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RACE WAS PREP FOR GRADE III LAS FLORES HANDICAP

(Edited Santa Anita Park report)

ARCADIA, Calif. – Following a nose victory in the $200,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint on Jan. 30, Quisisana extended her winning streak to three Wednesday when overtaking game longshot Hallelujah Trail by one length in Santa Anita’s $62,940 allowance feature for fillies and mares at six furlongs. Read the rest of this entry »

Penelope P. Miller
Tampa Bay Downs

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Hilton Garden Inn Jockey of the Month Willie Martinez has had an outstanding week at the Oldsmar oval, booting home five winners from nine starters at average odds of 13-1. One of those wins was in the March 6 Challenger Stakes, when Martinez guided Bold Start to victory in track record-setting fashion, besting the previous fastest time set by Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense for the 1 1/16 miles distance. Read the rest of this entry »

Ed Golden
Santa Anita Park

ZENYATTA TO ARRIVE AT SANTA ANITA THURSDAY

ARCADIA, Calif. – The countdown to Zenyatta’s 2010 debut is on in earnest. The undefeated Breeders’ Cup Classic winner is set to accept high weight of 127 pounds for Saturday’s Grade I, $250,000 Santa Margarita Handicap, a race the racing world expects will lead to a showdown with Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the $5 million Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park on April 9. Read the rest of this entry »

Jim Mulvihill
Fair Grounds

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra returned to the track Wednesday morning for an easy gallop three days prior to her 4-year-old debut in Saturday’s $200,000 New Orleans Ladies. On Tuesday, the Medaglia d’Oro filly walked the shed row in trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn, the normal routine on the morning following a workout. Wednesday’s exercise came over a fast track on a breezy morning with temperatures in the low-60s. Read the rest of this entry »

Eskendereya Leads Florida Derby Nominations

(Edited Gulfstream Park report)

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Zayat Stable’s Eskendereya, 8 ½ lengths winner of the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 20, is among 92 3-year-olds nominated for the $750,000 Florida Derby (G1) to be run at 1 1/8 miles on Sat., Mar. 20, and trainer Todd Pletcher has confirmed it is the next logical start for his promising colt. Read the rest of this entry »

Bob Hill
Staff writer

It is tempting to reach the conclusion that neither the Gotham nor the Sham informs the Kentucky Derby conversation to any great degree, but I suggest that one not ignore either race.  The winner in the Gotham, Awesome Act, was making his first start on dirt and his first start of 2010.  He did go off as the favorite in the race, answered some questions, and left us with one nagging one to ponder.  Alphie’s Bet joined Caracortado as the second colt bred in California to appear to have a legitimate chance at excelling at the classic distances. Read the rest of this entry »

(Edited Oaklawn Park report)

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas may be sitting in the catbird seat at Oaklawn this weekend as he send two of the stars of his heralded barn postward as main contenders for honors in Saturday’s $300,000 Rebel Stakes and Sunday’s $125,000 Honeybee Stakes.  Both races are scheduled for a mile-and-a-sixteenth and should label the winners as among the elite from the three-year-old crop. Read the rest of this entry »

Michele Blanco
Calder Race Course

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – It makes perfect sense that Calder Casino & Race Course – owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated – will host a “Road to the Kentucky Derby” promotion this spring as well as “South Florida’s Biggest Kentucky Derby Party” on May 1.   Calder’s promotion will focus on four key prep races for the Derby and feature expert handicapping analysis, food and beverage specials, half-priced Daily Racing Forms, a scratch-off game, and drawings for prizes – including a trip to this year’s Kentucky Derby. Read the rest of this entry »

Graham Ross
Fair Grounds

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Based on her unprecedented success as a 3-year-old filly last year, Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra has been installed as the prohibitive 1-5 morning-line choice when she faces four female rivals in Fair Grounds’ inaugural running of the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies this Saturday in the super filly’s first start of the 2010 racing season. Read the rest of this entry »

Graham Ross
Fair Grounds

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Lloyd Madison Farms IV’s Valentine Fever, allowed to settle behind the early leaders in Monday’s Fair Grounds $44,500 feature, threaded through those with a well-judged ride by jockey Francisco Torres to win the sprint for accredited Louisiana-bred fillies and mares at about five and a half furlongs over the Stall-Wilson turf course by a head. Read the rest of this entry »