(Edited Tampa Bay Downs report)

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Appearing beaten until her final desperate strides, Canadian-bred 3-year-old filly Dixie Strike staged a whirlwind finish Saturday to win the 29th running of the $150,000 Florida Oaks on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs by a nose from pace setter More Than Love.

Under furious urging from jockey Jose Lezcano, Dixie Strike surged to the lead mere yards from the wire, thrilling owner John C. Oxley and his wife Debby and trainer…

(Edited Gulfstream Park report)

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Musical Flair took a deep breath in the stretch at Gulfstream Park Saturday and sprinted to victory in the $60,000 Needles Stakes.

The 3-year-old son of Songandaprayer, who underwent surgery to repair an entrapped epiglottis after finishing 11th in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland last October, scored by three-quarters of a length in the five-furlong sprint on turf.

“He led for three-quarters in the Breeders’ Futurity and stopped. He had an…

(Edited Gulfstream Park report)

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Shackleford breezed an easy five furlongs in 1:01.45 Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park in preparation for the $500,000 Donn Handicap (G1) on Feb. 11. The 2011 Preakness Stakes winner was ridden by jockey Jesus Castanon.

“It was what we were looking for,” trainer Dale Romans said.

Saturday’s workout was the latest in a string of solid

(Edited Santa Anita Park report)

ARCADIA, Calif. – Scratched from last Sunday’s one mile, $100,000 Valentine Dancer Stakes to run in Friday’s $70,150 Aristotle Purse, La Sombre enhanced her reputation for consistency with a clear-cut victory as the odds-on favorite in the competition for fillies and mares at 6½ furlongs over Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.

Under a vigorous hand ride by Martin Garcia, the 5-year-old California-bred daughter of Unusual Heat defeated 7-2 second-choice Lofty Ambition by 1½ lengths while…

(Edited Gulfstream Park report)

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Emcee came within less than two-fifths of a second of equaling the Gulfstream Park track record for seven furlongs while winning the featured ninth race.

Making the second start of his career, the 4-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song scored by six lengths with a blistering 1:20.83 clocking. The track record for seven furlongs of 1:20.45 was set in 2005 by Mr. Light.

Emcee vied for pacesetting honors with long shot Macarthur Causeway…

Graham Ross
Fair Grounds

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Pop-A-Top LLC’s Raiseanothergator, away alertly and quickly in command, made or forced the pace with William Reed’s Surley throughout the early going but drew off in the stretch run to win Friday’s 16th renewal of the $40,000 South Mississippi Owners and Breeders Stakes at Fair Grounds by 4 1/4-lengths.

Trained by Tom Amoss and ridden by James Graham, Raiseanothergator returned mutuels of $6.20, $2.80 and $2.40, accomplished the six furlongs in…

Jennifer Hoyt
Oaklawn Park

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The last time Oaklawn fans saw Alternation he was closing late to get fifth in the 2011 Arkansas Derby, a race that he seemed destined to win early in the season after two impressive allowance race victories. Pin Oak Stud’s regally bred son of Distorted Humor, now four, returns to Oaklawn ready to redeem himself in Saturday’s $100,000 Essex Handicap where he was installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite and…

Mike Gathagan
Vice President-Communications
Maryland Jockey Club

LAUREL, Md. – The Navarro brothers made a triumphant return to the Maryland jockey colony this week as both Joshua and Kevin visited the Laurel Park winners’ circle Wednesday, their first day back in the jocks room.

Joshua, who has ranked near the top 10 in the local standings since arriving on the scene in August 2009, won Wednesday’s finale aboard first-time starter Firey Rockette. The 20-year-old missed more than two months…

(Edited Santa Anita Park report)

ARCADIA, Calif. – Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert amps up his assault on the April 7 Santa Anita Derby (Grade I) and Triple Crown events beyond on Saturday when sending out his most accomplished Kentucky Derby prospect, Liaison, in Santa Anita’s Grade II, $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.

The Lewis is one of three Grade II stakes to be contested on Saturday’s Strub Stakes Day, a

(Edited Gulfstream Park report)
  
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Michael Lauffer and W.D. Cubbedge’s Shackleford, winner of the 2011 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico, and Lori and George Hall’s Ruler On Ice, winner of the 2011 Belmont Stakes (G1), are on target to clash in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, Feb. 11.

The 1 1/8 miles Donn will climax an outstanding program that will include three other graded stakes including the $300,000 Gulfstream Park…