(Edited Tampa Bay Downs report)

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Tampa Bay Downs will switch over to a four day schedule for the remaining weeks of the season beginning on March 31, 2010. The Oldsmar oval will run live racing on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for the remainder of the 2009-2010 meet, which concludes on Sunday, May 2 with Fan Appreciation Day. Additionally, the track will be closed on Sunday April 4 in observance of the Easter holiday.

Racing resumes Wednesday,…

Ed Golden
Santa Anita Park

ARCADIA, Calif. – Bob Baffert said late Sunday morning he is “90 percent sure” that Lookin At Lucky will run in next Saturday’s Grade I, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby, rather the Grade I, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on April 10, after the male 2-year-old champion of 2009 worked six furlongs on Santa Anita’s main track in 1:12 flat under Martin Garcia.

Graham Ross
Fair Grounds

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Once again this year, the Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks is likely to serve as a preview of the Grade I Kentucky Oaks five weeks later.

TRAINER MITCHELL GETS ANOTHER GRADED STAKES MARATHON WIN

(Edited Santa Anita Park report)

ARCADIA, Calif.  – Trainer Mike Mitchell, who has enjoyed enormous success converting claimed horses into winners of graded stakes marathons, turned the feat once again on Saturday when 9-1 shot Tap It Light captured Santa Anita’s Grade III, $100,000 Tokyo City Cup at 1½ miles before a festive on-track crowd of 12,796.

TOTAL POOL ON SUNDAY COULD EXCEED $1 MILLION

(Edited Santa Anita Park report)

ARCADIA, Calif. — A Pick Six carryover of $132,180 awaits fans at Santa Anita on Sunday, with the likelihood of a total pool in excess of  $1 million by fourth race post time, which is leg-one in Sunday’s popular exotic wager that requires fans to select the winner of the final six races each racing day.

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

The world just keeps getting better for trainer Todd Pletcher. His top horse in the Louisiana Derby doesn’t fire and his backup plan charges late to take down the Grade 2 $750,000 affair at Fair Grounds on Saturday in New Orleans, La.

Discreetly Mine, the winner of the Risen Star at Fair Grounds on Feb. 20, was Pletcher’s best bet, but it was Mission Impazible who saved the day by running down A…

Cash Reward Blazes in Kenner; Heavenville and Workin for Hops Also Win Stakes

James Mulvihill
and Graham Ross
Fair Grounds

NEW ORLEANS, La.  – Overbrook Farm’s regally-bred Battle Plan invaded from his South Florida base to score a front-running 1½-length victory over General Quarters in his stakes debut, Saturday’s Grade II, $500,000 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Tracksideview.com

Ken and Sarah Ramsey got their Derby horse when Dean’s Kitten won the $500,000 Grade 2 Lane’s End on Saturday at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

Mike Gathagan
Vice President-Communications
Maryland Jockey Club

LAUREL, Md. – Sondra Bender’s Indian Dance was methodical in victory as the overwhelming race favorite, rallying from just off the pace to win the $70,000 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial Stakes for older horses at Laurel Park.

(Edited Tampa Bay Downs report)

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Jockey Huber Villa-Gomez booted home three winners today, two of which came with horses form the barn of past leading Tampa Bay Downs trainer Jamie Ness for owner Midwest Thoroughbreds.