Bob Hill
Staff writer

Shelley Kalita, legal counsel of the Illinois Racing Board, described the licensing issue that may keep Curlin from racing in most states with the understatement, “The whole situation is kind of a mess.”  Although Ms. Kalita was specifically addressing the woes of Curlin’s connections, she actually could have been describing horseracing in general at the midway point of 2008.

(Edited Hollywood Park report)

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (June 29, 2008) — New Zealand-bred mare Black Mamba, given a perfect trip by jockey Garrett Gomez, rallied to post a 1¼-length victory over Solva in Sunday’s $150,000 Beverly Hills Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Ron Correll
Senior columnist

Lael Stables’ Nicanor, the full brother of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, had the fourth workout of his young career when he breezed three furlongs in :38.40 at the Fair Hill Training Center in Fair Hill, Maryland.

The 2-year-old son of Dynaformer is under the care of Michael Matz, who also trained Barbaro for Lael Stables.

(Edited Hollywood Park report)

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (June 28, 2008) — Mast Track, a 10-1 shot given a dream trip on the lead by jockey Tyler Baze, hung on in the stretch to post a 2¼-length victory over 2-1 favorite Go Between in Saturday’s 69th running of the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at Hollywood Park.

Lone speed proved deadly as no one was within a length of Mast Track as he got away with the first quarter-mile in :24.41 seconds. By the…

Ron Correll
Senior columnist

The Mother Goose started off as a nightmare for Kentucky Oaks winner Proud Spell and didn’t get any better thereafter. And to add insult to injury the daughter of Proud Citizen was disqualified after a steward’s inquiry.

The mile-and-an-eighth race at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., drew a field of only four, but sometimes a short field can be one of the most difficult kinds of races.

Staff report

Heatseekers, the morning-line favorite in the 69th running of the Hollywood Gold Cup, was scratched from the race on Friday after heat and filling was found in his left front ankle. X-rays were taken, but they revealed no injury.

(Edited Santa Anita Park report)

ARCADIA, Calif. —Santa Anita Park announced Monday that its main track will undergo a complete overhaul beginning July 14, and will be reconstituted with a mixture of Pro-Ride synthetic.  Pro-Ride is an Australian-based company and is one of the southern hemisphere’s leading providers of synthetic surfaces.  The project will include completely removing the existing asphalt base, adding a new grid base material, and treating the entire track with binder and fiber.  It is anticipated the…

(Golden Gate Fields release)

Harry Aleo, a prominent Northern California horse owner who gained worldwide attention with 2005 sprint champion Lost in the Fog, died at his home in San Francisco Saturday with his longtime companion, Deannie Bartlett, at his side.  Aleo, who succumbed to cancer, was 88.

Ron Correll
Senior columnist

Sailor’s Cap was made the favorite by a dime over Adriano, and he didn’t let the bettors down when he ran off and won the Colonial Turf Cup in a driving rainstorm at Colonial Downs.

By the time Sailor’s Cap got the lead at the top of the stretch the race was over as he cruised down the lane to win by nearly seven lengths in a time of 2:04.42 for the mile-and-three-sixteenths race. The…

Ron Correll
Senior columnist

Fort Prado was trying to extend his winning streak in the Black Tie Affair to four in a row, but Gentleman Chester showed no respect for his elder as he upset the favorite Saturday in the feature race during the Prairie State Festival at Arlington Park.

Gentleman Chester and Fort Prado were covered up as Majestic Zeal set the early fractions in the mile-and-a-sixteenth race at the track in Arlington Heights, Ill. Majestic Zeal took the…