(Edited Santa Anita Park report)

ARCADIA, Calif. – Following a nose victory in the $200,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint on Jan. 30, Quisisana extended her winning streak to three Wednesday when overtaking game longshot Hallelujah Trail by one length in Santa Anita’s $62,940 allowance feature for fillies and mares at six furlongs.

With the meet’s leading rider, Rafael Bejarano, at the controls, the 5-year-old daughter of Decarchy rallied from third in the field of six to win going away in the race that served as a prep for the Grade III, $100,000 Las Flores Handicap at 6 ½ furlongs on April 4.

The only California-bred in the lineup, Quisisana ran the six furlongs in 1:08.61. Trained by Mike Puype for Ran Jan Racing, she furthered her consistency with her sixth victory in 11 career starts while never having finished worse than fourth.

“We had a nice trip, and this mare is improving every time she starts,” said Bejarano in the winner’s circle. “Today, I thought we were maybe the second speed in the race, but I decided not to send her. I really like this mare because you can do whatever you want with her.”

As the second choice, Quisisana paid $7, $4 and $2.40. Hallelujah Trail, who bettered even-money favorite Free Flying Soul by 1 ½ lengths for the place, returned $16.60 and $5 while dismissed at odds of 22-1. Free Flying Soul paid $2.10 to show.

On paper, Free Flying Soul appeared as if she might gain an uncontested lead. In her previous start, Free Flying Soul dueled for the lead throughout the Grade I Santa Monica Handicap before grudgingly giving way to finish third.

But Hallelujah Trail, making her first start for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer following three straight wins at Golden Gate Fields, got the jump on the favorite under the urging of jockey Martin Garcia.

Free Flying Soul, with Mike Smith aboard, pulled even with the leader while straightening away into the stretch, but never could get past her. Meantime, Quisisana kicked into high gear on the extreme outside.

“We were able to follow the favorite, and my mare just ran great,” said Bejarano.

The winning purse of $41,340 boosted Quisisana’s career earnings to $317,098 from an overall record of 6-1-2 in her 11 races.     

Racing continues on Thursday at Santa Anita with an eight-race program that gets under way at 1 p.m.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Hilton Garden Inn Jockey of the Month Willie Martinez has had an outstanding week at the Oldsmar oval, booting home five winners from nine starters at average odds of 13-1. One of those wins was in the March 6 Challenger Stakes, when Martinez guided Bold Start to victory in track record-setting fashion, besting the previous fastest time set by Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense for the 1 1/16 miles distance.

Willie Martinez has been a mainstay at Tampa Bay Downs since 1989, when he won the first race of his career here and was the leading apprentice rider in that year.  From 1992 through 2007, Willie Martinez, along with William Henry, held the jockey’s record at Tampa Bay Downs for the most wins in a single season with 123 victories to his credit. 

Martinez emigrated to the U.S. in 1988 to work as a hotwalker and groom for his sister’s godfather at Finger Lakes Race Track in Farmington, New York.  In 1997, at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, he rode Cryptocloser to victory in the Prince of Wales Stakes, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown series.

During his career, Willie Martinez has won riding titles at Tampa Bay Downs, Ellis Park, Turfway Park, Keeneland and Hialeah Park. His nine titles at Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky are more than any other jockey in the track’s history; also at Turfway Park, Martinez rode seven winners on July 6, 1993.

Martinez was the regular rider of multiple Graded stakes winner Brass Hat. He rode the gelding to victory in several important Graded stakes, including the Grade I Donn Handicap on February 4, 2006; on February 2, 2008, the duo went after the Donn again at Gulfstream Park, this time finishing fourth only three lengths behind the winner.

Finish Lines…  Blind River Fox, an eight-year-old Florida-bred son of Foxtrail bred by Adena Springs, owned by Winning Stables, Don Louderbeck and Partick Scanlon and trained by Gerald Bennett, set a new track record for the five furlong main track distance today under jockey Ronne Allen, Jr. Blind River Fox traveled the five panels in :57.04, besting the old record set by Arion Fair 28 years ago.

