Graham Ross
Arlington Park

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. -  Arlington Park’s defending champion jockey Rene Douglas has now tied Hall of Fame jockey Earlie Fires with six riding titles at Chicago’s premier Thoroughbred oval and also remains the only jockey in Arlington Park history to win four successive riding crowns.

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – I Want Revenge was made the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the 135th Kentucky Derby, which will be run Saturday, May 2. Santa Anita Derby winner Pioneerof the Nile and Dunkirk, the runner-up in the Florida Derby, were made co-second choices at 4-1. Louisiana Derby winner Friesan Fire was 5-1.

NTRA release

A bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday night that would eliminate the automatic 25 percent federal withholding on pari-mutuel winnings of $5,000 or more for bets that carry odds of 300-1 or higher. The “Pari-Mutuel Conformity and Equality Act” (PACE Act) was introduced by Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky. and Rep. Charles W. Boustany, Jr., R-La., is the lead co-sponsor.

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Mac Robertson declared Win Willy out of the Kentucky Derby on Wednesday when a ‘line’ was discovered in his left front leg. Robertson said the injury, which could be the start of a fracture, was discovered through X-rays. The announced was made hours before entries were taken.

(Edited Churchill Downs report)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Moss’ Zenyatta, the undefeated 5-year-old who earned a 2008 Eclipse Award as the nation’s top older filly or mare was one of three finalists for “Horse of the Year” honors, will face seven challengers Friday in the 24th running of the $350,000-added Louisville Distaff (Grade 2) on Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill Downs.

(Edited Churchill Downs report)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – L and M Partner’s brilliant Rachel Alexandra, who closed 2008 with a dominating victory in the Golden Rod (Grade 2) beneath the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs, will put a four-race win streak on the line Friday when she faces seven rivals in the 135th running of the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1) at the legendary Louisville track.

(Edited Arlington Park report)

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – A year ago, Louie Roussel III and Ronnie Lamarque’s Recapturetheglory won the Illinois Derby and then ran a creditable fifth behind Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby.  However, when Arlington Park opens Friday on the day before the 2009 Kentucky Derby, Chicago racing fans are expected to be able to see the local favorite back in the Windy City.

(Edited Tampa Bay Downs report)

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Apprentice jockey Faith Schorr guided Jackie B Good to victory for owner/trainer Michael Thomas in Tuesday’s third race at Tampa Bay Downs, giving the rider her first career victory. 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – ADVICE/DUNKIRK/JOIN IN THE DANCE – It now appears trainer Todd Pletcher will start three horses in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby 135 – Advice, Dunkirk and Join in the Dance. After consulting with the various owners of his four potential Derby starters, the five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer decided to go with three and drop one – that horse being Take the Points, who is owned by the Starlight Partners stable of Jack and Laurie Wolf.

Horse                                   Trainer                         Jockey                          Morning Line
1 Tweeter                             D. Wayne Lukas         Miguel Mena                  30-1
2 Be Fair                               D. Wayne Lukas         Rafael Bejarano          15-1
3 Stone Legacy                   D. Wayne Lukas         Kent Desormeaux       30-1
4 Gabby’s Golden Gal       Bob Baffert                  Victor Espinoza            10-1
5 Justwhistledixie               Kiaran McLaughlin   Julien Leparoux             5-2
6 Rachel Alexandra            Hal Wiggins                Calvin Borel                  3-5
7 Nan                                    Craig Dollase              Corey Nakatani            20-1
8 Flying Spur                        Bill Mott                       Garrett Gomez               8-1