Star, Connemara (Worth Watching) an 83 in the Grade III El Camino Real Derby, Conveyance (Looking Good) a 97 in the Grade III Southwest and D' Funnybone (Worth Watching) a 99 in the Grade II Hutchson Stakes. Lookin at Lucky Slow Work Yesterday at Santa Anita, Lookin at Lucky (Looking Good) worked six furlongs in 1:15.40 (7/8) for trainer Bob Baffert. While only one work at the distance was slower, the fastest of the day was timed in 1:12.20 and was put in by Crisis of Spirit, a 3-year-old filly also trained by Baffert. It's being reported as fact that Lookin at Lucky will make his 2010 debut in the Grade II San Felipe on March 13, and perhaps he will, but the trainer has been more than reserved in his public statements about Lookin at Lucky. There is little or nothing coming out of the stable about how Lookin at Lucky is doing, and in this sport, sometimes no news is bad news. Time will tell. Monday, Feb. 22, 2010 Notice to Subscribers Downey's post-race analysis of the Fountain of Youth, Risen Star, Southwest and El Camino Real Derby is now posted at Segment 6 NOTES on the main Subscription Page. Conveyance Leaves; Cardiff Giant Stays Grade III Southwest Stakes winner Conveyance (Looking Good) was on a flight back to Southern California yesterday. Groom Roberto Luna reported that all was in good shape for the son of Indian Charlie. Assistant trainer James Barnes said that Conveyance may return for the Rebel, although trainer Bob Baffert told Santa Anita track notes yesterday that he has nothing in mind yet for the undefeated colt. Dublin (Worth Watching) was fine after the race, according to his trainer. Dublin was second by three-quarters of a length and closing fast on the Southwest winner after a wide trip. “He’s great today, he pulled up great,” said trainer D. Wayne Lukas. “That stumble on the second stride cost him the race,” said Lukas. “But he’s a good one.” Cardiff Giant (Worth Watching), who shipped in from California with Conveyance and Domonation, is staying in Arkansas after his third-place showing in the Southwest. He last finished second to Conveyance in the Grade III San Rafael. “He did good, but it was the same history,” said Ricardo Contreras, assistant to trainer Jorge Periban. “Baffert took the lead again. My horse will stay here, will stay for the Rebel, possibly,” Contreras said.“He likes this track. Jorge will probably be back next week. It’s hard to find fault. He’s a little horse with a strong heart.” Levine Reserves Judgment on Buddy's Saint Buddy's Saint remains on our Looking Good list because he has $210,000 in graded earnings, usually sufficient to guarantee a spot in the Kentucky Derby. Sent off the 9-to-5 favorite in the Grade II Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth, Buddy's Saint is reported to have come out of the race in good condition by Bruce Levine--but the trainer was guarded as to his next move with the colt, who ran into traffic in the first turn before finishing ninth under Jose Lezcano. “He came out of it good,” said Levine. “We’ll give him a few days and then take him back to the track and see how he is from there. I won’t make up my mind for a week or two to see how he’s doing before deciding where he goes next.” “(Lezcano) said we got shut off going into the first turn, so we really had a rough trip and had trouble making up ground,” said Levine Sunday. “It’s a tough track to make up ground on, so we’ll just throw the race out and start again. In the Fountain of Youth, Buddy’s Saint was making his first start since an impressive 4 3/4-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile, Grade II Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 28 in his third career start. He won the one-mile, Grade II Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct by 12 lengths three weeks before the Remsen. Discreetly Mine Exits Risen Star in Good Order Grade II Risen Star Stakes winner Discreetly Mine (Looking Good) came out of his front-running victory on Saturday in good order and was doing well yesterday. Discreetly Mine leaves Fair Grounds this morning on an equine charter returning to his South Florida home base. Expected to accompany him on that flight are Tempted to Tapit (Worth Watching) and Drosselmeyer (Worth Watching), the second- and fourth-place finishers in the Risen Star. Machowsky Hopeful with Two in the Barn A little over two months in front of the Kentucky Derby, Mike Machowsky has two promising Triple Crown hopefuls in the unbeaten Caracortado (Looking Good) and promising maiden winner Nextdoorneighbor (Worth Watching), who runs in Saturday’s Grade III Sham Stakes, a steppingstone to the Grade I Santa Anita Derby on April 3. Caracortado, who captured the Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes on Feb. 6 for his fifth victory, goes next in the Grade II San Felipe Stakes on March 13. “He trains like a really good horse,” Cincinnati native Machowsky said of Nextdoorneighbor, a bay son of Lido Palace owned and bred by John and Jerry Amerman. The Amermans raced Lido Palace, as well as Netxdoorneighbor’s dam, Fencelineneighbor. Both were major stakes winners. “We’re keeping our fingers crossed,” Machowsky said. “Nextdoorneighbor is working good and acts like he’s got everything you’d want in a horse at this time of year.” Machowsky was reluctant to compare Nextdoorneighbor and Caracortado. “But a few months back I breezed them together a couple of times,” he said. “They went very well together, so I’m pretty excited to have both of them.” Probable for the Sham, according to Santa Anita: Alphie’s Bet, no rider named yet; Boulder Creek, Victor Espinoza; Kettle River (Worth Watching), Brice Blanc; Nextdoorneighbor, Mike Smith; Outlaw Man, no rider; Privilaged, no rider; Setsuko, Rafael Bejarano; The Program (Worth Watching), Martin Garcia; Viva Macho, Silvio Amador; and Wolf Tail, no rider. Setsuko worked five furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita on Sunday in 1:01.60 for Richard Mandella, while The Program went the same distance in 1:00.80 for Bob Baffert. Kettle River worked five furlongs for Eion Harty in :59.80 at Santa Anita. Wolf Tail worked six furlongs at Hollywood Park in 1:13.80 for Doug O’Neill. Quick Hitter Las Virgenes winner Blind Luck (Worth Watching) worked four furlongs at Santa Anita in :49.60 under regular rider Rafael Bejarano for the Grade I Santa Anita Oaks on March 6. “She’ll work five-eighths again next Saturday, and that will be it,” said Jerry Hollendorfer assistant Dan Ward. REVISIONS TO OUR LISTS Promoted from Worth Watching to Looking Good: Eskendereya, 8 1/2-length winner of the Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes. Promoted from Just In Case to Worth Watching: D' Funnybone, winner of the Grade II Hutcheson, who now has the Grade I Florida Derby in his sights. Demoted from Worth Watching to Just In Case: Dryfly, after a ninth-place finish in the Grade III Southwest Stakes. Letsgetitonmon, up the track in the Grade II Risen Star. Moojab, not in the Southwest, interruption in his training regimen. Quiet Invader. We should have demoted him last week after he was fifth in the San Vicente. California Derby winner Ranger Heartley, who backed up to finish fifth in the Grade III El Camino Real Derby. He was beaten only 3 1/4 lengths but was passed by four horses in the late going. Tahitian Warrior, after he was declared but not entered in the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas. Thiskyhasnolimit, after another week went by without a published workout. Worldly, who finished seventh in the Risen Star. Worth a Buck, who still hasn't worked since finishing second in the Count Fleet on Jan. 2. Deleted from Worth Watching: Close to the Edge, after failing to break his maiden in a one-mile race at Santa Anita on Friday. Cool Bullet contended early while pressing pacesetter Conveyance, but he fell back to an eighth-place finish in Saturday's Southwest. Hotep, after his sights were set too high too soon, finishing tenth of 12 in the Risen Star. Lost Aptitude, after finishing last of 10 in the Fountain of Youth. Pleasant Storm finished seventh, beaten eight lengths by pacesetter Conveyance in the Soutwest. Pleasant Storm was void of early speed and did not quicken around the turn. Deleted from Just In Case: Bravo Whiskey, for the second time, after finishing last of 12 in the Risen Star. Delong Road, after putting an uber-clunker in a maiden special weight at Oaklawn on Saturday. Fly By Phil, who's had no workouts for too long to be kept on the list. Great Attack. Still no workouts showing since last year. Wildcat Frankie, sixth of seven in the seven-furlong, Grade II Hutcheson after setting the pace. Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010 Five Try Nine Furlongs Today at GP The third race today is an entry-level allowance to be run at the Florida Derby distance of 1 1/8 mile and goes with a field of five 3-year-olds, all from high-profile stables. Wertheimer et Frere’s Kentucky homebred Colizeo (Worth Watching) may be the favorite with John Velazquez in the saddle for trainer Todd Pletcher. Colizeo is a son of Distorted Humor that was very impressive breaking his maiden over the track at this distance on Jan. 22 by 5 1/2 lengths in his first start this year. Colizeo showed little in his sprint debut at Delaware Park in September. He showed he wanted more distance finishing second going a mile at Meadowlands in October, and then he was second by a nose going 1 1/16 mile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 8. Richard Pell’s Fly Down (Worth Watching) will get plenty of support making his first start this year for trainer Nick Zito with Jose Lezcano named to ride. The chestnut son of Mineshaft finished third in his seven-furlong debut at Belmont Park on Oct. 25 and broke his maiden going 1 1/16 mile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 28 in his most recent start. First Dude (Worth Watching), owned by Donald Dizney and trained by Dale Romans, races for the second time this year. After a half-length beat by Fly Down in that race at Churchill, he broke his maiden by 2 3/4 lengths at Gulfstream going a mile on Jan. 30. Jesus Castanon rides. Trainer Ken McPeek will give Craig Singer’s Thunder Perfect his first test on dirt after he made his first three starts on Polytrack at Woodbine and his last three on turf at Churchill Downs and Gulfstream, most recently finishing a fast-closing fourth behind Asphalt on Jan. 13, beaten only 1 1/4 length. Julien Leparoux gets the call on Thunder Perfect, who finished second to Lost Aptitude in the Grand Canyon Stakes on turf at Churchill Downs in late November. Completing the field for today’s race is Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Lonesome Street, to be ridden by Rajiv Maragh for trainer Mike Maker. Brylynn Farm’s Teaks North, trained by Rick Dutrow, was scratched. 3d at Gulfstream
Sham Stakes Probables Probable for the 1 1/8-mile, Grade III Sham Stakes on Feb. 27: Alphie’s Bet, no rider named yet; Boulder Creek, no rider; Kettle River (Worth Watching), Brice Blanc; Nextdoorneighbor (Worth Watching), Mike Smith; Outlaw Man, no rider; Privilaged, no rider; Setsuko, Rafael Bejarano; The Program (Worth Watching), Martin Garcia; Viva Macho, Silvio Amador; and Wolf Tail, Joel Rosario. Source: track notes Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010 Eskendereya Convincing in Fountain of Youth Eskendereya was dominant winning the Grade II Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park today by 8 1/2 lengths. More.... Conveyance Gets Over, Gets Win in Southwest Conveyance was hustled over from post 9 by substitute jockey Martin Garcia to take an early lead and eventually hold off Dublin to win the Grade III Southwest Stakes. More.... Discreetly Mine Wires Risen Star Field Discreetly Mine led from gate to wire, perceived as an unusual feat going two turns at Fair Grounds, to win the Grade II Risen Star Stakes. More.... Connemara Goes Last to First in El Camino Real Derby Russell Baze won the Grade III El Camino Real Derby for the fifth time in six years when he guided 6-to-5 favorite Connemara from last to first. The Santa Anita Derby may be next for Connemara. More.... D' Funnybone Takes Hutcheson in 2010 Debut; Florida Derby Considered Next D' Funnybone made the chalk bettors happy by scoring in the Grade II Hutcheson Stakes, and the Dutrow brothers pulled off a formful exacta. More.... Links Dick's Picks: Southwest Stakes The Commish: Risen Star Stakes Grade III El Camino Real Derby Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes Grade II Hutcheson Stakes Grade II Risen Star Stakes Grade III Southwest Stakes Gomez Itinerary Omits All but Hutcheson on Triple Crown Trail Garrett Gomez left Southern California last night for Florida to ride in several races at Gulfstream Park, but not to ride in the Grade II Fountain of Youth--and bypassing Oaklawn Park, where he was scheduled to ride Mission Impazible on Monday before the Grade III Southwwest Stakes was postponed to today. Among other races at Gulfstream, Gomez will City Trooper for trainer George Weaver in the Grade II Hutcheson Stakes and Courageous Cat for Bill Mott in the Grade III Canadian Turf. Today's Weather Fair Grounds. Sunny, high in the low 60's. Golden Gate Fields. Sunny, high in the high 50's. Gulfstream Park. Sunny, high in the low 70's. Oaklawn Park. Cloudy, high in the mid 50's. Subscriber Updates 1 and 2 Update 1. Our Segment 5 NOTES, posted Wednesday, show Feb. 15 early odds for the Southwest Stakes. Just after the races at Oaklawn were canceled on Feb. 15, I jumped ahead on my TwinSpires.com TV card to the Southwest and found real-time odds for the race. Normally, actual odds are posted only after the preceding race payouts are up. Now they're on our main Subscription Page, along with the other content that is advertised. Two horses in particular showed good relative strength, while the other entries did not. --Dick Downey Update 2. If you're going to enter the Road to the Roses contest, in which scoring races start this Saturday, you might be interested in this. Late last week, Downey and Johnson participated in a Triple Crown Fantasy League draft with 14 other teams comprised of some of the nation's closest Derby Trail watchers. The draft is organized at Churchill Downs--many participants are names that you know. The Top 30 picks in this draft are posted on the subscription page at Segment 4 NOTES. To subscribe for this and all the other information we offer each year, click the Join Now Horseshoe on the left sidebar or click here. Friday, Feb. 19, 2010 Downey: Tough Southwest Could Now Belong to Home Team With new positions in a re-drawn Southwest Stakes, the complexion of the race has changed. More.... Commish: First to Pounce Takes Risen Star Pour in two helpings of Florida-based speed balls. Add a couple of hype-type stalkers, and a healthy dose of local stone-cold closers. Stir vigorously and we have the ingredients for an appealing Derby prep in the Grade II Risen Star Stakes. More.... Florida-Based Horses Gallop for Risen Star “Discreetly Mine had a relaxed gallop of a mile-and-a-quarter...” said longtime Todd Pletcher assistant Ginny DePasquale yesterday at Fair Grounds. She said Discreetly Mine settled in well at Fair Grounds after arriving there on Wednesday. More.... Same 10 Re-Entered in Southwest Stakes Eight of 10 Work Since Postponement "We have the same 10 back for Saturday," said stakes coordinator Craig Lytel of the $250,000 Southwest Stakes. Meanwhile, eight of the 10 entries have put in workouts since the race was postponed on Monday. More.... Speed from Florida Rolls into Big Easy When an equine charter from South Florida touched down in New Orleans late yesterday morning, the chance of a legitimate pace in Saturday’s Grade II Risen Star was elevated. More.... Buddy's Saint, Jackson Bend Lead Fountain of Youth Field Jackson Bend, owned by Robert LaPenta and Jacks or Better Farm, and Buddy’s Saint (Kingfield Stable) rank high on most lists of leading Kentucky Derby prospects and will meet for the first time in Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile, Grade II Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes. Some consider the field of 10 the deepest group of 3-year-olds assembled anywhere in the nation so far this year. More.... A Little Warm, D' Funnybone Meet Six Others in Hutcheson Edward P. Evans’ A Little Warm and Paul Pompa, Jr.’s D' Funnybone will be the favorites in the seven-furlong, Grade II Hutcheson Stakes for brothers Anthony and Rick Dutrow, respectively. A field of eight was entered. More.... Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010 Morning Line Posted for Fountain of Youth, Hutcheson Please click to the Road to the Kentucky Derby Page for more information. Dick's Picks: Fountain of Youth by Subscription Only Buddy's Saint is the presumptive favorite or second choice at the windows in this race, but there is reason to think he can be beaten. There is a small subscription fee for Dick's Picks for the Grade II Fountain of Youth. This is a new and separate product from The Dowey Profile Triple Crown product. Click here to subscribe for this race only. After receiving your confirmation email, come back and click here to sign in and view Downey's analysis and selections. Trouble with your username or password? Write us at thedowneyprofile@thedowneyprofile.com Musir Draws Off to Win UAE 2000 Guineas Musir was the handy winner of the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas under Christophe Soumillon. More.... Six Work for Southwest Six horses that were entered in last Saturday's postponed Southwest Stakes breezed yesterday at Oaklawn Park. Each of them went four furlongs on a track rated fast. Conveyance breezed four in :48.40 (2/19). Domonation breezed four in :51.80 (18/19). Dryfly breezed four in :48.60 (4/19). Dublin breezed four in :48.20 (1/19). Kitty's Turn breezed four in :49.00 (8/19). Mission Impazible breezed four in :48.60 (4/19). Two days ago, Cardiff Giant breezed three furlongs in :36.40 (1/1) at the track. That leaves three of the 10 originally entered in the Southwest without a workout at Oaklawn since Saturday: Cool Bullet, Crider and Pleasant Storm. Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010 Lentenor Second in GP Allowance Pressing St. Eligius throughout the race, Lentenor (Worth Watching), the 4-5 favorite, had trouble getting by him and finished second to a game Doubles Partner in a 1 1/8-mile allowance race today on the turf at Gulfstream Park. Doubles Partner was the fourth betting choice at 7-1. Doubles Partner ran by the pair on the rail in deep stretch to prevail by a half-length. St. Eligius was a neck back in third. Doubles Partner, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Chris DeCarlo, was timed in 1:48.81 after St. Eligius set fractions of :24.75, :49.22, 1:13.61 and 1:36.95. A good race by the 3-year-old was to have spotted him a place on dirt next time out, possibly the Grade I Florida Derby. Trainer Michael Matz will assess the performance and make an announcement about the full brother of Barbaro. “It’s disappointing. He broke well," Matz said. "He ran real well. John said he was just doing some green things, and looking around. The pace was slow, and in hindsight he wishes he would have let him go a little earlier. “At the three-eighths pole he would have gone past that other horse. He’s green still. He needs that experience. It’s a good question (where he runs next). I know he’s definitely the type that can run in the big races, it’s just a matter of timing and whether he can get the experience he needs.” Most Troubled Trip of All Time? This chart call from Aqueduct pretty much says it all. Poor old Liston (Just In Case) finished last in this six-furlong allowance, not counting the horse without a human on top of it, at 4-5 odds. "Liston spotted the field a significant head start after stumbling at the break, raced at the back of the pack, while keeping a wary eye on the riderless horse, was carried outward by that foe leaving the half-mile pole, managed to free himself of that predicament by working his way over to the inside, was forced to check sharply when shut off in upper stretch by the same troublesome rival, then with all opportunity lost by that point, was allowed to complete the race wrapped up." Odysseus Wins by 15 at Tampa He may have been the heavy favorite at 1-2 odds, but few expected Odysseus (Worth Watching) to romp by 15 lengths today in a first-level allowance race at Tampa Bay Downs. While it was clear the five horses he defeated were struggling in his wake, Odysseus put in time of 1:44.37 in the 1 1/16-mile race, only 22/100 second slower than Rule was clocked in winning the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes four days earlier. Exhi, at 2-1, took the early lead. Odysseus and Rajiv Maragh, three wide early in the first turn, got over and stalked Exhi into the backstretch. Exhi set fractions of :23.72, :47.09 and 1:11.76 and still had the lead as the pair approached the end of the far turn. Maragh and Odysseus made their moving leaving the turn, and they suddenly turned a two-length deficit into a three-length lead at the furlong marker. From there, Odysseus increased his margin by 12 more lengths while being shown the whip. Owned by Padua Stable, the son of Malibu Moon is trained by Tom Albertrani. He was bred in Kentucky by Haymarket Farm & Lakemont Stable and is out of the Conquistador Cielo mare Persimmon Hill. Odysseus is in training at Palm Meadows. On Jan. 14, Odysseus defeated what some called a strong field of maidens in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park. Timed in 1:22.83, Odysseus prompted the pace from the rail and won by a half-length over Forward Harch and Nadal under Maragh. The win today was the second in three career starts for Odysseus. 'Streak to the Derby' Rules--They're Easy Churchill Downs Inc.’s wholly owned TwinSpires.com will launch the “$25,000 Streak to the Derby” challenge this Saturday, Feb. 20. By simply playing the Kentucky Derby prep races on TwinSpires.com, contestants can win up to $25,000 and four tickets to the 2011 Kentucky Derby. Here are the basic features of the contest released by TwinSpires.com. --TwinSpires.com players will be able to earn shares in the $25,000 prize pool by completing a “streak”. A “streak” consists of wagering at least $10 to win on four consecutive Derby prep race winners through TwinSpires.com. The “Streak to the Derby” begins on Feb. 20 and runs through the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1st, 2010. --Upon completion of the contest, the $25,000 prize pool will be divided by how many total shares were earned over the course of the contest period, which establishes the share value. Each player with shares will have winnings deposited into their TwinSpires.com wagering account. Players will be able to check the ‘Streak Home Page’ at any time during the contest to see how many shares are outstanding and the current share value. For more details and contest rules, visit www.TwinSpires.com. --The “Streak to the Derby” competition will also feature a “Streakerboard”. Players move their way up the “Streakerboard” with each completed “Streak”. The player with the most successful “Streaks” will win two tickets to the 2011 Kentucky Derby. Players finishing 2nd – 25th will win Official Kentucky Derby 136 merchandise. Additionally, contestants who win just three races in a row win an entry into the drawing for another two tickets to the 2011 Kentucky Derby. “We are excited to give horseplayers 25,000 reasons to make TwinSpires.com their home for betting the Derby trail,” said TwinSpires.com Vice President of Marketing, Jeremy Clemons. Citrus Kid Back to Track Soon Citrus Kid (Worth Watching) will be working again after connections had an undescended testicle removed two weeks ago. He's due for a breeze soon, according to co-owner Jim Covello. Citrus Kid was last seen racing in the Grade III Lecomte after being shipped from South Florida by trainer John Terranova II off strong workouts. Bet down to 7-2 odds, he disappointed with a seventh-place finish after racing wide on both turns. "The good news is that he’s 100% percent sound, which as you know is half the battle," Covello said. "The bad news is that he acted up in the paddock and the post parade again before the Lecomte. You could see how washed out he was before the race, he wouldn’t load into the gate, and what some people may have not seen is that he was practically kicking the paddock stall down before the race, as he was obviously agitated." Covello said that when Citrus Kid was bought at the OBS 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, connecions knew he was a May foal and needed some mental maturation. Pre-race antics prior to the Lecomte were attributed to that. "All of this said, he has also had an undescended testicle that we knew would 'stay up' from time to time," Covello said. "Our working theory now is that under the pre-race stress, the testicle stayed up, thus causing him discomfort and agitation before the (Lecomte). So, we had that testicle removed two weeks ago so he’s now a ridgling. He came out of that procedure in great order and he’s due for a breeze soon." Quick Hitters Jack Hammer’s Ron the Greek (Looking Good), the 3-1 morning line favorite for Saturday’s Grade II Risen Star Stakes, breezed a half-mile in :49.60 (6/39) on Mardi Gras morning with regular rider James Graham in the irons. Also on the Tuesday tab was Risen Star entrant Mountain Justice, owned by Blu Shu Stables, who accomplished the same distance in :50.40 (15/39) in his final tune-up for Saturday’s race. __________ All the horses that shipped in for the Grade III Southwest Stakes are staying for the postponed race. Eibar Coa will replace John Velazquez on Mission Impazible in the Southwest while Velazquez rides Eskendereya in the Grade II Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth. No word yet on whether Garrett Gomez will have to be replaced on Conveyance. Jon Court will replace Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. on Cool Bullet. Christian Santiago Reyes will stay onCardiff Giant. The locally-based horses are expected to be re-entered, and there could be an addition or two to the field.--Source: DRF.com __________ Entries for the postponed Southwest close tomorrow. There were no reported workouts at Oaklawn Park yesterday morning, but the track opened for training in the afternoon, and Cardiff Giant blew out three furlongs in :36.40 (1/1). Only four total workouts were recorded at Equibase. __________ The full morning line for the 1 1/16-mile, Grade II Risen Star is posted, and entries for the 1 1/8-mile, Grade III El Camino Real Derby are in. See the Road to the Kentucky Derby page. __________ Entries close today for the Fountain of Youth and the seven-furlong, Grade II Hutcheson Stakes. __________ DRF.com reports that Savemyspotimbeting, who never made it onto our lists, will be sidelined indefinitely because of a leg injury. On Jan. 23, the son of Vindication ran six furlongs in 1:08.78 at Gulfstream Park. Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010 Risen Star Morning Line
Top Cal Derby Finishers Meet in El Camino Real Derby The one-two-three finishers in the Jan. 16 California Derby will meet again Saturday in the Grade III El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields. More.... No Tahitian Warrior in 2000 Guineas Although he was among the top 14 horses by Official Rating in the early declarations for the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas, Tahitian Warrior (Worth Watching) wasn't entered in the race. A full field of 14 has been named, with four on the Reserve list. Tahitian Warrior was purchased by Godolphin after a scintillating 4 3/4-length win in his debut at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 3. He was timed in 1:09.96 under E. T. Baird. The 2000 Guineas is limited to Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds. Those foaled in the Southern Hemisphere are considered 4-year-olds under North American rules. Musir, winner of the allowance prep for this race for trainer Michael de Kock, was bred in Australia and is the heavy favorite with an Official Rating of 113. Musir is owned by Sheik Mohd bin Khalifa Al Maktoum. Christophe Soumillon returns in the irons. Tahitian Warrior's Official Rating was 100. Of the 18 entries, which includes those on the reserve list, eight have an Official Rating less than 100. The 2000 Guineas is scheduled this Thursday at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. It's race 6 on the card with a local post time of 9:30 p.m., or 12:30 p.m. ET in the U. S. --By Dick Downey REVISIONS TO OUR LISTS Promoted from Worth Watching to Looking Good: Caracortado, winner of the 1 1/16-mile, Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Sidney's Candy, winner of the seven-furlong, Grade II San Vicente Stakes. Trainer John Sadler said they will now go longer with the horse. He picked up graded earnings of $100,000 in the San Vicente. New to Worth Watching: Dave in Dixie was added before he finshed second in the Lewis. Wow Wow Wow, who debuted on our Just In Case list and was subsequently deleted, was added back to Worth Watching off a nice maiden win going 1 1/16 mile at Oaklawn Park late last week. New to Just In Case: Bravo Whiskey was deleted from Just In Case on Feb. 1 after running poorly in a second consecutive allowance race, but he's been added back. He was entered yesterday in the Grade II Risen Star by Neil Howard, generally considered to be a conservative trainer. Demoted from Looking Good to Worth Watching: Vale of York, whom connections said was only a 50-50 shot at returning to the U. S. for the Kentucky Derby, saying he might race in Europe instead. At the moment, he's being pointed to the UAE Derby on March 27. Demoted from Worth Watching to Just In Case: Fly by Phil, the Grade III Tropical Park Derby winner, is a no-show on the worktab since that Jan. 1 race. Soldier Field finished seventh in the OBS Championship yesterday. Tiz Chrome backed up to a fourth-place finish in the Lewis on Saturday. Monday, Feb. 15, 2010 Sidney's Candy Finds Redemption in San Vicente Sidney's Candy found redemption in the Grade II San Vicente Stakes after disappointing last time out. More.... Grade II Risen Star Stakes Entries
Noticeable by their absence from the entries are Maximus Ruler (Worth Watching), second in the Gradee III Lecomte, and Backtalk (Just In Case), who's been working at Fair Grounds for trainer Tom Amoss, who has Ron the Greek (Looking Good) in the Risen Star. Maximus Ruler turned up with a bruised foot yesterday, according to a story at Bloodhorse.com. The situation for Maximus Ruler is serious enough that there are no close-range plans at the moment. Trainer Clark Hanna said that a renewal of his schedule could put Maximus Ruler in an allowance race on March 1 at Fair Grounds, and that the Grade III Gotham on March 6 and Grade II Rebel on March 13 have also been discussed. Backtalk has worked six times since Jan. 9 and joined Amoss at Fair Grounds about three weeks ago. Plans for him are not clear at this point. Backtalk was given a serious work on Feb. 6 (five furlongs in 1:00.40 (1/47)) to help him get reacquainted with the racing surface at Fair Grounds. Amoss said at the time that plans for the colt would be made off that workout. No plans have been made public since. Southwest Postponed Rescheduled for Saturday For the second in as many weekends, a Derby Road race has been postponed. The Grade III Southwest Stakes, along with what was left of today's card at Oaklawn Park, was called off at approximatly 4:10 p.m. ET due to what was described as unsafe track conditions secondary to cold weather and wind. The Southwest has been rescheduled for Saturday. It will be redrawn on Thursday, and entries on the card today can opt out. Terry Wallace commented that there could be some jockey changes because of prior commitments. Jockeys reported that balled up ice was flying from the horses' hooves, and that several jockeys had broken goggles. The track was packed today with President's Day patrons. Four races had been run on the Oaklawn card when the announcement was made. The temperature in Hot Springs was 32 degrees under cloudy skies, with wind gusting up to 19 mph, according to Weather.com. The Robert B. Lewis Stakes was postponed on Feb. 6 due to heavy rain and a track that will not drain properly. Posted 4:20 p.m. ET Updated 4:29 p.m. ET Updated 5:57 p.m. ET Quick Hitters Entries close today for the Grade II Risen Star on Saturday. Trainer Eion Harty said American Lion (Looking Good) came out of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes in good order, but “nothing is set in stone” for his next race. “I’ll have to talk it over with the owners first,” he said. Trainer Bob Baffert said he would not be at Oaklawn Park to see with Conveyance (Looking Good) for the Southwest Stakes. “I’ll be there in spirit,” the trainer said. Maximus Ruler's breeze in 1:02.60 yesterday was designed to try to get him to relax in the Risen Star. Trainer Clark Hanna does not want Maximus Ruler (Worth Watching) on the lead like he was in the Lecomte before finishing second. Downey: Tough Southwest Could Belong to Shipper He isn't the most expensive horse in the Southwest Stakes, he hasn't raced at the track, and he ships in with a lack of two-turn experience. But he might just win this race. More.... Commish: Deja Vu Is Sweet in the San Vicente It was almost to good to be true last year, this rookie analyst picking a horse like Chocolate Candy running on Valentine's Day. Maybe I'm on a roll on this, the sweetest of weekends, and there's no sense in getting off the candy again this year in the Grade II San Vicente. More.... Field Closes at 3-2 in Pool 1 Fans of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands made two things clear in the first of Churchill Downs’ three Kentucky Derby Future Wager: there is no definitive favorite, and it is possible that the winner of this year’s Derby is not yet on the radar screen. More.... Just A Few Workouts Yesterday LUCKY CHUCK breezed five in :58.60 (1/12) at TP. BUDDY'S SAINT breezed six in 1:13.40 (2/4) at GP. PLEASANT PRINCE worked five in 1:00.20 (2/30) at GP. A LITTLE WARM worked four in :47.40 (1/63) at PMM. AIKENITE worked five in 1:00.60 (2/35) at PMM. DISCREETLY MINE worked four in :48.80 (22/63) at PMM. ESKENDEREYA worked five in 1:00.60 (2/35) at PMM. FLY DOWN breezed four in :48.00 (4/63) at PMM. IBBOYEE breezed four in :50.80 (54/63) at PMM. LATIGO SHORE breezed four in :51.00 (56/63) at PMM. ODYSSEUS worked five in 1:01.60 (12/35) at PMM. SOARING EMPIRE worked five in 1:01.80 (15/35) at PMM. SUPER SAVER worked five in 1:01.40 (9/35) at PMM. BACKTALK breezed six in 1:12.80 (1/11) at FG. MAXIMUS RULER breezed six in 1:02.60 (36/81) at FG. BIG TEXAS DADDY breezed four in :50.40 (18/57) at HOU. MAKE MUSIC FOR ME worked six in 1:13.20 (4/5) at HOL. CONNEMARA worked four in :49.00 (45/72) at SA. INDIAN FIREWATER worked five in :59.60 (7/61) at SA. LOOKIN AT LUCKY worked four in :48.20 (21/72) at SA. PRIVILAGED worked six in 1:13.40 (7/22) at SA. THE PROGRAM worked five in :59.20 (4/61) at SA. VICTORY WITH HONOR worked five in 1:01.40 (38/61) at SA. Today's Weather at Oaklawn Park Mostly sunny with a high near 40 degrees. Wind out of the northwest at 10 to 15 mph. Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010 Field of 10 Begins Derby Trail Separation in Southwest A field of ten, including five invaders, will go postward on Monday in the Grade III Southwest Stakes, a one mile event that's sure to separate some would-be's from could-be's on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. More.... Caracortado to Point to San Felipe While today'sSanta Anita track notes say Lookin at Lucky (Looking Good) is scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut in the Grade II San Felipe on March 13, the release does not attribute the comments to trainer Bob Baffert, so one has to take a wait-and-see attitude with a grain of salt. Regardless, Caracortado's (Looking Good) connections intend to send him to the San Felipe off his win in the Grade II Robert B. Lewis on Saturday “That’s the plan right now,” trainer Mike Machowsky said today. “I’m going to see how he reacts and how Nextdoorneighbor runs in the Sham (on Feb. 27), and go from there. But the spacing would be good. Three weeks after the San Felipe is the Santa Anita Derby, and if everything goes well, it gives you a month after that to the Kentucky Derby.” “I’m still pretty pumped up,” the trainer said. “I woke about 1:30 and couldn’t sleep any more. I watched the replays about 10 times and read all the articles about the race.” Meanwhile, Lookin At Lucky worked four furlongs today in company with El Martillo under Martin Garcia. Lookin At Lucky was timed in :48.20 (21/72), handily, while El Martillo was given :48.60 (33/72), handily. “Nice” is how Baffert described the move, while Garcia said he went “really good.” Baffert was forthright in his praise for Caracortado. “He’s a good horse. Every year, there’s a surprise horse like him among the 3-year-olds, like Georgie Boy and Brother Derek,” Baffert said. Buddy's Saint Puts in Final FOY Tuneup Buddy's Saint (Looking Good) worked six furlongs in 1:13.40 (2/4), breezing, today at Gulfstream Park for trainer Bruce Levine in preparation for Saturday’s Grade II Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes. Buddy’s Saint was caught in fractions of :12.60, :25.40 and :49.40 along the way. The $100,000 Keeneland September yearling by Saint Liam won the nine-furlong Remsen at Aqueduct by 4 3/4 lengths last out on Nov. 28. “He worked really good, but didn't go super fast,” said Levine. “He went 13 and change, and I was really happy with it… just what I was looking for. He galloped out really good in :27. It wasn't super fast, but he couldn't work any better. We’re on schedule. He’ll have a couple gallops this week and that’s it. Everything is behind us now.” Other probables for the Fountain of Youth working today were Pleasant Prince (Worth Watching), five furlongs in 1:00.20 (2/30), handily, at Gulfstream for trainer Mike Maker; and Aikenite (Worth Watching), who went five-eighths in 1:00.60 (2/35), handily, at Palm Meadows for trainer Todd Pletcher. Future Wager: Day 2 Ends with $217,431 Wagered Day 2 of Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager ended with a total of $217,431 wagered, according to the official website for the event, kentuckyderby.com. Last year's first pool brought in $478,721, and with only five horses on the individual wagering menu running yesterday, fans don't have much more to go by today than they did before the pool closed yesterday. They'll have to more than double their bets today for the total to match last year's handle. Fountain of Youth Probables/Possibles The probable/possible field for the Grade II Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth includes Aikenite (Worth Watching) (owned by Dogwood Stable), Buddy's Saint (Looking Good) (Kingfield Farm), Drosselmeyer (Worth Watching) (WinStar Farm), Eskendereya (Worth Watching) (Zayat Stable), Jackson Bend (Looking Good) (Robert LaPenta and Jacks or Better Farm), Lost Aptitude (Worth Watching) (Michael Bruder and Frank Jones, Jr.) Pleasant Prince (Worth Watching) (Ken and Sarah Ramsey), Positive Split (Kisber Dark Horse Stable) and Pulsion (Worth Watching) (Flying Zee Stable and partners). Jackson Bend worked a sharp half-mile in :47 flat (1/42) yesterday at Palm Meadows for trainer Nick Zito in preparation for his role as one of the favorites in next Saturday's 1 1/8-mile Fountain of Youth. Jackson Bend was beaten three-quarters of a length by now side-lined Winslow Homer in his first start since winning the $400,000 In Reality Division of the Florida Stallion Stakes at Calder on Oct. 17. Positive Split also worked yesterday, timed five furlongs in 1:00 (1/11) over a muddy track at Gulfstream for trainer Ken McPeek. The son of Repent will be a longshot in the Fountain of Youth after finishing third in a first-level allowance going nine furlongs on Jan. 18 in his first start since breaking his maiden at Keeneland on Oct. 31. McPeek also had Noble's Promise (Looking Good) posted a bullet half-mile in a brisk :46.40 (1/17) over the muddy Gulfstream track. The move was the second for the son of Cuvee since a freshening after he finished a game second to Lookin at Lucky last out in the Grade I CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park on Dec. 19. Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010 Rule Leads Throughout in Sam F. Davis While a dramatic ending threatened to break out in the Grade III Sam F. Davis, it never materialized, and Rule and John Velazquez led from gate to wire to capture the race as the even-money favorite. More.... Caracortado Extends Streak in Robert B. Lewis Caracortado is now undefeated in five starts after winning the Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes, defeating Dave in Dixie by 1 3/4 length. A gelding by an obscure sire, Caracortado isn't a blueblood, but he established himself as America's best blue-collar 3-year-old. More.... Blind Luck Gets Nod in Las Virgenes The Grade I Las Virgenes Stakes was supposed to be little more than an exercise for Blind Luck, the 1-5 favorite in the one-mile event for 3-year-old fillies. But she was fully extended to eke out a nose decision over 18-1 shot Evening Jewel. The winning time for the mile was 1:35.98. A winner of the Grade I Oak Leaf Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths and the Grade I Hollywood Starlet by seven, Blind Luck broke alertly in the field of five, but jockey Rafael Bejarano allowed her to settle into last, five lengths behind the leaders during the early going. Turning into the stretch, Blind Luck rounded the corner widest of all as the field began to compact. She began to cut into the lead maintained by front-runner Switch, but Blind Luck still required a dramatic final surge to emerge victorious in the very last jump. Evening Jewel, ridden by Victor Espinoza, had gained the lead from Switch in deep stretch while racing between horses. Switch, with Tyler Baze in the saddle, wound up another half-length back in third. The winner paid $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10. It equaled the shortest win payoff in the Las Virgenes’ 28-year-old history. Surfside paid the same in 2000. The winning purse of $150,000 elevated Blind Luck’s earnings to $859,050 from an overall record of 5-1-1 in seven starts. Winning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said the Grade I Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles on March 6 was being considered for the next start. Winning jockey Rafael Bejarano: “There wasn’t much speed, so it was hard to come from off the pace. She’s got a big turn of foot, though, and as soon as we crossed the wire, I knew we had won it. Jerry Hollendorfer: “The first time (watching the replay), I wasn’t sure. But the second time, I thought we won. I think the speed sets up better when there are more horses. I think she showed herself a pretty good filly today.” Losing trainer Jim Cassidy: “That’s as tough as it gets." Dick's Picks More Picks from the Commish Last-Minute Quotes “You’ve got to go two turns for the first time at some point, so this is it for him, but you never know if they can be successful until they do it. (The delay of the Lewis was) a minor inconvenience.” --Eion Harty, trainer of American Lion in today's Robert B. Lewis Stakes “My filly’s doing really, really good. I’m going to give her one more chance to see if she can go two turns. It looks like Blind Luck will win easy, and we’ll see what happens with the rest of them.”--Eric Kruljac, trainer of La Nez in today's Las Virgenes Friday, Feb. 12, 2010 Downey: Rule Goes to School in Uptown Sam Davis Rule looks to be the controlling pace in Saturday's Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes, and his speed figures tower over the competition. If you want to beat this 8-5 morning line favorite, you might not get odds much better than that with only seven in the field, depending on what you like. More.... Commish: Sadler Begins Big Weekend with Robert B. Lewis The greatly-anticipated matchup against Winstar Farm's American Lion finally takes center stage after last Saturday's washout. Plenty of hype has been rumbling, but I'm leaning towards another of the West Coast backstretch buzzers. More.... Rule Leads Sam F. Davis Field Rule, in residence at Palm Meadows Training Center under the care of Todd Pletcher, rolls into Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday as the 8-5 morning favorite in the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes. John Velazquez comes up from Gulfstream Park to take the mount. More.... Big Four Return in Shortened Lewis Roster Five of seven entered in last weekend's aborted Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes are back in the entry box for the running of the race this Saturday, including the four top names. More.... Stakes Weather Forecast Saturday Santa Anita: Sunny and 77 degrees. Tampa Bay Downs: Some sun and 53 degrees after less than 1/2" rain Friday. Monday Santa Anita: Sunny and 76 degrees. Oaklawn Park: Sunny and 46 degrees. 89 Nominated to Oaklawn Series A total of 89 early bird nominations were received this week by Oaklawn Park Racing Secretary Pat Pope for the Oaklawn Three-Year-Old Series. Heading the list were most of the leading names of the three-year-old crop from coast-to-coast, including Charles Cella's Dryfly, dominating winner of the Smarty Jones Stakes. The nominations come in large part from trainers Bob Baffert, John Sadler and D. Wayne Lukas. Baffert and Sadler nominated 10 each, while Lukas has 11. Baffert's nominations are headed by Lookin at Lucky and Conveyance, who is due to make his Oaklawn debut in Monday's Grade III Southwest. Sadler's nominees are headed by Ranger Heartley, winner of the California Derby at Gold Gate Fields in January and Domonation, a troubled third behind Conveyance in the Grade III San Rafael Stakes and also expected in Monday's Southwest. The leading name from the Lukas barn is Dublin, winner of the Grade I Hopeful Stakes last year. Since then, the son of Afleet Alex, who did not perform well in subsquent races, has been surgically treated for an entrapped epiglotis and has been putting in serious workouts at Oaklawn. Also locally based is Dryfly, who won in front-running style the Smarty Jones. Trained by veteran Lynn Whiting and ridden by the popular Calvin Borel, Dryfly will get a chance to prove himself against top competition in the Southwest. Many of the other most prominent names from this year's sophomore class are included in the nominations received. Past performances of the full list of nominees for the Oaklawn Series. Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010 Road to the Roses Scoring Begins Feb. 20 The first scoring races on the schedule for the 2010 “Road to the Roses” Kentucky Derby Fantasy Challenge, a free online contest, are set for Feb. 20. A release this morning from Churchill Downs stating that scoring races would begin this Saturday was in error. An email sent to contest registrants yesterday gave the Feb. 20 starting date for the contest. This morning, Churchill Downs said in a release that Feb. 13 is the kickoff for the contest. We sought clarification of the issue, and the Feb. 20 start date has now been confirmed. Located at www.RoadtotheRoses.com, entries can be made now. The game’s grand prize winner will receive a VIP trip for two to the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby in 2011. “Road to the Roses” players earn points based on how well their fantasy stable performs in a series of Kentucky Derby prep races, beginning with the Sam F. Davis Stakes and Robert B. Lewis Stakes on Feb. 13, and continuing through the $2 million Kentucky Derby on May 1. Players may create up to three fantasy stables by selecting 10 horses from the complete list of Triple Crown nominees, as well as two trainers and two jockeys. Among the game’s new features in 2010 is a partnership with BRISNet.com to present “Kentucky Derby Trail” live chats every Friday between 7-9 p.m. ET. Moderated by five-time National Handicapping Championship qualifier Tim Holland, the question-answer chats will discuss promising Kentucky Derby prospects. Please see Feb. 10 Racing News below for more details about features of the contest. --Updated 9:20 a.m. ET Pulsion Feeling Better after Cold Pulsion (Worth Watching) remains on track for the Grade II Fountain of Youth after a sharp workout on Tuesday. He was scratched from a Jan. 31 1 1/8-mile allowance at Gulfstream Park after connections said he had a cough. “He’s over his little cold now and worked very well,” said trainer Patrick Biancone. “You would always like to keep the schedule you’ve planned, but it doesn’t always work out. We’ve got to get him started some place. It’s a long year ahead. Mike Smith will be here to ride him.” Pulsion will be making his first start since finishing eleventh of 13 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 7, when he sustained several cuts on his legs when in heavy traffic around the first turn. A son of Include purchased for $250,000 at the OBS March 2-year-old sale, Pulsion finished a game second to Lookin at Lucky in the Grade I Norfolk Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita on Oct. 4. Prior to the Norfolk, Pulsion broke his maiden going a mile at Del Mar in his third career start. All five of his juvenile starts came on synthetic tracks in California. The probable/possible line-up for the 1 1/8 mile Fountain of Youth also includes Buddy's Saint (Looking Good), owned by Kingfield Farm; Jackson Bend (Looking Good) (Robert LaPenta and Jacks or Better Farm); Aikenite (Worth Watching) (Dogwood Stable); Eskendereya (Worth Watching) (Zayat Stable); Drosselmeyer (Worth Watching) (WinStar Farm); Tempted to Tapit (Worth Watching) (Gainesway Farm); and William's Kitten (Worth Watching) and/or Pleasant Prince (Worth Watching) (Ken and Sarah Ramsey). Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010 Santa Anita Weekend Forecast Sunny, with temperatures in the low to mid-70's. Meanwhile, after possible showers on Friday, horses in the Tampa Bay Derby will get ideal football weather on Saturday--partly sunny with a high between 55 and 60 degrees. Kentucky Derby Future Pool 1 Released Lookin At Lucky is the favored individual horse, but Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia is confident that the mutuel field, or "all others", will again be the favored wagering interest in the opening pool of the 2010 Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) that opens its three-day run on Friday. Battaglia has installed all others, all 3-year-olds other than the pool’s 23 individual betting interests, as the 5-2 morning line favorite for KDFW Pool 1. Lookin at Lucky is the favored individual horse at 8-1. More, including morning line on all wagering interests.... Notice to Subscribers Downey's Take on Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager was posted today on the Subscription Page in Segment 2 NOTES. What kind of year are we in for, and what should we do about it? Three Ship from Cal for Southwest Conveyance (Looking Good), Cardiff Giant (Worth Watching) and Domonation, the first three finishers in the Grade III San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita, are scheduled to meet Monday in the Grade III Southwest Stakes at one mile at Oaklawn Park. Garrett Gomez is scheduled to ride undefeated Conveyance for Bob Baffert; Christian Santiago Reyes will be aboard Cardiff Giant for Jorge Periban; and Corey Nakatani has the mount on Domonation for John Sadler. Road to the Roses First Races Feb. 20; New Features The first scoring race at RoadtotheRoses.com will take place on Saturday, Feb. 20. New features this year include a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/RoadToTheRoses. All Horses Eligible; Power Horses. Unlike years past, all of the horses in your stable will remain active and eligible to earn points throughout the duration of the game. However, you will be able to designate five "power" horses which will earn double points if they finish first, second or third in any prep race. Multiple Stables. For the first time, all participants can create up to three free stables. Video Commissioners. Each week, video commissioners will give you updates and advice on what horses are running over the weekend and which horses might be activated as power" horses. Look for video commissioner updates every Friday morning. Brisnet.com Chat. It's your chance to "get in the game" by chatting with horse racing experts and other Road to the Roses players. Brisnet.com will be hosting a weekly chat feature every week. Check back on RoadtotheRoses.com for more details. Weekend Stakes Entries Entries for the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby and Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes close today. Entries for the Monday's Grade II San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita close on Friday. Entries for Monday's Grade III Southwest Stakes close on Saturday. Quick Hitters After conflicting reports, Tiz Chrome (Worth Watching) will not ship to Arkansas for Monday's Grade III Southwest; Conveyance (Looking Good) will. Tiz Chrome will be re-entered in Saturday's Grade II Robert B. Lewis. Both are trained by Bob Baffert. Lookin at Lucky Makes Short Work Lookin at Lucky's (Looking Good) return yesterday from a worktab hiatus was his first published move in 24 days. Recorded by clockers at three furlongs in :36.60 (7/35), trainer Baffert told DRF.com it was really four in :50.00. It was Lookin at Lucky's first workout since Jan. 16. He had worked with blinkers for the first time on Jan. 9. As of Jan. 29, Lookin at Lucky was galloping and jogging through rainy weather at Santa Anita. At the time, Baffert said Lookin at Lucky could breeze some time the following week and that the colt was still being considered for the Grade II San Felipe Stakes on March 13. “Either that or out of town,” Baffert said. A Jan. 31 release from Meydan Racecourse said Lookin at Lucky was nominated to the Group 2 UAE Derby to be held in Dubai on March 27. Baffert intends to ship Richard's Kid there for the Group 1 Dubai World Cup. Most onlookers say Lookin at Lucky's isn't a serious nomination, but it is a $2 million race, and times are tough in many quarters. You never know. After a weekend off, Lookin At Lucky returned to the racetrack on Feb. 2. The time off followed a slight illness, Baffert told DRF.com. "He had a little temperature and it scared me," Baffert said. "He was probably okay, but I didn't want to take any chances. He went back to the track and he looked good." Woolley Not on Derby Trail The Downey Profile cannot survey everything written everywhere, so if you've already seen or noticed this, time to move on to something else. Our survey of trainers with horses early-nominated to the Triple Crown does not reveal any trained by 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Bennie "Chip" Woolley, Jr., whose Mine That Bird shocked on May 2 at 50-1 odds. As of yesterday morning, Woolley's 2010 stats showed 20 starts with two wins, four places, one show and a total of $49,025 earned in purses. Mine That Bird hasn't won a race since the Kentucky Derby. He finished second in the Grade I Preakness Stakes and was third in the Grade I Belmont Stakes and Grade II West Virginia Derby. He finished his 2009 campaign with a sixth-place finish in the Grade I Goodwood stakes and a ninth-place finish in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Classic. Mine That Bird hasn't put in a recorded workout so far this year. Big A Shuts Down Wednesday and Thursday Live Racing Due to a winter storm forecast to bring high winds and snow, Aqueduct Racetrack has canceled the live racing card today and tomorrow. While the facility will be closed today, telephone wagering will be available. Tomorrow, Aqueduct will be open for simulcasting, and telephone and internet wagering will also be available. Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010 KentuckyDerby.com Launched Includes Road to the Roses Contest Churchill Downs, Inc. has launched www.KentuckyDerby.com, the official website for the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands. The Road to the Roses contest can be found at http://www.roadtotheroses.com. “Whether you’re a casual sports fan, entertainment seeker or diehard horse racing enthusiast, KentuckyDerby.com is the ultimate online destination for the Kentucky Derby experience – and it’s the only Web site you need to visit for everything Derby related,” said Julie Koenig-Loignon, CDI’s vice president of brand development and marketing. Information about top Kentucky Derby prospects, important prep races and expert analysis is in the “Contenders” area. Meanwhile, Derby race histories as well as entertainment and lifestyle segments featuring updates on Derby fashions, signature cuisine, Red Carpet interviews and local celebrity parties can be found in the retooled “Derby Experience” section. Additionally, there are areas devoted to breaking news and visitor information, plus easy-to-find e-commerce tabs for Kentucky Derby and Oaks tickets, official Derby photographs and merchandise and online wagering through TwinSpires.com. There are links to Derby party planning tools, social networking channels, the “Road to the Roses” Derby fantasy game and home page links to local community and business partners that contribute to the entire Derby hospitality effort in Louisville, Ky. John Asher, Churchill Downs’ vice president of racing communications, will join Jill Byrne and handicappers Kellie Reilly and James Scully of Bloodstock Research Information Services (BRISNet.com) for expert analysis and opinion about Derby contenders, including Top 10 rankings. BRISNet.com and the Churchill Downs communications department will team to provide breaking news updates. Approximately 2.4 million unique users, including nearly one million unique visitors in the weeks surrounding the Kentucky Derby, visited KentuckyDerby.com in 2009. Sam F. Davis Stakes Probables/Possibles Probable for the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes this Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs: --Middle of the Nite (Just In Case), third to Eskendereya at Gulfstream Park last time out, is set to go. --Rule (Looking Good), winner of the Grade III Delta Jackpot in his most recent for trainer Todd Pletcher. --Schoolyard Dreams (Worth Watching), a two-turn allowance winner at Tampa on Jan. 9. --Uptowncharlybrown (Worth Watching), runaway winner of the local prep for the Davis, the Jan. 16 Pasco Stakes. --Tristan's Mombo and Hear Ye Hear Ye look probable. --Gleam of Hope (Just In Case) has been training at Tampa and looks possible. Beyond this, it's anyone's guess as of now. Entries for the Davis close tomorrow, with the condition book tentatively setting it as race 10 on the card. The Davis was one of three possible next races for Discreetly Mine (Looking Good) mentioned by trainer Todd Pletcher on Jan. 16, but late yesterday a report at DRF.com said he's headed to the Grade II Risen Star on Feb. 20. Fly by Phil (Worth Watching) was mentioned for the Dvis last month, but he is not showing any published workouts since racing on Jan. 1. Silver Craft (Just In Case) ran in the Pasco, but there has been an indication he'll ship to Hot Springs for the Grade III Southwest Stakes on Feb. 15. Lewis Would-Be's Get in Monday Workouts There were numerous workouts around the country on Monday, including four from horses on our lists entered in last Saturday's aborted Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes--American Lion (Looking Good), Caracortado (Worth Watching), Dave in Dixie (added today to Worth Watching) and Tiz Chrome (Worth Watching). The Lewis has been rescheduled for this Saturday. Rain in Southern California and the touch-and-go situation with the track at Santa Anita are causing problems with horseman's plans. Tiz Chrome may be headed to the Grade III Southwest Stakes on Feb. 15 instead of the Lewis, according to a report at DRF.com, but a final decision is pending. Caracortado, who's been the subject of a report that would have him in the Southwest as well, will probably stay put and be re-entered in the Lewis. Expect American Lion and Dave in Dixie to be re-entered as well. The online condition book at Santa Anita hasn't been revised to show the Lewis this Saturday, but entries for Saturday races at the track close tomorrow. Bulldogger (Worth Watching) and Concord Point (Worth Watching), both entered in a six-furlong allowance race this Friday at Santa Anita by Bob Baffert, worked at the track. Jerry Hollendorfer's Lion's Story, who wasn't early-nominated to the Triple Crown, is also in that race, which is the sixth on the card with a post time of 6:36 ET. Lion's Story makes his return from a long layoff after numerous workouts. At Hollywood Park, Make Music for Me (Looking Good) put in his third workout of the year after a reasonable leave of absence from the tab. Make Music for Me must have the most graded stakes earnings of any maiden in America--$215,000. Last time he raced, Make Music for Me checked in a close third in the Grade I CashCall Futurity on Dec. 19. Ibboyee (Just In Case), last seen running as the beaten favorite in Aqueduct's Count Fleet Stakes for trainer Todd Pletcher over a month ago, put in his second work in South Florida since being shipped down from New York. MONDAY WORKOUTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY On Feb. 8, RULE BY NIGHT breezed five in 1:02.60 (7/15) at BEL.* On Feb. 8, NORDIC TRUCE breezed five in 1:03.00 (1/13) at PAY.* On Feb. 8, COLIZEO breezed four in :51.80 (21/25) at PMM. On Feb. 8, IBBOYEE worked five in 1:01.40 (1/8) at PMM. On Feb. 8, DEPAUL breezed five in 1:01.60 (8/74) at FG. On Feb. 8, ENUMERATE breezed four in :52.00 (86/102) at FG.* On Feb. 8, LETSGETITONMON breezed five in 1:01.60 (8/74) at FG. On Feb. 8, DAVE IN DIXIE worked six in 1:14.20 (8/23) at HOL. On Feb. 8, MAKE MUSIC FOR ME worked six in 1:14.80 (13/23) at HOL. On Feb. 8, PRIVILAGED worked five in 1:00.20 (2/45) at HOL. On Feb. 8, SIDNEY'S CANDY worked six in 1:12.20 (1/23) at HOL. On Feb. 8, AMERICAN LION worked five in 1:00.40 (16/98) at SA. On Feb. 8, BULLDOGGER worked four in :46.80 (3/88) at SA. On Feb. 8, CARACORTADO worked five in 1:00.60 (23/98) at SA. On Feb. 8, CONNEMARA worked five in 1:01.80 (63/98) at SA. On Feb. 8, CONCORD POINT worked four in :47.60 (12/88) at SA. On Feb. 8, TIZ CHROME worked five in :59.60 (3/98) at SA. *Not nominated to Triple Crown. Cardiff Giant to Southwest? According to a note from Oaklawn, in addition to probable/possible entries about which we've previously reported, Cardiff Giant (Worth Watching), second to Conveyance in the Grade III San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita, is expected for the Grade III Southwest Stakes, and Kitty's Turn, the third finisher behind Dryfly and Pleasant Storm in the Smarty Jones, would join the top two from that race. Moojab (Worth Watching), from the barn of Danny Peitz, could also be entered. The son of Smarty Jones won his only Aqueduct start last Fall, then settled for third in a six-furlong allowance at Oaklawn in January. His barn believes he was bothered by a loose horse during the running of the race. More about the Southwest Stakes on the Road to the Kentucky Derby page. Laurel Calls Off Wednesday-Thursday Cards With another 10 to 20 inches of snow expected on top of the 32 inches that fell last weekend, the Maryland Jockey Club has canceled live racing at Laurel Park this Wednesday and Thursday. Five of the first 24 days of the winter meeting have now been canceled because of bad weather. Monday, Feb. 8, 2010 REVISIONS TO OUR LISTS Added --FAST ALEX to Just In Case off his win of a two-turn maiden special weight at Fair Grounds on Saturday. --HOTEP to Worth Watching after he won a two-turn allowance at Fair Grounds last Monday. Down with Dixie, already listed here, finished second. --OVERCOMMUNICATION. He'd popped up on several Derby lists, so we decided to add him to Worth Watching. He then finished last in a one-mile allowance race at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Hopefully he's OK and better than that, so he'll be retained on the list for now. --WILDCAT FRANKIE was added to Just In Case following his front-running win on Saturday of a one-mile allowance at Gulfstream Park. NOTE: Wildcat Frankie is not nominated to the Triple Crown. Deleted --BRAVO WHISKEY from Just In Case after a sixth-place finish in a Fair Grounds allowance last Monday. --PISCITELLI, who had already been demoted to Just In Case after the Grade III Holy Bull. Several days after his disappointing run in the Holy Bull, it was revealed he is injured. --RICKY TICK from Worth Watching after he disappointed in a two-turn allowance at Oaklawn Park on Thursday. --WALKING THE BEACH from Just In Case after the second of two below-expectations performances this year. --WINSLOW HOMER from Looking Good after the Grade III Holy Bull winner was declared off the Derby Trail with a stress fracture. Promoted From Worth Watching to Looking Good: --NOBLE'S PROMISE. The colt finally put in a breeze at Gulfstream Park. He has plenty of earnings to make the Kentucky Derby. --UH OH BANGO. Connections released plans to race him at Oaklawn Park, starting with the Grade II Rebel Stakes on March 13. Expect him to ship to Hot Springs from Turf Paradise soon. From Just In Case to Worth Watching: --DUBLIN, off a strong six-furlong workout at Oaklawn. Dublin is expected to make his 3-year-old debut in the Grade III Southwest Stakes next Monday after mixed results during his 2-year-old campaign. --PEPPI KNOWS, winner of the Whirlaway Stakes on Saturday. Demoted From Worth Watching to Just In Case: --EIGHTYFIVEINAFIFTY. Whatever it was that caused him to run through the outer rail at Aqueduct in the Whirlaway, the residual effects don't have any upside potential, and there is downside risk. --LAUS DEO, after it was announced the Count Fleet winner been sent to a farm in Ocala for 30 days after one workout in South Florida. He'd been shipped there from New York. Not Nominated Not nominated to the Triple Crown (formerly listed on Worth Watching): BIG TEXAS DADDY, NORDIC TRUCE, OAK MOTTE, RULE BY NIGHT, STRIKE THE TIGER. Not nominated to the Triple Crown (formerly listed on Just In Case): BACKWATER BLUES, BEAR TOUGH GUY, BOLTRONIC, BREWER, BRIDGETOWN, CARRINGTON VILLAGE, CONDEMNED, COYOTE LEGEND, DIXIE BAND, ENUMERATE, FLATTER THAN ME, GET MY FIX, KERA'S KITTEN, LION'S STORY, MILES HEIR, OUR COMMANDER, RED RALLY, QUAY LIME GUY, THANK U PHILIPPE, TAKE TURNS, TOUCH FOR A SHOCK, TURBO SPEED. For more about these horses, including insight as to which ones were and were not surprising in their absence from the Triple Crown nominee list, please refer to our story on Feb. 7 Racing News. Triple Crown Nominees In case you missed it on Super Bowl Sunday, 366 were nominated to the Triple Crown. Please click the Triple Crown Nominees link for the story and charts with all the nominees and other information. Kentucky Oaks Story Unfolding? “I’m going down to Ocala next Monday to ride her on Ocala Sales Day for Mark Casse,” said prominent Canadian jockey Patrick Husbands at Fair Grounds yesterday. “Her name is Allegation, and she’s big like Zenyatta even though she just turned three years old." Husbands, who's riding at Fair Grounds, a place he now considers his second home, said Allegation would be a big story this time next year. "I rode Laragh (Grade I Hollywood Starlet winner), and this filly is much better than her. Next winter, when I come back down here, I’ll be a better story, too. I’ll be known as the rider of the ‘young Zenyatta.’ You’ll see.” Quotes from Yesterday's Hallandale Beach Stakes In which Bim Bam outbobbed Interactif (Worth Watching) at the Gulfstream Park finish line to win by a nose. Bim Bam took a narrow lead over Interactif early in the race, and the two battled it out down the stretch. Eibar Coa was on Bim Bam, and Kent Desormeaux rode Todd Pletcher's Interactif. Kent Desormeaux: “Was it the trip I wanted? Yes. It went very well. But I’m shocked. I didn’t think I could get beat from the quarter-pole.” David Brownlee, trainer of Bim Bam: “It didn’t look like there was much speed in the race, so our plan going in was to go to the lead and hope to slow it down, which is the way it went. From there it was up to Eibar. He knows the horse very well. We know he’ll fight back like he did the last time (when beaten a neck in Dania Beach), and they went 1:08 in that race. "We’re going to stick to turf with him, and he’ll come back in the Palm Beach here.” Eibar Coa: “My plan was to sit right behind the speed, but when they let me go, I was able to make the lead and then go that slow. And I know my horse is a fighter, and he doesn’t like to let horses go by. I knew if they challenged him he was going to fight back. When (Interactif) went by, I knew my horse was going to try, so I kept riding and digging because I knew he could come back, and he did.” Fractions for the 1 1/16-mile race--:24.60, :49.91, 1:14.11, 1:36.46, 1:42.07. Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010 Triple Crown Nominations Total 366 A total of 366 3-year-olds have been early-nominated for the Triple Crown. Topping the class 0f 2010 are Eclipse Award 2-year-old champion Lookin At Lucky and 2009 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Vale of York. For the full story, and charts with names of all nominees, leading owners, leading trainers, leading sires and other stats, please go to our Triple Crown Nominations Page. Our Lists Revised with Triple Crown Nominations Release There have been several deletions from our lists, mostly on the Just In Case page, with the release of the 2010 Triple Crown nominations. Looking Good All horses on this page remain intact. Worth Watching On the this page, there are five deletions, two of them somewhat surprising. --Nordic Truce, the winner of Gulfstream Park's Dania Beach Stakes trained by Christophe Clement. Looks like he has grass racing in his future, but it is also noted he wasn't entered in Sunday's Hallandale Beach Stakes at Gulfstream. --Rule by Night, winner by 7 1/4 lengths of a maiden race at Aqueduct for Steve Asmussen on Jan. 23. Amussen only nominated six horses to the Triple Crown this year, compared to 25 in 2009, but it's not like he doesn't train a bushel-basket full of sophomores. Others from Worth Watching not nominated to the Triple Crown weren't quite as surprising: --Big Texas Daddy, second in the Sugar Bowl Stakes at Fair Grounds and second in the Triple Sec at Delta Downs, looked to have distance limitations. Steve Asmussen trains. --Oak Motte, third in the Grade III Delta Jackpot with its rich purse, hasn't put in a workout since then. Tom Amoss is trainer of record. --Strike the Tiger, trained by Wesley Ward, became the first-ever American-trained horse to win at Royal Ascot; he'll probably be kept on turf. Thiskyhasnolimit won the Grade III Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs last November but has no workouts since then; however, he was one of only six nominated by Asmussen. Just In Case We did not think we'd see Aspire among the Triple Crown nominees--he hasn't had a published workout since he raced in Breeders' Cup--but he's there. Another nominated horse without a worktab for quite a while is Roman Invasion--nothing since Oct. 20. Some Deletions We Expected The following horses that were previously listed on Just In Case, but who are not showing any workouts in quite a long time, were not nominated: Bear Tough Guy, Boltronic, Bridgetown, Carrington Village, Condemned, Get My Fix, Quay Lime Guy and Touch for a Shock. Enumerate, another Asmussen trainee that wasn't nominated, hasn't worked since Jan. 13. Some No-Shows We Didn't Necessarily Expect --Backwater Blues, the Cindy Jones trainee that was recently a six-furlong allowance winner at Oaklawn. --Brewer, an allowance winner at 1 1/16 mile on Jan. 16 at Oaklawn Park for Asmussen. --Coyote Legend, winner of the Triple Sec for Bret Calhoun --Dixie Band, winner of the Grade III Arlington-Washington Futurity last year for Wayne Catalano, was off the worktab seemingly forever, but he returned to it on Jan. 29. --Flatter Than Me, runner-up to Backtalk in the Grade III Bashford Manor for Merrill Scherer, has had a steady worktab since Jan. 13. --Kera's Kitten won the WEBN Stakes on Jan. 30 for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Mike Maker. --Lion's Story, a Jerry Hollendorfer trainee, has put in seven works since Dec. 28. He won second time out last Summer at Del Mar. --Miles Heir, an effortless winner on Dec. 5 at Fair Grounds for Asmussen, was third in an allowance there on Jan. 16. --Our Commander, the Gary Capuano-trained winner of the Maryland Juvenile Championship --Take Turns, 3 1/4-length maiden special weight winner at Fair Grounds trained by Morris Nicks. --Thank U Philippe, not all that surprising since his trainer, Marty Wolfson, said he wasn't a Kentucky Derby horse after his fourth-place finish in the Grade III Holy Bull. --Turbo Speed, third in the Count Fleet Stakes on Jan. 2. Bernard Houghton trains. Horsemen Go to Plan B at Santa Anita “Blind Luck (Worth Watching) will have an easy work Tuesday,” said Jerry Hollendorfer assistant Dan Ward of the expected odds-on favorite for the Grade I Las Virgenes, which was canceled yesterday after rains messed up the problem-ridden track at Santa Anita. “She’s very smart. Two years ago, when Heatseeker ran second in the San Antonio, they had pushed it back so that there were only three weeks until the Santa Anita Handicap, and he won anyway, so there wasn’t much difference.” Eoin Harty said American Lion (Looking Good) would work tomorrow for the Grade II Robert