Jockey Daniel Centeno notched three wins on Wednesday’s card, giving him 81 wins through 58 days of racing at the Oldsmar oval.  Centeno got his first victory aboard Hoho Tow, a nine-year-old Florida-bred Demaloot Demashoot gelding under the care of Barbara McBride for owner Ronald Burch.  Centeno stuck again with Vamos a Ver, this time for trainer H. Graham Motion and owner Augustin Stable.  Centeno rounded out his hat trick with Count Catamount in the evening’s closer. The Langfuhr gelding is owned by Crossed Sabres Farm and conditioned by Seth Benzel.

Racing resumes March 11 with a 10-race card; there is a Pick Six carryover of $1,207.

ZENYATTA TO ARRIVE AT SANTA ANITA THURSDAY

ARCADIA, Calif. – The countdown to Zenyatta’s 2010 debut is on in earnest. The undefeated Breeders’ Cup Classic winner is set to accept high weight of 127 pounds for Saturday’s Grade I, $250,000 Santa Margarita Handicap, a race the racing world expects will lead to a showdown with Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the $5 million Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park on April 9.

“Zenyatta will leave for Santa Anita tomorrow after training and school Thursday afternoon,” trainer John Shirreffs said Wednesday from his Hollywood Park headquarters. “She’s doing well and we’re looking forward to the race.” Zenyatta is scheduled to arrive at Santa around 11 a.m.

HRTV will present a special one-hour live show Saturday featuring the 2010 debuts of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, who will seek her 15th straight victory in the Santa Margarita at 1 1/8 miles.

Entitled “The Champions Return,” the HRTV show will be hosted by Scott Hazelton and Gary Stevens, who will be live at the Fair Grounds for Rachel Alexandra’s race, the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies’ Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. It will go as the 10th race at approximately 3:15 p.m. The Santa Margarita will be Santa Anita’s seventh race with a probable post time of 3:40 p.m.

Zenyatta worked six furlongs Friday at her Hollywood Park headquarters in 1:11.80, breezing. She will be making her first start since her dramatic last-to-first victory against males in the mile and a quarter Classic, in which she carried 123 pounds. Her highest impost was 129 pounds, which she carried to victory by 2 1/2 lengths in the Grade I Vanity Handicap at Hollywood on June 27 last year.

Second starting high weight in the Santa Margarita under 115 pounds is La Canada Stakes winner Striking Dancer.

Zenyatta, a charismatic 6-year-old daughter of Street Cry, has earned $5,474,580 for owners Jerry and Ann Moss.

Although Zenyatta finished second to Rachel Alexandra for Horse of the Year honors, she lost no stature with trainer A.C. Avila, who entered Made for Magic in the Santa Margarita. “It’s true she’s not Horse of the Year,” Avila said. “To me, she’s Horse of the Decade.” As for anyone upsetting Zenyatta Saturday, Avila offered little hope. “It’s impossible to beat the monster,” he said.

The field for the Santa Margarita: Dance to My Tune, Martin Garcia, 111; Pretty Katherine, Joel Rosario, 111; Made for Magic, Omar Berrio, 111; Pretty Unusual, Chantal Sutherland, 113; Striking Dancer, Alex Solis, 115; Powerofvoodoo, Tyler Kaplan, 108; Gripsholm Castle, Victor Espinoza, 112; Zenyatta, Mike Smith, 127; and Floating Heart, Joe Talamo, 111.

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra returned to the track Wednesday morning for an easy gallop three days prior to her 4-year-old debut in Saturday’s $200,000 New Orleans Ladies. On Tuesday, the Medaglia d’Oro filly walked the shed row in trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn, the normal routine on the morning following a workout. Wednesday’s exercise came over a fast track on a breezy morning with temperatures in the low-60s.

“She came out at 6:20, turned and went the right way, then galloped about three-quarters of a mile,” said Fair Grounds clocker Billy Pettingill, who has observed Rachel Alexandra’s progression on a near-daily basis since the filly arrived at Fair Grounds in late November. “It was pretty easy. Then they picked her up with the pony and she was off the track at 6:28. They didn’t even gallop her a whole round, they just let her stretch her legs a little bit. They turned her loose about the three-eighths pole and she went from there, through the stretch, and back to about the five-eighths pole. Scott (Blasi, assistant trainer) picked her up and they let her jog out a little bit, then turned around and went off. She looked terrific.”

Aboard for the exercise was Dominic Terry, who continues to elicit praise from Rachel Alexandra’s connections as well as observers for his deft handling of a strong filly who has been eager to run this winter. “Dominic, man, he’s got her down pat,” Pettingill said, “she just about does whatever he needs her to do.”

