(Edited Churchill Downs report)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – IEAH Stables, Paul Pompa Jr., Michael Dubb, and Golden Goose Enterprises LLC’s Stardom Bound, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2008 and winner of the Las Virgenes (Grade 1) at Santa Anita in her 2009 debut, heads an impressive roster of 170 horses nominated to compete in the 135th running of the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1), which will be run on Friday, May 1 at Churchill Downs.

(Edited Tampa Bay Downs report)

OLDSMAR, Fla. – The $65,0000 Wayward Lass Stakes has attracted the entries of eight older fillies and mares who will cover 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Tampa Bay Downs in Saturday’s eighth race. Highlighting the field is Moon Catcher, a 5-year-old Malibu Moon mare under the care of top national trainer Christophe Clement. Moon Catcher has earned $704,450 in her career, which includes victories in the Grade II Delaware Oaks, the $180,000…

Graham Ross
Fair Grounds

NEW ORLEANS, La. – With Friesan Fire leading the parade, locally-based Larry Jones continues to have a strong hand showing on the table for Louisiana Derby Day March 14 at Fair Grounds.

“Friesan Fire will probably work again Monday morning,” Jones said as he sat at his tack room desk during Friday’s midmorning break. “He continues to be right on schedule for the ($600,000 Grade 2) Louisiana Derby.”

Fran LaBelle
Aqueduct Racetrack

Trainer Steve Klesaris has always done things his own way, and these days, he has the great satisfaction of seeing that his way has proven to be the way to success.

The 49-year-old Boston native followed his father, Peter, and older brother, Bob, into the racing game. He saddled his first winner when he was 18, worked as a jockey agent in the early to mid 1990s and returned to training to win stakes…

NTRA release

“NTRA Racing to the Kentucky Derby” will air on the ESPN networks beginning Saturday, March 21, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced today. The series provides comprehensive coverage of several key Triple Crown prep races, including the $750,000 Florida Derby from Gulfstream Park, the $1 million Arkansas Derby from Oaklawn Park, and the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes from Keeneland.

Kat Kubik
and Bob Hill
Staff writers
Tracksidview.com

Gulfstream Park, Race 9 – The Fountain of Youth (Grade 2) 1 Mile for 3yos.

With the defection of Take the Points to the Sham at Santa Anita, 11 will line up for the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park on Saturday afternoon. The deep field is intriguing in that it presents us with horses that can set the pace and win from the front and others that can…

NTRA release

Three-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Bob Baffert, along with two of his greatest equine charges, are among two trainers, three jockeys, and six horses to be selected as the 2009 finalists for election to the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame.

(Edited Gulfstream Park report)

Edward Evans’ 3-year-old colt Quality Road schooled in the paddock Wednesday afternoon at Gulfstream Park in preparation for Saturday’s $250,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (Grade 2).

(Edited Santa Anita Park report)

ARCADIA, Calif. – Spring House split horses in deep stretch and held off hard-charging Church Service by one-half length Sunday to become only the second back-to-back winner of Santa Anita’s Grade 2, $150,000 San Luis Obispo Handicap while negotiating the 1½-mile distance on turf in 2:27.26, just five one-hundredths of a second slower than in the previous year’s 52nd running.

(Edited Fair Grounds report)

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Maggi Moss’ Outta Tune took command in upper stretch and drew off to a five-length win in Sunday’s featured $48,000 allowance optional claiming sprint at Fair Grounds.