B. Lewis, also canceled yesterday. “No major adjustments,” the trainer said. “We’ll just try again.” Mike Machowsky expressed similar sentiment when asked about unbeaten Lewis contender Caracortado (Worth Watching). “He’ll work five furlongs Monday, and there’s not much difference from his routine,” the trainer said. “We’ll just keep him in shape until the race.” But see also story below that has Caracortado planing to Oaklawn Park for the Southwest Stakes, to be run two days after the Lewis. Time will tell. Pletcher Team Out in Force at Palm Meadows Buddy's Saint Drills at Gulfstream Park On the work tab at Palm Meadows today for Todd Pletcher were his arsenal of sophomores. Super Saver (Looking Good) breezed four furlongs in :48.20 (4/55) in his third workout of the year in anticipation of a start in something in March. Aikenite (Worth Watching), the Grade III Holy Bull also-ran headed to the Grade II Fountain of Youth on Feb. 20, went five furlongs in 1:00.80 (6/53), handily. Discreetly Mine (Worth Watching) worked five furlongs in 1:00.50 (3/53), handily, after a very brisk work last week. His next-start plans were wide open at last report. Front-running allowance winner Eskendereya (Worth Watching), also bound for the Fountain of Youth, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.40 (2/53). Finally, Grade III Delta Jackpot winner Rule (Looking Good) went five furlongs in 1:00.80 (6/53), handily. His next start is said the be either the Grade III Sam Davis on Feb. 13 at Tampa Bay Downs or the Grade II Risen Star on Feb. 20 at Fair Grounds. At Gulfstream Park, Buddy's Saint (Looking Good) drilled six furlongs in 1:12.55 (1/4), handily, today for trainer Bruce Levine as he continues preparation for his much-anticipated 3-year-old debut in the Fountain of Youth. It was the seventh workout since Jan. 1 for Buddy's Saint, winner of the Nashua Stakes and Remsen Stakes, both Grade II races, last Fall. Eightyfiveinafifty Back in Training in Seven Days? Eightyfiveinafifty (Just In Case) should be able to return to training in a week after receiving 14 stitches to repair a cut suffered when he ran through the outer rail on the first turn of the Whirlaway yesterday, trainer Gary Contessa said today. Jorge Chavez, who was unseated and taken to a hospital, but will be riding on Wednesday, his agent Mike Monroe said. X-rays and a CAT scan were negative. He was nabbed inside Gate 6 by an Aqueduct security guard after suffering a two-inch cut on his right hind leg. Contessa said that when he was caught, Eightyfiveinafifty's bit was broken in two and the bridle was off his head, but Contessa told media at Aqueduct he didn't know when the equipment malfunction occurred. Monroe said Chavez told him the bit broke before the first turn, according to a report at DRF.com. "We have absolutely dodged a bullet here," said Contessa. "This could have been the end of his career, and instead this horse is out a week … He has always been a very level-headed horse, so there is no reason to think he will not forget this incident and return to being the fastest three-year-old in the country. "Yesterday was just another example of how difficult it is to have everything go right in this game," said Contessa. "Let's let the horse do the talking, and he will tell me when and where he returns to race again." Shippers Might Abound for Southwest DRF.com reported late Thursday afternoon that Oaklawn Park stakes coordinator Craig Lytel said flights Tuesday and Wednesday from South Florida and Southern California will bring in Caracortado (Worth Watching) (from California) and Mission Impazible (Just In Case) and Silver Craft (Just In Case) (from Florida) for the Grade III Southwest Stakes on Feb. 15, President's Day. This was published before heavy rain canceled the Saturday card at Santa Anita, in which Caracortado was entered to run in the Grade II Robert B. Lewis, but the bad forecast was already in the books at the time. The report said "at least four" would be flown in for the Southwest from those two locations. Other possibles weren't named. Our research shows that Southern Cal resident Nextdoorneighbor (Worth Watching) was once said to be looking to the Southwest, but later the Grade III Sham on Feb. 27 was named. Track reports at Santa Anita notwithstanding, Conveyance (Looking Good) has also been mentioned for the Southwest. Cool Bullet (Worth Watching) looks to be already set to come in from New Orleans. Meanwhile, Dryfly (Worth Watching) and Dublin (Worth Watching) are at Oaklawn--with Pleasant Storm (Worth Watching) at Louisiana Downs--waiting for the invaders. Turfway Live Card Canceled Due to Winter Storm Due to lingering effects from the recent winter storm and continued sub-freezing temperatures, Turfway Park has canceled live racing for the second straight day. The track remains open for simulcasting. The cancellation is the second of the winter meet that began Jan. 1. Turfway Park will add Monday, February 15, to its live racing schedule, Racing Secretary Rick Leigh announced today. Nine races will be carded, with first post at 1:10pm ET. Turfway has decided not to reschedule the Likely Exchange Stakes, lost when Turfway canceled racing on Saturday. California Horsemen Pick the Super Bowl Horsemen at Santa Anita were at the ready with their thoughts on which team would win the big game, as the following random sampling attests: Barry Abrams: Indianapolis. They have the experience. They’ve been there. Ron Anderson: Under the total (of 56). I don’t bet against Peyton Manning. Jerry Antonucci: Colts. Bob Baffert: I’m a Manning man. I see them at the (Kentucky) Derby every year, Archie, Eli and Peyton. They all know me, so I’m rooting for the Colts. Brian Beach: New Orleans and Drew Brees, because he’s a racing fan and lives in Del Mar. Bob Bean: The Colts. They’re a better team. David Bernstein: New Orleans. James Cassidy: The Colts. Manning is the difference. Vladimir Cerin: The Colts by 20. Eddie Delahoussaye: New Orleans has been trying for a long time. It’s great to see them winning. I used to ride horses for the team’s owner, Tom Benson. Caesar Dominguez: Saints. I’m rooting for Brees and the underdogs. Ron Ebanks: Who Dat? If I don’t pick the Saints, my mom’s going to give me a whipping. I lived in New Orleans as a kid, and my mom lives in Lafayette. Joe Ferrer: I lived in New Orleans all my life, and wore paper bags over my face when the Saints were so embarrassing they were called the Aints. Carla Gaines: My big thing is the NCAA. Alabama is my team and they already came through, so I’ll root for the Saints. Paddy Gallagher: I like the Dodgers, myself. Rick Hammerle: The Saints. The Colts are the Atlanta Braves of football. Eoin Harty: I met Drew Brees a couple times at Del Mar. He seems like a great guy so I’m pulling for him. Dan Hendricks: New Orleans. They deserve it after 40 years of what they’ve been through there. Jerry Hollendorfer: Sentimentally, New Orleans, but I think the Colts are the best team. Kurt Hoover: Colts, 31-20. Peyton Manning does not lose these types of games. Sandy Kilmer, wife of ardent horseplayer and original Saints quarterback, Billy Kilmer: Billy wants the Saints to win, but he’s torn because he knows the Manning family. Archie succeeded Billy in New Orleans in 1971, when Billy got traded to the Redskins. Steve Knapp: The Saints. I’m pulling for the underdog, because they’ve never won it. Brian Koriner: I’m a Reggie Bush fan. Eric Kruljac: I’m rooting for the Saints, because of the people who endured Katrina and because of what Brees had to go through to reach the top. It’s a good underdog story. Mike Machowsky: Colts. Gary Mandella: Peyton Manning can win the game by himself. He’s too smart. Richard Mandella: Who’s playing? Ron McAnally: The Colts. Manning is more agile back there than Favre, and he gets his passes off quicker. Sean McCarthy: I’m pulling for New Orleans. It would be fun to see them win it. Charlie McCaul: Indianapolis. Manning will make the difference. Henry Moreno: I’m rooting for the horses and Kobe. I played basketball at Corona in my youth. Craig O’Bryan: New Orleans. Dennis O’Neill: Indianapolis. I don’t think New Orleans is that good. I think it will be a blowout. Doug O’Neill: The Colts. Martin Pedroza: The Saints. I’m going with the underdog, and rooting for my man Joe Talamo, the Cajun. Brad Pegram: The Saints. I love the city of New Orleans and I’d like to see it for that reason. Mike Puype: The Colts easy. Jay Robbins: Colts. John Sadler: I’m happy with either team, but I like the Saints because they’ve never won. Richie Silverstein: Indianapolis. Danny Sorenson: I’m pulling for New Orleans. I like Drew Brees. It’s an even match. I just want to see a fantastic game. Vic Stauffer: They could play the game 100 times and Indianapolis would win every time. Manning finds a way to win. He’s like Zenyatta. Gary Stevens: Indy. I figure if we had Peyton Manning in Iraq, the battle would have been over a long time ago. Gary Stute: I’m rooting for New Orleans. I like Drew Brees. Chantal Sutherland: I think I’m watching the Oscars that day. Richard Tedesco: New Orleans. It would make for a good story if they win, what with Katrina and all. Toby Turrell: I’m the master of the obvious when I pick the Colts, but no guarantee on whether they’ll cover the point spread. Jon White: I think either team can win. That said, I’ll pick Indianapolis because Peyton Manning is one of the all-time great QBs and seems in a zone right now. New Orleans was very lucky to beat Minnesota. But if the Saints win, it wouldn't surprise me because they look like a team of destiny. Howard Zucker: Colts. They’ve been there before and it’s tough for a team to win the first time in the Super Bowl. The game should provide a lot of fireworks, though. Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010 Bedlam in Whirlaway With 1-5 favorite Eightyfiveinafifty bolting on first turn, things turned upside down in the 1 1/16-mile Whirlaway Stakes and led to a win by Peppi Knows in 1:47.10 on a track rated fast. Jorge Chavez was unseated from Eightyfiveinafifty when he crashed into the outer rail; Chavez was taken to North Shore University Hospital for evaluation. After the race, trainer Gary Contessa said Eightyfiveinafifty was OK except for a two-inch cut in his right-hind leg, and that he didn't have any idea what went wrong. More.... Triple Crown Nominations Out Tonight Triple Crown Nominations will be released at 12:01 a.m. ET on The Downey Profle. Lewis, Las Virgenes, Strub Reset Santa Anita Park has announced that three graded stakes--the Grade I Las Virgenes, the Grade II Robert Lewis and Grade II Strub Stakes--which were cancelled today due to rain have been rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 13. All three races will be redrawn, and all horses that were nominated are eligible to be entered. Earlier in the day, and as reported here, Santa Anita announced its track was closed for today's racing due to recent rains in Arcadia and drainage problems on its synthetic track. “We’re going to remain in consultation with the horsemen and we hope to have a decision as to when all of these important races will be rescheduled just as soon as possible,” said Santa Anita General Manager George Haines when the closure was announced. “We know that in many cases, owners and trainers are plotting schedules with their respective horses and they need to know when these races are going to be offered back. This is a very difficult situation and we will let everyone what our plan is as quickly as possible. "This is obviously very disappointing,” said Haines. “The main track is draining better than it was a month ago, but we got very substantial rain overnight and this morning, and as a result, we had standing water in several areas. “As we’ve said all along, safety is going to be our number one priority in determining whether or not we’re able to run, and the situation this morning was not good. That said, this weather system is supposed to be completely cleared out by late this afternoon and we are optimistic about being able to run tomorrow.” Noble's Promise Works at GP Noble's Promise (move to Looking Good off this news), owned by Chasing Dreams Racing 2008 LLC, breezed an easy three furlongs in 37:00 this Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park for trainer Ken McPeek. It was the first timed workout for Noble's Promise since he finished a game second, beaten three-quarters of a length by Lookin at Lucky, in the Grade I CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park on Dec. 19. A son of Cuvee, Noble’s Promise ran a big race to finish third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 7, beaten only a half-length for it all by Vale of York, with Lookin at Lucky second. Noble’s Promise won the Grade I Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland on Oct. 10 before shipping to California. McPeek gave him a month off after the CashCall, and he was flown back to South Florida on a Tex Sutton charter flight that brought several other runners to compete in Sunshine Millions at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 30. Aqueduct Open Today Aqueduct Racetrack officials say it will be open for live racing today and will remain open for simulcasting through approximately 7:45 p.m. ET. As of 6:00 a.m., there was only a light coating of snow at the track with one to three inches of the white stuff projected, according to a release this morning from Aqueduct. Posted 8:14 a.m. ET Note: Turf Melody was scratched from the Whirlaway at Aqueduct. Turfway Live Racing Off Due to Storm Due to the continuing winter storm, Turfway Park has canceled live racing today. The Likely Exchange Stakes will be rescheduled. The track remains open for simulcasting. Live racing is expected to resume on Sunday. The cancellation is the first of the year for the Northern Kentucky track. PICKS Downey: Tiz Chrome, Dave in Dixie in the Robert B. Lewis. More.... Link to more information about the Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Commish: Eightyfiveinafifty, Three Day Rush in the Whirlaway. More.... Link to more information about the Whirlaway Stakes. LAST-MINUTE QUOTES Robert B. Lewis Stakes “I didn’t have a race for him. This is the first opportunity, and he’s doing fine.”--Eion Harty, explaining, sort of, the absence of American Lion from competition since Nov. 21. “Each horse is different. Dave in Dixie, for instance, is making his first start since the Norfolk. It’s the start of the campaign for him, so we’re excited.”--John Sadler, responding to a question about how young horses develop from age two to three. Whirlaway Stakes "Yes, he might be too fast for his own good. There are times when he grabs that bit and he goes--that's my fear. Like I said last time, at least we know we got a hell of a sprinter if nothing else. He may get two turns. We're just trying to make him relax. I will be on the lead. I will be trying to slow him down as much as I can. If (Three Day Rush) chooses to challenge me, we're both going to hell."--Gary Contessa, trainer of Eightyfiveinafifty, quoted in Daily Racing Form Gulfstream Turf "He's coming into it well. He didn't really fire his best race in the Hollywood Derby (7th), and we aren't really sure why, but he's regrouped, and we think he's ready for this. I don't think he minds a little cut in the ground, so if we get a little rain Saturday morning, it won't affect him. He's handled everything from firm to yielding."--Todd Pletcher--Take the Points Donn Handicap "He's been training great and he's doing very well. Everything's gone according to plan, so we're looking forward to it. I think the Hal's Hope was a good comeback race for him. It was a solid effort, but not a career best and not a taxing race for him. I feel like he's training the best he ever has for this. There's plenty of competition. "We're giving up a fairly sizable weight concession compared to the other horses. There are a lot of obstacles to overcome, and we're going to keep a close eye on the weather--he's not as good on the slop."--Todd Pletcher--Quality Road "He's been doing super. He's been training very, very well. He had a strong breeze coming into the race, five-eighths in 58 and 3, and galloped out three-quarters in 1:11 with Kent Desormeaux, who will be riding him. He was on his back, and he was thrilled with the breeze, as was I. We couldn't be happier with where he's at (after finishing third in Ft. Lauderdale Stakes last out). "It was a good performance, considering we were turning back to a one-turn mile, which is not a good configuration for him. He gets a bit rank in those one-turn races, and Manny (Cruz) had to restrain him a lot, which took a lot out of him. I'm looking forward to a two-turn race on Saturday. Horses tend to switch off or relax much better with two turns rather than one, and that's what we're looking for him to do."--Phil Gleaves--Mambo Meister "I thought he ran his eyeballs out. That's for sure (second in Ft. Lauderdale Stakes last out). We couldn't fault him. We couldn't fault the rider (Eddie Castro). I thought he did a really nice job. He just wasn't the best horse that day. "He'll do his thing - he never disgraces us or himself. I would not want him to get into a pace war (from the rail) in a mile-and-an-eighth race, so I'm hoping that if he breaks sharp, he can move a little bit away from the rail, and if not, fall out of the gate and get our spot and get ready to make a run for it."--Amy Tarrant--Kiss the Kid Blue Grass Nomination Deadline Nominations Close Wednesday, Feb. 17 for Keeneland’s Grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. The nomination fee is $200. The $750,000, 1 1/8-mile race will be run on April 10, three weeks before the Kentucky Derby. Keeneland's Spring meeting runs from April 2-23. Friday, Feb. 5, 2010 Downey: Birthday Boy Tiz Chrome Pick in Lewis Saturday is the third anniversary of Tiz Chrome's foal date, and connections may very well have a birthday party in the winner's circle of the Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes. But will Tiz Chrome be able to blow out the candles? More.... Commish: Winter Blast Blows in for Whirlaway We might be seeing this one run on another day, with snow and 30 degrees in the forecast for the 31st running of The Whirlaway at Aqueduct. All eyes are obviously on the Beyer-busting speedball whose connections have already called him their Derby horse. Hey Andy? Any stats out there on what a young horse usually does after posting a 105 Beyer Speed figure going from sprint to route for the first time? More.... Weekend Weather: Forecast as of Friday Morning At Santa Anita, one or two inches of rain is expected from Friday morning to Saturday, with 70% chances each day. High temperatures will be in the low to mid-60's. Drainage problems have occurred at the track in recent weeks. Aeration of the track has helped. At Aqueduct on Saturday, there's an 80% chance of snow showers with a high of 28 degrees forecast. One to two inches of snow is expected on Saturday. Wind gusts occasionally over 40 mph. If racing is canceled Saturday, the Whirlaway will be set for Feb. 13. 