New Orleans Ladies Post at 5:15 p.m. CST Coordinated to Fit with Zenyatta’s Santa Margarita
Saturday’s $200,000 New Orleans Ladies featuring Rachel Alexandra is Race 10 on Fair Grounds’ 11-race program and will go off at 5:15 p.m. CST, a time that was set in cooperation with Santa Anita Park, where Champion Older Female Zenyatta will make her 2010 debut in the Grade I Santa Margarita at 5:40 p.m. CST.

“Everyone involved agreed it would be best to have both races within the same hour,” said Fair Grounds Vice President and General Manager Eric Halstrom. “There is such intense interest in these two great females and we want to make it easy for racing fans all over the country to see both of them run.”

Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta are expected to meet April 9 in the Grade I Apple Blossom Invitational, a race that would be worth $5 million if both superstars start.

Undercard Races Offer Quality Horses and Good Betting

Saturday’s New Orleans Ladies is the highlight of a very good overall card, with 105 horses entered for 10 other races, an average of more than 10 entrants per race. Two top-quality allowance contests for older horses at 1 1/16 miles, one on the main track and the other on turf, feature several stakes regulars. The dirt race, set as Race 6, includes Secret Getaway, second to Macho Again in last year’s Grade II New Orleans Handicap; Coragil Cat, a multiple Arlington Park stakes winner; and King Dan, last year’s Texas Mile runner-up. The turf race, carded as Race 9, features graded stakes winners Gran Estreno and Free Fighter.

NEW ORLEANS LADIES AND RACHEL ALEXANDRA FACTS AND FIGURES

Horse of the Year Winners at Fair Grounds

Rachel Alexandra is only the second reigning Horse of the Year to run at Fair Grounds, joining Whirlaway, who won the 1942 Louisiana Handicap. The other two Horse of the Year winners to have run at Fair Grounds were John Henry, the great gelding who raced in Louisiana many years before he evolved into a two-time Horse of the Year (1981 and 1984), and Mineshaft, who won two races at Fair Grounds en route to being named Horse of the Year in 2003.

Champions at Fair Grounds

Rachel Alexandra became the 28th Thoroughbred Racing Champion and/or Hall of Fame inductee (the awarding of year-end championships began in 1936) to have run at Fair Grounds when she was awarded Horse of the Year and Champion Three-Year-Old Filly for 2009.

*Enshrined in Thoroughbred Racing’s Hall of Fame

Horse (Owner, Breeder, Trainer)—Listing is chronological

Pan Zareta* (J. Marrone, J.F. Newman, J.C. Kirkpatrick)—Hall of Fame filly won 76 times in 151 starts, including five wins carrying 140 pounds or more. Won four races at Fair Grounds in 1916.

Mar-Kell (Calumet Farm, Calumet Farm, Ben Jones)—Champion Handicap Mare in 1943 won three races at Fair Grounds in 1943, including the Washington’s Birthday Handicap.

Mioland (C.S. Howard, H.W. Ray, J.H. Stotler)—Champion Handicap Male of 1941 won once in four starts at Fair Grounds in 1943.

Miss Request (Mrs. B.F. Whitaker, Ben F. Whitaker, J.P. Conway)—Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 1948 won two allowance races at Fair Grounds that year and started at Fair Grounds three more times in 1949.

Whirlaway* (Calumet Farm, Calumet Farm, Ben Jones)—Horse of the Year in 1941 and 1942, Triple Crown winner and Champion Three-Year-Old Male of 1941 and Champion Handicap Horse of 1942 won the 1942 Louisiana Handicap at Fair Grounds.

Grecian Queen (Mrs. B.F. Whitaker, Ben F. Whitaker, J.P. Conway)—Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 1953 made her debut in 1952 as a 2-year-old at Fair Grounds, finishing fourth in a maiden special weight.

King Commander (Mrs. L.R. Troiano, Mrs. Joe W. Brown, E.E. Weymouth)—Champion Steeplechaser of 1954 won once in seven starts at Fair Grounds during the 1951-52 season.

Fast Attack (Har-Bar Ranch, Elcee-H Breeding Farms, Harry Wells)—Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 1969 began her career with four starts at Fair Grounds, including a debut maiden special weight win, in 1969.

