Archive for April 2009

Crunch time nears for 20 Kentucky Derby contenders

Apr 30th, 2009 | By admin

(Edited Churchill Downs report)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – ADVICE/DUNKIRK/JOIN IN THE DANCE – The Todd Pletcher Derby trio of Advice, Dunkirk and Join in the Dance were out early, exercised and back in Barn 38 before 7 a.m. Thursday, missing the rains that splashed down on Louisville a bit later in the morning.



Karlsson ready to become queen of Arlington Park

Apr 30th, 2009 | By admin

Graham Ross
Arlington Park

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Jockey Inez Karlsson bulled her way to Arlington’s leading apprentice honors last year with a determined closing drive during the waning days of September. Then she continued that rally on the south of town to capture Hawthorne’s leading rider honors last winter.



Flashing to use Nassau County at Belmont as steppingstone

Apr 30th, 2009 | By admin

(Edited Belmont Park report)

ELMONT, N.Y. – It’s the first graded race for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park and, fittingly, all five starters will try the track for the very first time in the 14th running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Nassau County Saturday at seven furlongs over the dirt.



Hawthorne’s spring meet was encouraging, but wet

Apr 30th, 2009 | By admin

Mitchell Demick
Hawthorne Race Course

Stickney, Ill. -In spite of rainfall in both March and April that reached levels of historic proportions, Hawthorne Race Course continued to beat national trends, even posting a positive total- onsite-handle of 1.49 percent.



Rachel Alexandra is the girl to beat in Kentucky Oaks

Apr 30th, 2009 | By admin

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

 LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The good thing about Thursday morning at Churchill Downs was none of the contenders in the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby scratched from the races. The bad thing was the rain settled in for what looked to be a long stay.



Einstein looks to repeat in Woodford Reserve on Derby day

Apr 30th, 2009 | By admin

(Edited Churchill Downs report)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Matthew Garretson’s Einstein (BRZ), a versatile major stakes winner on grass, dirt and synthetic surfaces, will attempt to become the first repeat winner of the $500,000-added Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (Grade 1) on Saturday in one of the main appetizers on the Kentucky Derby 135 card at Churchill Downs.



Candy Pull wins Wednesday feature at Hollywood Park

Apr 29th, 2009 | By admin

(Edited Hollywood Park report)

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Jockey Victor Espinoza called an audible and guided 11-1 shot Candy Pull to a front-running victory in Wednesday’s $52,000 allowance feature at Hollywood Park.



Fout to run Dyna’s Lassie on flat in Beaugay

Apr 29th, 2009 | By admin

(Edited Belmont Park report)

ELMONT, N.Y. – It’s not steeplechase season at Saratoga Race Course. So, don’t be confused when you see that trainer Paul Douglas Fout has entered a horse for Saturday’s 32nd running of the Grade 3, $100,000-added Beaugay for fillies and mares at a mile and a sixteenth on Belmont Park’s inner turf course.



Dancing Forever prime for Fort Marcy at Belmont Park

Apr 29th, 2009 | By admin

(Edited Belmont Park report)

ELMONT, N.Y. – With nearly $910,000 already bankrolled, Phipps Stables’ Dancing Forever is certain to go over the $1 million mark in earnings this year, but Hall of Fame trainer “Shug” McGaughey isn’t about to hurry the process.



Bribon wins Westchester, set for try in Shadwell Met Mile

Apr 29th, 2009 | By admin

Francis LaBelle Jr.
Belmont Park

Marc Keller’s Bribon made a sweeping move on the far turn that carried him to a one-length victory Wednesday in the 81st running of the Grade 3, $110,000 Westchester for 3-year-olds and up. The one-mile race was the feature of Opening Day of Belmont Park’s 64-day Springs/Summer Meet.