28-Inch Snow Forecast Cancels Laurel Races With a storm that is expected to dump up to 28 inches of snow in the Baltimore-Washington D.C. region over the next two days, the Maryland Jockey Club has cancelled live racing at Laurel Park for Friday and Saturday. There will be simulcasting at Laurel and its sister track, Pimlico Race Course, on Friday afternoon but not Saturday. Saturday’s $70,000 Marshua Stakes will now be contested on Monday, Feb. 15 as part of a card that is headlined by the Grade 2 General George Handicap. Triple Crown Nominations Release Due Soon Expect them to be released to the public either early Sunday or early Monday. Additional details are not available at this time. The deadline for early nominations to the 2010 Triple Crown was Jan. 16 at a cost of $600. The deadline for late nominations to the 2010 Triple Crown is March 27 at a cost of $6,000. Interactif Entered in Sunday Hallandale Beach Wertheimer et Frere’s Kentucky homebred Interactif (Worth Watching) was last seen finishing a game third in the Grade II Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and he'll likely be a solid favorite for his 3-year-old debut in Sunday’s 1 1/16-mile Hallandale Beach Stakes on the turf at Gulfstream Park. Kent Desormoux rode Interactif in his last three of five juvenile starts--saying once he thought the colt was trying to become his Kentucky Derby horse--and retains the mount for trainer Todd Pletcher. Interactif was beaten only three-quarters of a length for it all by English-trained favorite Pounced in Breeders’ Cup. Interactif established his turf stakes credentials winning the Grade III With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga in early September and the Grade III Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 11. He made his first two starts sprinting on dirt, winning his debut at Monmouth Park and finishing eighth after showing early speed in the Grade II Sanford Stakes. Interactif’s chief rivals in the field of eight would appear to be J D Farm’s Bim Bam, with Eibar Coa getting a return call from trainer David Brownlee; and Edgar Prado aboard Augustin Stable’s Cat Park for trainer Graham Motion. Bim Bam is a Florida homebred son of Deputy Wild Cat that showed considerable ability racing on the main track at Calder last year, finishing third in all three open divisions of the Florida Stallion Stakes series behind Jackson Bend, punctuated by a stakes victory of his own in the Foolish Pleasure Stakes before the In Reality finale of the series on Oct. 17. In two starts since then, Bim Bam captured the $100,000 Arthur Appleton Juvenile Turf on Nov. 14 in his grass course debut and ran a big one last out to finish second by a neck in the $100,000 Dania Beach Stakes on Jan. 16 by Nordic Truce. Nordic Truce is not coming back in Sunday’s race. Cat Park won his turf debut in a Keeneland allowance race on Oct. 24 after breaking his maiden on the Tapeta synthetic surface at Presque Isle Downs in August. The Pennsylvania homebred son of Tale of the Cat finished third in the Grand Canyon Stakes at Churchill Downs in late November and a close-up third last out in the Grade III Tropical Park Derby at Calder on Jan. 1. Completing the field for the Hallandale Beach are Asphalt, owned by Joseph Riccelli, with Rajiv Maragh aboard; Thunder Brew (Roman Hill Farm, Jesus Castanon); Dean’s Kitten (Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Cornelio Velasquez); Lucas Brady (Gary Aiken, Cecelio Penalba; and Our Champion (Michael Sucher, John Velazquez). Blind Luck Training Well for Las Virgenes Based on her seven-length victory in the Grade I Hollywood Starlet on Dec. 20, Blind Luck (Worth Watching) will be a prohibitive favorite when she makes her 3-year-old debut in Saturday’s Grade I Las Virgenes Stakes. A question in the mind of some is, can she transfer that form from one synthetic—Cushion Track—to another—Pro-Ride, even though she showed a fondness for Pro-Ride when she finished a troubled third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last Nov. 6? “I think every trainer is always concerned about having a little bit of time between races and then coming back on a different surface,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. “There’s a little anxiety there, but our filly’s been training really well over this track, so we’re not expecting her to regress. We’re expecting her to run a very good race.” Purchased following a 13 1/4-length maiden victory last year at Calder Race Course, Blind Luck went on to earn $709,050 in 2009 with two Grade I triumphs, a second in another and a troubled third when beaten by less than one length in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. “Blind Luck will have to regress quite a bit for anyone to have a chance," said Eric Kruljac, who trains rival La Nez. Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010 American Lion, Tiz Chrome Square Off American Lion (Looking Good) and Tiz Chrome (Worth Watching), who are at this point among the top Kentucky Derby prospects on some lists, make their 3-year-old debuts Saturday in the Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes. More.... Caracortado Goes for Five Straight in Lewis Caracortado, the lone California-bred in the field, will face his stiffest test yet in Saturday’s Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes when the gelding puts his unbeaten record on the line in the 1 1/16-mile race. More.... Two Expected Meet Surprise Whirlaway Entry With local hero Eightyfiveinafifty and Florida shipper Three Day Rush expected, the Whirlaway Stakes brought in surpising new blood with the addtion of Turf Melody to the mix as six were entered in the Saturday prep for the Grade III Gotham Stakes. More.... Whirlaway Pre-Race Quotes Eightyfiveinafifty (Worth Watching): “If it weren’t for thinking about the Kentucky Derby, this is probably not the road I would have taken with him,” said trainer Gary Contessa. “Going from a maiden win to facing stakes horses around two turns is a lot to ask. But the Derby is three months away, and with a horse this fast, this is the direction we’ve had to choose. “No doubt he’s the most talented horse I’ve ever trained,” said Contessa. “In the morning, he gives me every indication he’s a two-turn horse. But you just never know. I’ve read all the blogs, all the handicappers, all the geniuses, and half of them think he can do it, and half say, ‘No way’.” Three Day Rush (Just In Case): "The Whirlaway should provide a good opportunity for Three Day Rush to stretch out. We're not sure what his best distance is at the moment," said trainer Todd Pletcher. Turf Melody (Worth Watching): “He’s coming back fairly quickly, but I don’t feel as if he got to run his race at the Fair Grounds,” said trainer Graham Motion. “Turning for home, he was flat. Maybe at the end of the day, he’s not good enough, but he’s got to answer the question of whether he belongs with these kind of horses.” $5 Million on the Line at Oaklawn Calling it “one of the most important moments at Oaklawn and in Arkansas sports,” Oaklawn President Charles J. Cella announced Thursday that Oaklawn will increase the purse of the April 3 Grade I Apple Blossom to $5 million provided champions Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta both start. At a morning press conference, Cella reported that he has spoken with the owners of both Rachel Alexandra (Jess Jackson) and Zenyatta (Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Moss). Both showed enthusiasm for bringing their champions to Oaklawn for the first Saturday of the famed Racing Festival of the South. Rachel Alexandra (Three-Year-Old Filly) and Zenyatta (Older Filly or Mare) were unanimous Eclipse Award winners in their respective divisions in 2009 and were the only finalists for horse racing’s highest honor – The Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year. In one of the closest ballots in recent memory, Rachel Alexandra was named Horse of Year. Oaklawn has long been perceived as the ideal neutral ground for the dream matchup, because both have used the Arkansas oval as a launching pad to future success. In 2008, Zenyatta captured her first Grade I victory in that year’s Apple Blossom, beating then reigning champion Ginger Brew among others in her only start outside of California and only start on a conventional dirt surface. Rachel Alexandra kicked off her 3-year-old campaign at Oaklawn with a pair of impressive stakes wins in the Martha Washington and the Fantasy Stakes. Should both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta start, this year’s Apple Blossom will be an invitational event. Other leaders in the filly and mare division will be invited to participate. The $5 million purse will be the largest purse for a filly and mare race in the history of North American thoroughbred racing. “As you have heard me say many times before, a number of factors must be considered when deciding where to race a horse--the number one factor being the condition of the horse," Jackson said in a prepared statement. "Rachel will tell us when she is ready to start her 2010 campaign, and we humans must agree she is in top form. "My family and I would love to see her run at Oaklawn Park. If she is in top form and it fits in our schedule, we will be there. Rachel, as you know, likes the track, having won twice there last year.” “We’re all very excited about the opportunity,” said Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs, racing manager for Zenyatta owners Jerry and Ann Moss and wife of trainer John Shirreffs . “It would be fabulous for the fans and the racing industry. It’s a race we’ve won before, so she likes that track. We’ll do our best to make the race, but obviously, it all depends on Zenyatta and how she’s doing.” Musir Wins UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Today at Meydan Racecourse, Musir (AUS), favored at 4-5 stateside, won the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial, a seven-furlong, $50,000 allowance race. Trained by Michael de Kock, Musir is a Southern Hemisphere-bred considered a 3-year-old under local rules but is a 4-year-old in North American racing. Musir was ridden by Christophe Soumillon. He's a homebred owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, and was a Group 1 winner going into the race. Godolphin's Frozen Power (IRE), the 5-1 second choice, was a good second, beaten a neck by Musir. Frankie Dettori handled the mount for trainer Saeed bin Suroor. Oroveso (BRZ) was third after finishing well on the outside. He was sent off at 60-1 by American bettors using TwinSpires.com. Black Snowflake, a son of Elusive Quality bred in Kentucky, was fifth for Godolphin, ridden by Ahmed Ajtebi. The $250,000 Group 2 UAE 2000 Guineas is scheduled Feb. 18, followed by the $250,000 Al Bastakiya on March 4 and the $2,000,000 Group 2 UAE Derby on March 27. Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010 UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Tomorrow Tomorrow at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, the seven-furlong UAE 2000 Guineas Trial--Desert Party and Regal Ransom ran one-two last year in the equivalent of this race--will have four runners from Godolphin Stable/Darley. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor sends out Frozen Power, to be ridden by Frankie Dettori, Black Snowflake (Ahemd Ajtebi), Coueur Loyal (Ted Durcan) and Percusionist (Mickael Barzalona). Frozen Power was bred in Ireland, and Black Snowflake is a son of Elusive Quality bred in Kentucky by Grapestock LLC--he was bought at Keeneland September 2008 for $370,000. The other two were bred in the Southern Hemisphere. Michael de Kock, the South African trainer who is a force in Dubai this time of year, has Musir (Christophe Soumillon), Solid Choice (Kevin Shea) and Mr Crazy Boy (Ryan Moore). All three are Southern Hemisphere-breds. While considered 3-year-olds under local race rules, they are 4-year-olds under North American rules. Musir is the race high weight at 108 kgs. According to the official card, the UAE 2000 Guineas is race 3 with a post time of 7:45 p.m. local time, which is 10:45 a.m. ET. The purse for the race is $50,000. The $250,000 Group 2 UAE 2000 Guineas is scheduled Feb. 18, followed by the $250,000 Al Bastakiya on March 4 and the $2,000,000 Group 2 UAE Derby on March 27. The newly-opened Meydan racecourse has a Tapeta surface. Nad al Sheba, which has been torn down since last year's racing in Dubai, had a dirt couse. Bin Suroor assessed his runners on the Godolphin website: “Frozen Power is a nice colt and he is improving all of the time. He is ready to go and I am looking forward to seeing him run a nice race. I don’t think that he will have a problem with the Tapeta, and he looks in good heart. “Black Snowflake was a nice colt last year, but I think that he has improved since then. He has been working well, and seven furlongs will suit him well. “Coeur Loyal is a Grade Three winner on dirt in Chile and he looks a nice horse. He is in good form at the moment, and I am looking forward to seeing how he gets on. “Percusionist won his maiden in good style and he is doing very well. I have been pleased with his preparation, but he will improve for the race.” Fountain of Youth Probables With more than two weeks to go before the 64th running of the 1 1/8-mile, Grade II Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes, the probable/possible list currently includes: Buddy's Saint (Looking Good), owned by Kingfield Stable; Jackson Bend (Looking Good) (Robert LaPenta and Jacks or Better Farm); Eskendereya (Worth Watching) (Zayat Stable); Aikenite (Worth Watching) (Dogwood Stable); Drosselmeyer (Worth Watching) (WinStar Farm) and Pulsion (Worth Watching) (Flying Zee Stable). Nominations to the Fountain of Youth close this Saturday, as well as three other stakes events to be run that afternoon, including the Grade II Hutcheson Stakes at seven furlongs. Blind Luck 2010 Debut in Las Virgenes The Grade I Las Virgenes this Saturday at Santa Anita will afford Blind Luck (Worth Watching) her 3-year-old debut. Top-weighted in the filly division of the Experimental Free Handicap along with She Be Wild, Blind Luck may be odds-on when she faces less successful lights in the one-mile race. It'll be her first outing since a decisive seven-length win over six rivals in the 1 1/16-mile, Grade I Hollywood Starlet on Dec. 20. She'll be ridden again by Rafael Bejarno. On the strength of her good-looking off-the-pace win in the Grade I Oak Leaf Stakes on Oct. 4, Blind Luck was the 7-2 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She finished third, beaten three-quarters of a length, after a little trouble in the race. Her record is 4-1-1 from six starts for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Evening Jewel, trained by Jim Cassidy, is expected for her first Grade I start. Last time out, Evening Jewel won the filly division of the 1 1/16-mile California Breeders' Champion Stakes on Dec. 27, the second day of the Santa Anita Meet. La Nez, third to Evening Jewel in the California Breeders' Champion Stakes, has also fared well in open company, finishing third in the seven-furlong, Grade I Darley Debutante Stakes at Del Mar. Crisp and Summer Games may also contend. Entries for the Las Virgenes close today. Laus Deo Moved to Ocala Farm Laus Deo, winner of the Jan. 2 Count Fleet Stakes at Aqueduct, is out of active training at Palm Meadows and has been shipped to Vinery's farm in Ocala, Florida. Owned by Fox Hill Farms, Laus Deo has common ownership with Winslow Homer, who is off the Derby Trail (see story on Feb. 2 Racing News). Both are trained by Tony Dutrow. According to the Fox Hill Farm website, Laus Deo is being given thirty days off. After winning the Count Fleet in front-running fashion, the decision was made to give him a chance in the big leagues at Gulfstream Park, and he was shipped to Palm Meadows. "We're not going to stay in New York," Dutrow said at the time. "Not that we think we got the best horse in the world, we just think we're giving the horse a better chance coming down this way. You know first hand how rough December was, and how it looks like January and February are going to be. We're giving the horse a chance to come down here and give him his opportunity." After he arrived at Palm Meadows, Laus Deo breezed five furlongs on a track rated good in 1:03.40 (3/5) on Jan. 18. No subsequent workouts were recorded. Laus Deo has been moved to our Just In Case page from Worth Watching. Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010 Winslow Homer Sidelined with Stress Fracture And the Kentucky Derby is out of the picture. On a post at Fox Hill Farm's website today, owner Rick Porter announced that Winslow Homer (to be delisted from Looking Good), winner of the Grade III Holy Bull Stakes, was found to have a stress fracture "Winslow Homer had a little sensitivity in his shin Sunday morning," according to the post by Porter. "We went over him with a fine-toothed comb and found a small stress fracture in his cannon bone, resulting in Winslow having to go on the shelf for the next 60-90 days. "Winslow should return to training in early April. This is another tough luck story for me and the Fox Hill fans, but hopefully we will have a huge summer and fall with Winslow homer," Porter concluded. It's a bit of bad luck not only for Porter but for the race itself. Saratoga Sinner won last year's Holy Bull, a bone chip in his knee was diagnosed shortly afterward, and he didn't race again until August 1. In six competitions since the Holy Bull, Saratoga Sinner is winless, with two second-place finishes his only board hits. Contessa Hoping Eightyfiveinafifty's His Derby Horse Eightyfiveinafifty will be regarded as the main competition for Three Day Rush in Saturday's 1 1/16-mile Whirlaway Stakes at Aqueduct after running off to a 17 1/2-length win at the Big A on Jan. 9. With that six-furlong win under his belt, Eightyfiveinafifty will stretch out for the first time for trainer Gary Contessa. More.... Subscriber Notice The Downey Profile Rankings were updated Feb. 2, and we've plugged in two additional factors. The field is starting to atttain some separation. Added: Colizeo, Drosselmeyer, Ice Box, Leothelion, Nextdoorneighbor, Pleasant Prince, Pleasant Storm, Tahitian Warrior, Tempted to Tapit, Uptowncharlybrown. Deleted: Big Texas Daddy, Brake Lights, Bravo Whiskey, Piscitelli, Take Control. Piscitelli Drops Off Derby Trail He was injured during the running of the Grade III Holy Bull on Jan. 23. Kent Desormeaux backed off Piscitelli during the race. “Piscitelli has a deep bone bruise at the bottom of his right hind cannon bone. Although it is painful, horses with this injury can make a complete recovery with 90 days rest,” said Dr. Luis Castro. “The prognosis for soundness and a full recovery is excellent, and we are thankful to have the opportunity to race this talented colt again in the future,” trainer Sacco said. “Hopefully, we will be ready for races like the Haskell, Travers, and Pennsylvania Derby toward the end of summer and early fall.” Hotep Takes FG Feature Hotep (added to Worth Watching 2-1-10) proved no disappointment to fans who bet him down to 4-5 favoritism in yesterday’s feature at Fair Grounds, and he may have entered the picture for the Grade II Louisiana Derby March 27. Ridden by Robby Albarado and trained by Mark Frostad, Hotep was unhurried early while fifth of six runners for a half-mile. He commenced a four-wide rally outside the leaders approaching the stretch and drew off late to prevail by 3 1/4-lengths under intermittent urging. Down with Dixie (Just In Case), never far back, continued willingly late to gain the place, finishing a half-length in front of Mr. Winthrop, who was a half-length to the good of Daddy Forty Nine. Hotep, a son of A. P. Indy, ran the mile and 40-yard distance in 1:41.55 and increased his lifetime earnings to $77,440 with his second victory in four career starts. After the race, Frostad was asked whether Hotep could be a Louisiana Derby horse. “It’s definitely a possibility,” the trainer said. “We’ll just have to see how he goes. He’s got two starts in him now this year and he looks great. The next one (Feb. 20 Risen Star Stakes) is too soon. I might well look for a race for him somewhere.” Hotep is a full brother to 2009 Queen’s Plate winner and recently-announced Canadian Champion 3-Year-Old Male Eye of the Leopard. “I hate to jinx anything, but this guy is much more athletic,” Frostad said. Bravo Whiskey and Walking the Beach, who brought up the rear in the six-horse field, have been deleted from our Just In Case list. Monday, Feb. 1, 2010 Say What Dept. Trainer Bob Baffert and co-owner Mike Pegram have nominated Lookin at Lucky (Looking Good) to the Group 2 UAE Derby in Dubai. Baffert has said he'll run Lookin at Lucky either at Santa Anita in March or "out of town," but this is the first time the UAE Derby has been publicly indicated as an option. Whether this is a serious nomination remains to be seen. The newly-opened Meydan Racecourse has a synthetic surface, and of course Lookin at Lucky has excelled on various synthetics. The race is set on March 27. In 2001, Pegram and Baffert won the Group 1 Dubai World Cup with Captain Steve, earning $3,600,000 in purse money for the winner's share. The UAE Derby is worth $2,000,000 overall. It will be run at 1,900 meters, or about 1 3/16 mile, for the first time this year. Unsurprisingly, Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor has nominated Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Vale of York (Looking Good) among 18 from his stable. His group also includes Tahitian Warrior (Worth Watching), a horse bought by Godolphin earlier this year after a strong debut win going six furlongs. Vale of York was taken to Dubai after his Juvenile win. Fans of Tahitian Warrior are still waiting word on his shipping plans--or perhaps a lack thereof--following two recent stateside works. Meanwhile, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin went on the record to say, following the first of those two workouts, that he was just "babysitting" the horse pending travel plans. For a full list of the 173 nominations to the UAE Derby, please click here. The would-be runners come from 16 countries. Sam F. Davis Draws 42 Nominations On a different level, and one that is perhaps more in the grasp of race fans, the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes, worth $225,000, has received 42 nominations pending late mail. The Davis runs on Feb. 13. One headliner on the list is Noble's Promise (Worth Watching), winner of the Grade I Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity, third-place finisher in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and runner-up in the Grade I CashCall Futurity. He has yet to put in a published workout this year for trainer Ken McPeek after that tough campaingn. Noble's Promise was recently transferred from Southern California to South Florida. An interesting nominee is Interactif (Worth Watching), who's shown an explosive turn of foot on turf. He won a pair of Grade III races before finishing a closing and good third in the Grade II Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The colt is trained by Todd Pletcher and is also nominated to the this Saturdays's Hallandale Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park, along with an amazing nine others from the Pletcher barn from a total of 30 possible contenders. Local favorite Uptowncharlybrown (Worth Watching), was an expected nominee. He's won his two races by a combined 15 lengths, including a huge victory in the seven-furlong Pasco Stakes at Tampa. The colt is conditioned by Alan Seewald. For a full list of the nominations to the Sam F. Davis Stakes, please click here. Speaking of Pletcher Pletcher had several prominent 3-year-olds in the stable working Sunday morning at Palm Meadows, including Discreetly Mine (Looking Good), five furlongs in :59.20 (1/30), handily; Eskendereya (Worth Watching), five furlongs in 1:02.40 (20/30), breezing; Rule (Looking Good), five furlongs in 1:01.80 (15.30), handily; and Super Saver (Looking Good), who went four furlongs in :48.40 (14/56), handily. Conveyance to Ship Out of Town But where? San Rafael Stakes winner Conveyance (Looking Good) could make his next start in either the Grade III Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 15 or the Grade II Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds on Feb. 20, trainer Bob Baffert said. Sidney's Candy Next Start Trainer John Sadler said Sidney's Candy (Worth Watching), is scheduled for the Grade II San Vicente Stakes going seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Feb. 15. Drosselmeyer Wins GP Allowance Drosselmeyer (Worth Watching) was bet down to 4-5 and won a 1 1/8-mile allowance race at Gulfstream Park on Sunday by 1 3/4 length while ridden by Kent Desormeaux. Fifth of seven and stalking in the early going, Drosselmeyer made a second-turn move on the outside, then threatened Best Actor at the furlong marker before easing off to win. A finisher's role was set up by Jet Settin Papa, who ran the intial fractions in :22.84 and :46.97. The winner hit the wire in 1:49.52 on a track rated fast. It was Drosselmeyer's first start since breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs on Nov. 18 by six lengths in a one-mile race. That was his fourth career start. Prince Will I Am, rated at 42-1 by wagerers, finished second in the race at Gulfstream Park, followed another 1 1/2 length by Best Actor. Pulsion (Worth Watching), who was considered well by the linemaker before the race, was scratched. REVISIONS TO OUR LISTS After a quiet weekend of racing for followers of the Triple Crown chase. Promoted from Worth Watching to Looking Good: Make Music for Me. After an absence from the worktab earlier this year, Make Music for Me worked on Sunday for the second time in a week at Hollywood Park. He has $215,000 in graded earnings, ordinarily well more than enough to qualify for the Run for the Roses. Super Saver. The winner of the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs put in his second workout of the year at Palm Meadows on Sunday, and barring a setback, he must again be considered a leading name for the Kentucky Derby. Time will tell. Super Saver has $133,832 in graded earnings, so he needs to make some noise in at least one prep race before May 1. Demoted from Worth Watching to Just In Case: Thank U Philippe, after trainer Marty Wolfson said he wasn't a Derby horse last week. At the same time, he blasted Eddie Castro for sending the horse from the inside post in the Grade III Holy Bull after Wolfson added blinkers for the race at Gulfstream Park. Additions Dixie Band was added to Just In Case after finally putting in a workout last Friday after being a no-show on the worktab since Nov. 5. He won the Grade III Arlington-Washington Futurity last September, then in October finished tenth in the Grade I Dixiana Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. General Maximus was added to Just In Case off a wire-to-wire win going six furlongs in 1:09.59 in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. It was his second win in as many starts. Tahitian Warrior was added to Worth Watching. He's breezed twice at Palm Meadows since plans were announced he'd be shipped to Dubai. There are a couple of odd things about this horse. Check his profile at Worth Watching. Deletion It was reported last week that What's New was put down. The date of the euthenasia wasn't reported. He sustained a condylar fracture working four furlongs on Jan. 14 at Fair Grounds. What's New won his debut race Jan. 3 at the New Orleans track. Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010 Annual Ship to Florida The Downey Profile is shipping from Kentucky to Florida today. We'll have more news on Monday. One bit of unfinished business. After we get down there, we'll add Tahitian Warrior to Worth Watching--instead of being shipped off to Dubai, he worked again yesterday at Palm Meadows, five furlongs in 1:00.80 (3/25), so who knows? Maybe he'll be kept here in the U.S. Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010 Kera's Kitten Breaks Well, Finishes the Job Kera's Kitten (Just In Case) broke well and led from start to finish under Thomas Pompell to win the WEBN Stakes at Turfway Park. More.... Next Race Plans: Pletcher Stable As of today: Aikenite (Worth Watching): the Grade II Fountain of Youth on Feb. 20. Rule (Looking Good): the Grade III Sam Davis or or Grade II Risen Star on Feb. 20. Super Saver (Worth Watching): "Something the first week in March," trainer Pletcher said. Track Closings Aqueduct cancelled its card Saturday after the third race due to bitterly cold weather. Out in Hot Springs, an ice storm knocked out electricity and services in much of the town, and Oaklawn Park closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Racing at Laurel Park was cancelled today after the onset of heavy snowfall in the central Maryland region. Pulsion, Drosselmeyer Lead Tough Allowance Field Pulsion (Worth Watching), owned by Flying Zee Stable and partners, and seven other 3-year-olds will meet in an allowance race Sunday at Gulfstream Park going 1 1/8 miles in a test that should identify one or more candidates for the Grade II Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes on Feb. 20. Trainer Patrick Biancone recently confirmed Pulsion on target for the Fountain of Youth as he makes his first start since finishing a lacerated eleventh of 13 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, beaten 10 1/2 lengths. Julien Leparoux will ride. Prior to the Breeders’ Cup, the $250,000 OBS March purchase finished a closing second from a wide post in the Grade I Norfolk Stakes, beaten only 1 3/4 length by 2-year-old champion Lookin at Lucky (Looking Good). Pulsion will race on dirt for the first time Sunday. He made all five of his juvenile starts on synthetic surfaces in California. He's the second morning line choice at 3-1. Favored in the morning line at 5-2 for Sunday’s race is WinStar Farm’s Drosselmeyer (Worth Watching), with Kent Desormeaux aboard for trainer Bill Mott. A $600,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Distorted Humor, Drosselmeyer makes his first start since a six-length maiden score going a mile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 18. That was his fourth start after a third and two seconds. Another contender was an impressive maiden winner last out at Gulfstream Park--Gary and Mary West’s Best Actor. Lined up at 6-1, he scored by four lengths going a mile on Jan. 7 for trainer Wayne Catalano. Javier Castellano picks up the mount on the $230,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Rock Hard Ten. Best Actor finished second and third in three starts last year. Guys Reward, meanwhile, is the third choice before the windows open for business at 4-1. With seven races under his belt, he finished second to Gleam of Hope in the off-the-turf Cradle Stakes last year after breaking his maiden on turf second time out. He was fifth when returning to turf in the Grade III Bourbon Stakes, then ran well against Callide Valley and Maximus Ruler on dirt at Churchill Downs. Tried on turf again this year, he was fifth--but beaten only 1 3/4 length by Nordic Truce--in the Dania Beach just two weeks ago. Owned by Michael Bruder, Guys Reward is trained by Dale Romans. Jesus Castanon will ride. Completing the field are Stately Victor, owned by Jack Conway and trained by Mike Maker, Edgar Prado aboard, 6-1; No Shenanigans (Lets Go Stable, Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez, 6-1); Prince Will I Am (Casa Farms, Michelle Nehei, Paco Lopez, 20-1); and Jet Settin Papa (Bert Sonnier, F. G. Warren, Eduardo Nunez, 15-1). Robert B. Lewis Probables Identified as probable for the 1 1/16-mile, Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes next Saturday are American Lion (Looking Good), Brady Blue Eyes (Just In Case), Coracortado (Worth Watching), Dave in Dixie, Hawaiian Springs (Worth Watching), Tango Tango, and Tiz Chrome (Worth Watching). Just In Case Horses in at Fair Grounds On Monday at Fair Grounds, three horses on our lists are entered in an allowance race going a mile and 40 yards: Bravo Whiskey, Down with Dixie and Walking the Beach. Walking the Beach (Just In Case) will try to come back from a ninth-place finish as the second betting choice on Jan. 3 in an allowance at the same distance as Monday's race. He's trained by Bret Calhoun. Bravo Whiskey (Just In Case), trained by Neil Howard, was favored at 7-5 in a Jan. 16 six-furlong allowance, only to finish last. Down with Dixie (Just In Case) returns to allowance conditions after breaking his maiden in an N1X allowance at the same distance on Jan. 10 for trainer Paul McGee. Dixie Band Finally Returns to Worktab Dixie Band (Just In Case), a son of Dixie Union that won the Grade III Arlington-Washington Futurity last year, is finally back on the worktab after a protracted absence. He breezed four furlongs yesterday at Gulfstream Park for trainer Wayne Catalano. At Keeneland last Fall, Catalano wasn't hesistant to talk well of She Be Wild, who went on to finish second in the Grade I Alcibiades as the favorite before winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. However, there wasn't much said about Dixie Band, and his workout regimen had become spotty. He was entered in the Grade I Dixiana Breeders' Futurity, but he showed litte while finishing tenth. Dixie Band put in a workout on Nov. 5, then was off the worktab the remainder of 2009 and all of January--until yesterday. Dixie Band was added to our Just In Case list today off of the workout. Race plans are not known yet. Friday, Jan. 29, 2010 WinStar Fantasy Derby Contest This one is new, and it's sponsored by WinStar Farm LLC. Here's what they have to say. "Create a 12 horse stable to compete against others as you strive to rack up the most purse winnings on the road to the Kentucky Derby. Sign up to create a profile and select your favorite WinStar Farm Horses, Progeny from WinStar Farm Stallions, and other top Derby Contenders to assemble the strongest fantasy stable. All races count toward your fantasy earnings, not just Derby prep races. "The fantasy stable with the highest earnings through April 17th will win a trip for two to the 2010 Kentucky Derby and much more. "Sign up and build your stable today! All entries must be in by February 13th at Noon EST. Good Luck!" Click here to enter. Kitten Boys Try to Make Noise in WEBN Trainer Mike Maker will saddle two sons of turf champion Kitten’s Joy in Saturday’s $50,000 WEBN Stakes at Turfway Park, one already a stakes winner and the other trying stakes competition for the first time. Both were bred and are owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey. More.... Dancing Count Attracts Short Field Saturday's Dancing Count Stakes attracted six Maryland-bred 3-year olds going six furlongs at Laurel Park. The 8-5 morning line favorite is Turbo Speed (Just In Case), a gelding training at Penn National under Bernie Houghton. The son of Louis Quatorze won all three starts in 2009, including the Pennsylvania Nursery. He started his 2010 campaign with a stalking third in the Count Fleet at Aqueduct. David Cora retains the mount. “The horse is doing just great,” said Houghton. “We were thinking about going in the Whirlaway (at Aqueduct next Saturday), but that race is a mile and a sixteenth, and we feel he might not be ready. We like the (Maryland) series of races for three-year-olds--six furlongs (Dancing Count), seven (Miracle Wood on Feb. 27) and a mile (Private Terms on Mar. 20)--and we thought this was a way to educate him and move him out in distance.” Trainer Chris Grove sits in waiting for the Pennsylvania shipper. The 3-1 second choice Morumsco will carry J.D. Acosta, who rode him to two wins sandwiched between disappointments in the Maryland Million Nursery and Maryland Juvenile Championship. The speedy son of Not For Love has had the lead in all five of his starts. Cole T (7-2) left the maiden ranks last time out at Laurel on Jan. 1 after finishing second in his first four starts. Harry Vega keeps the reins on the son of Desert Warrior for trainer John Salzman, Jr. Gary Capuano will start Our Commander (Just In Case) (4-1), who won the Maryland Juvenile Championship on Dec. 12 before finishing last in the Count Fleet. The son of Tenpins is a perfect three-for-three at Laurel. Josean Ramirez regains the mount. Lightly raced That’sthequestion (8-1) takes a step up after beating optional claimers at Charles Town. Julian Pimentel rides the son of Holy Bull for trainer Mike Trombetta. Rounding out the field is Silver Pioneer (20-1), a maiden winner after six races at Charles Town. Erick Rodriguez will be aboard the son of Pioneering. Noble's Promise Brought Back East Noble's Promise (Worth Watching) and filly stable mate Beautician are now in residence at Gulfstream Park in the barn of trainer Ken McPeek. They arrived Tuesday on the Tex Sutton charter flight from Los Angeles that brought California-trained runners for this Saturday’s Sunshine Millions races. Noble’s Promise finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 7, beaten a half-length by Vale of York with Lookin at Lucky second. Beautician finished second, three-quarters of a length behind She Be Wild in the Juvenile Fillies the day before. McPeek left both Noble’s Promise and Beautician with a small division at Santa Anita after Breeders’ Cup, each running one more time late last year. Noble’s Promise ran a very big race to finish second by a half-length behind Lookin at Lucky in the Grade I CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park on Dec. 19, but Beautician was eased to last of seven in the Grade I Starlet Stakes (G1) the next day. “They’re both back to galloping and could breeze for the first time early in February,” said McPeek this week. “I don’t have anything in particular planned for either one just yet.” Noble’s Promise is a son of Cuvee and won the Grade I Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland prior to the strong performance in the Breeders’ Cup. He made five of his six juvenile starts on synthetic tracks and the other on turf. Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010 2010 Dual Qualifiers With the results of the Class of 2009 Experimental Free Handicap (EFH) released today, it's time to name the 2010 Dual Qualifiers--horses within 10 pounds of the EFH high weight with a dosage index of 4.00 or less. Dual Qualifiers won many Kentucky Derbies for a number of years until 1988, when the trend relaxed. Street Sense was the last Dual Qualifier to win the Kentucky Derby. This year's male Dual Qualifiers, with their EFH weight and dosage index: 126 Lookin at Lucky, 3.33 Vale of York, 2.01 124 Noble's Promise, 3.36 123 Buddy's Saint, 1.67 122 Pounced, 1.07 Super Saver, 3.00 119 Aikenite, 2.60 D'Funnybone, 1.77 118 Bridgetown, 3.00 Make Music for Me, 3.31 117 Awesome Act, 3.57 Dublin, 2.33 Homeboykris, 3.67 Interactif, 2.83 116 Discreetly Mine, 2.76 The Program, 3.00 Horses that do not meet Dual Qualifier status due to their dosage indices are: 120 Piscitelli, 4.14 116 Jackson Bend, 6.20 *When The Downey Profile researched Noble's Promise dosage profile in 2009, it was shown to be 14-10-6-0-0, which results in a dosage index of 9.00. Current information has his dosage profile as: 11-4-7-2-0, which yields a dosage index of 3.36. We do not have an explanation for the discrepancy. Experimental Free Handicap: Lookin at Lucky, Vale of York Co-High Weights Vale of York and Lookin at Lucky, the one-two finishers in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, share the high weight assignment of 126 pounds on the 2009 Experimental Free Handicap (EFH), released today by The Jockey Club and available at jockeyclub.com. More.... Lookin at Lucky Set to Breeze Lookin at Lucky (Looking Good) has been galloping and jogging through recent rainy weather at Santa Anita. Trainer Bob Baffert said the 2-year-old champ of 2009 could breeze some time next week. The trainer said he is still considering the Grade II San Felipe Stakes on March 13 for Lookin At Lucky’s 3-year-old debut. “Either that or out of town,” Baffert said. Tell Us What You Really Think Dept. Trainer Martin Wolfson, after saying Thank U Philippe (Just In Case) is not a Kentucky Derby horse, told DRF.com he can't run that far. Wolfson said the colt will skip the Grade II Fountain of Youth. Wolfson was emphatically not happy with Eddie Castro's effort in the Grade III Holy Bull when Thank U Phillipe finished fourth. "Eddie rode a horrible race," Wolfson said. "I couldn't believe he'd send him like he did, especially up along the dead rail. I thought the horse turned in a great effort considering what he was up against." Next Race Plans For 17 more horses on our Lists. See Tuesday Racing News below for next race plans of 28 other horses on our lists. A Little Warm (Just In Case): The Grade II Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 20. Activity Report (Just In Case): Presumably, it'll be the Grade III Southwest at Oaklawn on Feb. 15. Afleet Express (Just In Case): Six-furlong allowance at Gulfstream Park this Saturday. Backtalk (Just In Case): Now off the farm and in New Orleans, no next-race plans announced yet. Down with Dixie (Just In Case): We're speculating he'll be seen in the Grade II Risen Star on Feb. 20. Gleam of Hope (Just In Case): The Grade III Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 20? Dublin (Just In Case): The Grade III Southwest Stakes on Feb. 15. Kera's Kitten (Just In Case): The WEBN Stakes this Saturday at Turfway Park. Liston (Just In Case): Maybe the Whirlaway on Feb. 6? Middle of the Nite (Just In Case): Possibly the Sam F. Davis. Mission Impazible (Just In Case): Possible for the Southwest Stakes. Our Commander (Just In Case): The Dancing Count Stakes this Saturday at Laurel. Pleasant Prince (Worth Watching): The Grade II Fountain of Youth on Feb. 20; trainer says he wants to stay close to this one. Tempted to Tapit (Worth Watching): The Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 20. Thank U Philippe (Demoted to Just In Case): Will skip the Fountain of Youth, his trainer saying he's not a Kentucky Derby horse. Three Day Rush (Just In Case): The Whirlaway at Aqueduct on Feb. 6. Turbo Speed (Just In Case): The Dancing Count Stakes this Saturday at Laurel. Alfarabi to Be Kept on Turf Alfarabi will be kept on turf "for the time being" after winning a tough nine-furlong turf allowance at Santa Anita yesterday, according to trainer Eion Harty. Alfarabi had exited three stakes races, including a fast-closing second most recently in the Eddie Logan Stakes, and proved too much for his rivals. With Garrett Gomez up, the gray son of Yes It’s True gained the lead in midstretch and withstood a furious finish by Setsuko to prevail by one-half length, with 5-2 second-choice Ace of Aces another length back in third. In gaining his second career victory for owner Abdullah Saeed Almaddah, Alfarabi crossed the wire in 1:50.03 over a firm course after tracking in third most of the journey “He broke tardily again today,” said Gomez, “but we were drawn outside, and I was able to put him into the race without much trouble. He’s a hard trying horse, and he did it nicely today. There wasn’t a lot of pace, and he was able to wear ’em down. He’s going to be a very versatile horse.” “I’m happy with the way he ran,” Harty said. “He kept his head down and kept running.” Alfarabi ran second in the Eddie Logan on Dec. 28 at Santa Anita after finishing within four lengths of Who’s Up in Hollywood Park’s Grade III Generous Stakes and within 4 1/2 lengths of Lookin At Lucky in Oak Tree’s Grade I Norfolk Stakes. Becky's Kitten Heads GP Turf Allowance Field Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s homebred gelding Becky’s Kitten broke his maiden on turf at Saratoga in late August, finished second in the Grade III Summer Stakes at Woodbine, ninth in the Grade II Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and sixth in the Grade III Tropical Park Derby last out at Calder on New Year’s Day. So will softer competition in Friday’s allowance feature going one mile on turf at Gulfstream Park get Becky's Kitten back in the winner's circle? Julien Leparoux will be aboard Becky’s Kitten for trainer Wesley Ward in the field of nine, with two others entered main track only. Becky’s Kitten is a son of the Ramseys’ 2005 Eclipse champion turf horse and highly successful young stallion Kitten’s Joy. Dogwood Stable’s Trippo finished tenth in the Tropical Park Derby for trainer Frank Alexander with trouble early in the race. He comes back Friday with Cornelio Velasquez getting the return call. The son of Trippi ran two good races at Aqueduct course in his two previous starts, breaking his maiden and finishing second in an allowance. Completing the field are Jose Cerrillo’s Drover, Ione and Herb Elkins’ Forty Nine Acres, Bethlehem Stable’s On Vacation, Mike Ryan’s Major Momentum, Shade Tree Thoroughbreds’ Three Deadly Sins, Blackacre Farms’ Flatter This and Monarch Stable’s Concorde’s Fury. Padua Stable’s Enigmatic and Mercedes Stables’ Ban the Eight are the two main track only entrants. Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010 Uh Oh Bango Returns to Worktab Probably the least talked-about horse that in all probability already has enough earnings to make the Kentucky Derby field is the Arizona-bred Uh Oh Bango. Assigned to our Looking Good list when The Downey Profile opened its 2010 doors last week, he was quickly demoted to Worth Watching off a lack of published workouts. His time away from the worktab ended yesterday when Uh Oh Bango worked four furlongs in :49.40 (62/92), handily, at Turf Paradise. Bred and owned by Richard Owens' AAA Ranch, Uh Oh Bango is a son of the little-known sire Top HIt, from the French Deputy mare French Debutante. A 10-year-old mare, she had less than $6,000 in career earnings racing twice in 2003, while Top Hit, who is now 12, earned $445,357 and won the nine-furlong Oklahoma Derby in 2001 as a 3-year-old. A durable sort, he raced 36 times with seven wins, five seconds and six thirds. Uh Oh Bango already has $172,952 in graded earnings from second-place finishes in both the Grade III Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs and the Grade III Delta Jackpot last year. A post at NTRA.com says connections have considered sending Uh Oh Bango to Oaklawn in the spring, with the targets there being the Grade II Rebel on March 13 and the Grade I Arkansas Derby on April 10. Another plan would be to start the horse in the Borderland Derby at Sunland Park on Feb. 27 as prelude to the $800,000 Sunland Park Derby, which is now a Grade III race, on March 28. Another option would be to start his 2010 campaign in the Turf Paradise Derby on Feb. 20. Yesterday's workout was Uh Oh Bango's first on the public tab since he raced in the Delta Jackpot on Dec. 4. His trainer of record is Kory Owens. Uh Oh Bango is listed as a colt. We have him as a ridgling. Mission Impazible Breezes Also on yesterday's worktab was Todd Pletcher's Mission Impazible (Just In Case), who breezed four furlongs in :50.80 (36/44) at Palm Meadows. Mission Impazible was last seen finishing a hard-trying second to stable mate Three Day Rush in a six-furlong allowance race on a sloppy track at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 9. About a week after that race, Mission Impazible was said to be possible for the Grade III Southwest Stakes on Feb. 15. A son of Unbridled's Song, Mission Impazible was given considerable time off last year after a brief Spring campaign. After breaking his maiden first time out, Mission Impazible finished third in the Grade III Kentucky Juvenile Stakes. He was pointed to the Grade III Bashford Manor, but his stable said he had a minor setback. Mission Impazible finally put in a workout on Nov. 29 when he breezed three furlongs in :37.00 (2/11) at Palm Meadows. Other works followed on a regular basis through November and up to the end of the year. Cool Bullet: On to Arkansas? Another candidate for the Southwest Stakes is New Orleans-based Cool Bullet (Worth Watching), for whom the race was mapped out earlier this year. Yesterday it was reported he is still being considered for the Southwest after finishing fourth in the Grade III Lecomte on Saturday, trainer Steve Margolis saying there's a "good chance." Earlier in the month, Oaklawn-based trainer Brad Cox was reported on the track's website saying, “Cool Bullet will probably come up for the Southwest Stakes." Cool Bullet may well be the best investment made in 2008. That's when he was purchased for $4,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He's owned by a partnership made up of Winmore LLC, Bob Estes et al, Ray Murray and and David Williams. Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010 Notice to Subscibers Segment 1 NOTES were posted yesterday covering the Grade III Holy Bull Stakes and Grade III Lecomte Stakes. Next Race Plans For 28 horses on our Lists. Aikenite (Worth Watching): No next-race plans announced yet. Blind Luck (Worth Watching): She's scheduled to make her 3-year-old debut in the Grade I Las Virgenes Stakes at one mile on Feb. 6 at Santa Anita. Buddy's Saint (Looking Good): pointing to the Grade II Fountain of Youth on Feb. 20. Conveyance (Worth Watching): Could ship out of town for his next start or remain in town for the Grade III Sham at Santa Anita on Feb. 27. Coracortado (Worth Watching): Pointed to the Grade II Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita on Feb. 6. Discreetly Mine (Looking Good): the Grade III Sam Davis at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 13, the Grade II Hutcheson at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 20, or the Grade II Risen Star at Fair Grounds on Feb. 20. D'Funnybone (Just In Case): Pointed to the Hutcheson Stakes. Dryfly (Worth Watching): The Grade III Southwest Stakes on Feb. 15. Eightyfiveinafifty (Worth Watching): The Whirlaway Stakes on Feb. 6. Eskendereya (Worth Watching): The Fountain of Youth Stakes is among the options being considered for Eskendereya's next start, so we can surmise that the Grade III Sam F. Davis on Feb. 13 is also an option. Jackson Bend (Looking Good): Will start next in the Fountain of Youth. Laus Deo (Worth Watching): All doors are open at this point--stakes company at Tampa Bay Downs, Fair Grounds, or Oaklawn. The 1 1/8-mile Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream on Feb. 20 is an obvious next possible race. Lentenor (Worth Watching): It could be an ‘a other than’ or maybe even a turf stakes. Lookin at Lucky (Looking Good): Could make his 3-year-old debut in the Grade II San Felipe Stakes at 1 Santa Anita on March 13, but trainer Bob Baffert has been non-committal. Lost Aptittude (Worth Watching): Possible for the Fountain of Youth. Maximus Ruler (Worth Watching): The Risen Star if he has come out of the Lecomte in good shape. Nextdoorneighbor (Worth Watching): Pointed to the Sham Stakes. Before this, Nextdoorneighbor was reportedly being pointed to the Southwest Stakes. Odysseus (Worth Watching): At the N2X allowance level at either a mile or around two turns at Gulfstream Park. Pleasant Storm (Worth Watching): The Southwest Stakes. Pulsion (Worth Watching): Pointed to the Fountain of Youth. Ranger Heartley (Worth Watching): Presumably, the Grade III El Camino Real is next. Ron the Greek (Looking Good): He's aimed at the Risen Star Stakes. Schoolyard Dreams (Worth Watching): Still set for the Sam F. Davis. Sidney's Candy (Worth Watching): Expected to race next in Feburary. Stay Put (Worth Watching): Pointed to the Risen Star Stakes. Tiz Chrome (Worth Watching): The Robert B. Lewis. Uptowncharlybrown (Worth Watching): The Sam F. Davis Stakes. Winslow Homer (Looking Good): Pointed next to the Fountain of Youth. Monday, Jan. 25, 2010 Worldly, Citrus Kid to Get Time Off Worldly and Citrus Kid, fifth and seventh respectively in the Grade III Lecomte on Saturday, will not participate in the Grade II Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 20, according to connections. “We’re going to give (Worldly) a little break,” said Galen Pruitt, trainer Paul McGee’s assistant. “We’re going to give him about a month and a half off.” Meanwhile, Citrus Kid arrived at Palm Meadows in South Florida this morning, reported trainer John Terranova II. “He kind of lost it in the paddock the other day,” said Terranova, “and then he got antsy in the post parade. We’re going to give him some time to regroup before we run him again. He still needs to grow up a little bit.” We'll retain each horse on our Worth Watching list and see what transpires. Post-Race Quotes, Lecomte Stakes Hot off the press: “He has a big kick,” winning jockey Graham said of Ron the Greek. “He does what you tell him to do. If you want to go he’ll wait until you pull the trigger.” “We really thought he had a good chance today," winning trainer Tom Amoss said. "For the horseplayers that like to examine the horses in the paddock he really does look the part. He’s a very, very good-looking horse. He’s a one-run horse, period. Let’s hope he always has some pace up front. “I certainly think (the Risen Star would be next). It’s another seventy yards. The Risen Star would be a tremendously flattering race to win, not only for myself but for Mr. Hammer. We’ll let him tell us, but that’s certainly what we’re thinking.” Francisco Torres (Maximus Ruler, second): “He broke well. He relaxed and placed himself on a very comfortable lead. He responded to my urging and kept driving. I was pleased with his effort. When I called on him, he exploded. I don’t think he saw the winner, he was so far away from him. First time going around two turns, he has a lot of room to improve.” Trainer Clark Hanna (Maximus Ruler): “I thought it was a great effort. I thought he was hooked for most of the way around there, and obviously he was fresh being on the front end like he was. He got tested every step of the way. He took on all foes except for one. Maybe the trainer didn’t have him fit enough coming off the layoff, but he cooled out well, and if all’s well tomorrow, we’ll be looking to come back in a few weeks in the next one.” Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan (Letsgetitonmon, third): “He finished really well. He was a little bit further back early on, but when I asked him down the lane, I had to weave my way through traffic and he really finished up well. I think he’s a three-year-old that each time they lead him over here he keeps getting better and better. He’s moving in the right direction and he tries hard.” Scott Blasi, assistant trainer (Letsgetitonmon): “Letsgetitonmon is another horse who moved forward yesterday. With 3-year-olds at this time of year, if they keep performing well and showing improvement each time, you just let them keep |
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