Furl Sail (Mrs. E.K. Thomas, Mrs. E.K. Thomas, J. Winans)—Champion 3-Year-Old Filly of 1967 began her career with three starts at Fair Grounds, including a debut maiden special weight win, in 1966. Won three straight at Fair Grounds in 1967, including the Thelma Stakes and the Fair Grounds Oaks.

Chou Croute (Folsom Farms and Jones Jr., E.V. Benjamin III & William G. Clark, B. Dunham)—Champion Sprinter of 1972 won 13 of her first 14 races, including her first two at Fair Grounds in 1970 and another at Fair Grounds in 1971.

Davona Dale* (Calumet Farm, Calumet Farm, John Veitch)—Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 1979 won her only start at Fair Grounds, the 1979 Debutante, by seven lengths.

Smart Angle (Ryehill Farm, Ryeholl Farm, Woody Stephens)—Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 1979 finished second by a head in her only start at Fair Grounds, the 1980 Fair Grounds Oaks.

Top Bid (Mrs. Ogden Phipps, Wheatley Stable, D.M. Smithwick)—Champion Steeplechaser of 1970 finished sixth in the 1967 Louisiana Derby.

Before Dawn (Calumet Farm, Calumet Farm, John Veitch)—Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 1981 won the 1982 Fair Grounds Oaks by 2 1/2 lengths.

John Henry* (Dotsam Stable, Golden Chance Farm, Ron McAnally)—Two-time Horse of the Year (1981 and 1984, long after competing in Louisiana), racing’s most accomplished gelding started his career at Jefferson Downs and Evangeline Downs before coming to Fair Grounds, where he was winless in nine starts during the 1977-78 season.

Risen Star (Louie Roussel III & Lamarque Stable, Arthur Hancock III & Leone J. Peters, Louie Roussel III)—Champion Three-Year-Old of 1988, winner of that year’s Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, started his career at Louisiana Downs before making five starts at Fair Grounds during the 1987-88 season, including four wins: two allowance races, the Derby Trial and the Louisiana Derby.

Tiffany Lass (Aaron Jones, Aaron Jones, Laz Barrera)—Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 1986 won the first eight starts of her career, including four at Fair Grounds in her championship year: an allowance, the Thelma Stakes, the Davona Dale Stakes and the Fair Grounds Oaks.

Answer Lively (John Franks, John Franks, Bobby Barnett)—Champion Two-Year-Old Male of 1998 raced three times at Fair Grounds as a 3-year-old, finishing second in both the Risen Star Stakes and Louisiana Derby.

Flat Top (Mrs. Henry Gerry, Landon Knight, Janet Elliot)—Champion Steeplechaser of 1998 and 2002 started his career in flat races, finishing eighth in his debut in a 1996 Fair Grounds maiden special weight.

Real Quiet (Mike Pegram, Little Hill Farm, Bob Baffert)—Champion Three-Year-Old Male of 1998 started his 4-year-old campaign with a second-place finish in the 1999 New Orleans Handicap.

Silverbulletday* (Mike Pegram, Little Hill Farm, Bob Baffert)—Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 1999 won that year’s Fair Grounds Oaks by three lengths before going on to win the Kentucky Oaks and four Grade I races overall.

Smoke Glacken (Kerkenny & Levy & Roberts, Perry Rosebrock, Henry Carroll)—Champion Sprinter of 1997 started his 3-year-old season in 1997 with a win in the Black Gold Handicap before finishing third in the Louisiana Derby.

War Emblem (The Thoroughbred Corporation, Charles Nuckols Jr. & Sons, Bob Baffert)—Champion Three-Year-Old Male of 2002 won an allowance race at Fair Grounds in 2001 and raced in the Lecomte Stakes and Risen Star Stakes before capturing the first two legs of the Triple Crown.

Mineshaft (Owners and breeders Will Farish, James Elkins Jr, & Temple Webber Jr., trainer Neil Howard)—Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male in 2003 won three of four starts at Fair Grounds during the 2002-2003 season, including the Diplomat Way Handicap and the New Orleans Handicap.

Ashado (Starlight Stable, Paul Saylor and Martin Johns; Aaron U. Jones and Marie D. Jones; Todd Pletcher)—Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 2004 and Champion Older Female of 2005 won the 2004 Fair Grounds Oaks by 3 ¾ lengths.

