Michele Blanco
Calder Race Course

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.- Calder Race Course has placed three barns under quarantine after a horse tested positive for Equine Herpesvirus (EVH-1) Monday at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.  The horse had been showing neurological symptoms over the weekend at Calder and was sent to the school in Gainesville, Fla. on Sunday.

Graham Ross
Fair Grounds

NEW ORLEANS, La. – West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again, defending champion from Fair Grounds’ Grade II New Orleans Handicap last March and also hero of Churchill’s Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap last June, arrived back at Fair Grounds before dawn Monday morning and was enjoying a bath outside trainer Dallas Stewart’s barn as training hours ended.

(Edited Meadowlands Racetrack report)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Trueamericanspirit, a multiple stakes winner and fan favorite, will make his last career start for trainer Tim Hills and Tom Swales’ Tee-N-Jay Farm in the eighth race Tuesday afternoon at Meadowlands Racetrack. 

Penelope Miller
Tampa Bay Downs.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – As of Nov. 30/2009, Tampa Bay Downs will be restricting access to its barn area.  There will be NO backside admittance for horses currently stabled at Calder Race Course.  There are NO cases of EHV-1 at Tampa Bay Downs. 

(Edited Hollywood Park report)

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — California-bred The Usual Q.T., given a perfect stalking trip by Victor Espinoza, took command early in the stretch and went on to score his fifth consecutive victory in Sunday’s 68th running of the $300,000 Hollywood Derby at Hollywood Park.

The Usual Q.T., giving an on-track crowd of 9,814 an encore less than an hour after super mare Zenyatta was given a send-off by Hollywood Park and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, became the first Cal-bred…

Graham Ross
Fair Grounds

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Edward Johnston Racing Stables’ Where’s Cain proved no disappointment to the fans who backed him down to 5-2 favoritism when he won Sunday’s Fair Grounds feature by one length.

“He was at the top of his game today,” said winning jockey John Jacinto after the race, although trainer Johnston was quick to dismiss any thoughts of running him on Louisiana Champions Day Dec. 12.

Risen Star-La. Derby starters who finish 1-2-3 get $25k Kentucky Derby starting fee waived

(Edited Fair Grounds report)

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Early Bird nominations for the March 27 Grade 2, $750,000 Louisiana Derby Presented by Miller Lite close Dec. 14. A nomination to the Louisiana Derby also serves as a nomination to the first two races in the Road to the Derby series, the Grade 3, $300,000 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 20 and the Grade 3, $100,000 Lecomte…

Graham Ross
Fair Grounds

NEW ORLEANS, La. – She’s coming off a great summer at Louisiana Downs where she enjoyed a 30 percent win ratio, and the only question now is how long trainer Michelle Lovell will remain under the radar at Fair Grounds.

Graham Ross
Fair Grounds
 
NEW ORLEANS, La. – Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm’s Friesan Fire, hero of the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby last March and post time favorite for last spring’s Kentucky Derby, returns to the scene of his greatest triumph Thursday when he heads a field of six older horses in the $50,000 featured race of the day at Fair Grounds.

(Edited Hollywood Park report)

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Bobby Frankel’s last wish came true Saturday as odds-on favorite Ventura won the $300,000 Matriarch at Hollywood Park,  completing a Grade 1 double for the late Hall of Fame trainer’s stable.

Frankel, who died of lymphoma on Nov. 16, asked Juddmonte Farms to delay her retirement following the Breeders’ Cup, confident she could go out a winner in The Matriarch.