Indian Blessing (Hal and Patti Earnhardt, Hal and Patti Earnhardt, Bob Baffert)—Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 2007 and Champion Female Sprinter of 2008 won the 2008 Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds before finishing second to Proud Spell in the Fair Grounds Oaks.

Proud Spell (Brereton Jones, Brereton Jones, Larry Jones)—Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 2008 finished second to Indian Blessing in the 2008 Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds before winning the Fair Grounds Oaks.

Rachel Alexandra (Stonestreet Stables & Harold McCormick, Dolphus Morrison, Steve Asmussen)—Horse of the Year and Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 2009 won that year’s Fair Grounds Oaks en route to a historic campaign in which she won the Kentucky Oaks, the Preakness and five other stakes races. She defeated male horses in Grade I races three times that year, in the Preakness, the Haskell Invitational and the Woodward.

New Orleans Ladies Field Statistics

Career records: Rachel Alexandra, 14-11-2-0; Rest of field combined, 67-19-12-6.

Career earnings: Rachel Alexandra, $2,948,354; Rest of field combined, $1,044,097.

Cumulative career earnings of New Orleans Ladies field: $3,992,451.

About the Race Name

The inspiration for the race name New Orleans Ladies comes from the 1978 song of the same title. Written by Hoyt Garrick & Leon Medica and originally recorded by Louisiana’s LeRoux, the South Louisiana rock band that still tours the country, “New Orleans Ladies” was a smash hit regionally.

Louisiana’s LeRoux was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in October. “New Orleans Ladies” was named “New Orleans Song of the Century” in a 1999 Gambit Weekly readers’ poll, beating out more widely known hits, including “Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?”

(Edited Gulfstream Park report)

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Zayat Stable’s Eskendereya, 8 ½ lengths winner of the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 20, is among 92 3-year-olds nominated for the $750,000 Florida Derby (G1) to be run at 1 1/8 miles on Sat., Mar. 20, and trainer Todd Pletcher has confirmed it is the next logical start for his promising colt.

The 59th edition of the Florida Derby will highlight the biggest day of racing annually on the South Florida calendar and will also include renewals of the $150,000 Swale Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs, $200,000 Bonnie Miss Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles, $150,000 Rampart Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles and $100,000 Appleton Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 7 ½ furlongs on turf.

Eskendereya’s tour de force victory in the Fountain of Youth under regular rider John Velazquez sent him soaring in most Top 10 Kentucky Derby contender rankings nationwide and will be a solid favorite if he goes to the post. The son of Giant’s Causeway is one of more than a dozen of the nominees from the Pletcher arsenal and had won a one-mile allowance over the track prior to the Fountain of Youth.

In addition to Eskendereya, the probable/possible field for the Florida Derby currently includes IEAH Stables and partners’ Radiohead, Flying Zee Stables and partners’ Pulsion, Robert LaPenta’s Ice Box, Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Pleasant Prince, Donald Dizney’s First Dude and Kuehne Stable’s Game On Dude.

The Bonnie Miss is the filly companion event to the Florida Derby that often yields leading contenders for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) run the day before the Derby at Churchill Downs. Leading prospects include IEAH Stable’s Amen Hallelujah, 6 ¼ lengths winner of the Davona Dale Stakes (G2) here on Feb. 27 for trainer Rick Dutrow; and Michael Imperio’s impressive allowance winner Christine Daae, trained by Patrick Biancone. 

Two contenders listed for the Swale include Paul Pompa, Jr.’s D’Funnybone, winner of the Saratoga Special (G2) and The Futurity (G2) at Belmont Park last year and the Hutcheson Stakes (G2) over the track and distance earlier this meet for trainer Rick Dutrow; and Edward P. Evans’ A Little Warm, winner of the Spectacular Bid Stakes in early January and runner-up in the Hutcheson for trainer Anthony Dutrow.

The Rampart is the biggest prize of the winter season for older fillies and mares on the main track with nominees including Donver Stable’s Careless Jewel, winner of five straight last year including the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga by 11 lengths for trainer Josie Carroll; and West Point Thoroughbreds’ Justwhistledixie, winner of the Bonnie Miss over the track and distance last year.

Completing the stakes line-up for Florida Derby day will be the Appleton with J. Mack Robinson’s Cherokee Artist and Farnsworth Stable’s Jet Propulsion prominent on the roster after finishing second and third last out, respectively, behind Dubai-bound Courageous Cat in the Canadian Turf Stakes (G3) here on Feb. 20.

It is tempting to reach the conclusion that neither the Gotham nor the Sham informs the Kentucky Derby conversation to any great degree, but I suggest that one not ignore either race.  The winner in the Gotham, Awesome Act, was making his first start on dirt and his first start of 2010.  He did go off as the favorite in the race, answered some questions, and left us with one nagging one to ponder.  Alphie’s Bet joined Caracortado as the second colt bred in California to appear to have a legitimate chance at excelling at the classic distances.

The Gotham

Trainer Wayne Lukas shipped Wow Wow Wow to Aqueduct and undoubtedly told Cory Nakitani to take him to the front.  He did just that, leading through opening fractions of 22.85 and 46.60 seconds before fading badly to finish eighth.  Peppi Knows also raced close to that pace before fading.  Three Day Rush stalked nicely, took the lead at the top of the stretch, but was overtaken by the eventual winner.  Yawanna Twist followed Awesome Act in rallying past the leaders down the stretch and actually closed ground on the winner in the final 100 yards.  Now we are left to decide whether Julien Leparoux geared Awesome Act down and skillfully measured each step of the race to leave plenty in the tank of the victor.  The other possibility is that the horse was tiring.  After watching the replay several times I am ready to give the benefit of the doubt to Awesome Act and Leparoux, thus making this relatively easy win one to be described as “convincing.”  He will face much tougher in his next race which most likely will be the Grade 1 Wood Memorial.

The Sham

One thing is for certain; when the ProRide is wet the times will be fast.  Alphie’s Bet stopped the timer for nine furlongs in the Sham in 1:48.72, a time slightly faster than the impressive win by Eskendereya in the Fountain of Youth.  That said, it is important to remember where the track bias goes at Santa Anita when the synth is moist.

Last winter at Santa Anita, virtually every prep race for the Kentucky Derby lacked pace.  On Saturday, the raw numbers indicate a better and more legitimate pace which was set by El Mirage King and Nextdoorneighbor.  The leaders covered the first six furlongs in 1:12.22, and for the most part they faded badly when the running started in the final turn and home stretch. The Program was the first to strike the lead heading into the stretch, but that lead was short lived as Alphie’s Bet under a full head of steam overtook The Program and headed to the wire unchallenged.

A couple of weeks ago, Ron Correll, our leader here at Tracksideview.com, suggested to me that if you liked Caracortado you probably should like Alphie’s Bet.  That turned out to be very good advice.  It is important to remember that the Sham was postponed, a fact that could have negatively impacted some in the field.  Nextdoorneighbor appeared to be very fresh on the lead, so we may give him another chance.  The Program looks to me to be a miler, but I anticipate we will see him in another Derby prep race.  Setsuko rallied to finish second, and that effort should earn him a spot in the Santa Anita Derby.  The ones from this field that go on to that race will step up into better company unless other top West Coast colts follow Lookin At Lucky eastward.

Look Ahead

On Feb. 13 we can look forward to the Tampa Bay Derby, The Rebel, and the San Felipe.  We will see Noble’s Promise, Super Saver and Lookin At Lucky for the first time this year.

Top Ten

Lookin At Lucky, Eskendereya, Caracortado, Discreetly Mine, Rule, Conveyance, Sidney’s Candy, Buddy’s Saint, Super Saver, Tempted to Tapit

This list is certain to change after racing this week.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas may be sitting in the catbird seat at Oaklawn this weekend as he send two of the stars of his heralded barn postward as main contenders for honors in Saturday’s $300,000 Rebel Stakes and Sunday’s $125,000 Honeybee Stakes.  Both races are scheduled for a mile-and-a-sixteenth and should label the winners as among the elite from the three-year-old crop.

Heading Lukas’s colts and gelding is Dublin, a son of Afleet Alex and second place finisher in the recent Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn.  The chestnut runner was flying at the end of the one mile Southwest and just failed to catch the undefeated winner, Conveyance.  Winner of the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga last summer, Dublin has been highly-regarded ever since and is expected to improve with distance.  His Southwest Stakes effort came on the heels of surgery for an entrapped epiglottis and gave trainer Lukas plenty of confidence that the colt is on the right track to Triple Crown success.  He continues to train brilliantly and will be tough to handle on Saturday.

Saturday’s race will be a major test for Dublin, since he will likely do battle with two or three of the most highlyly-respected members of the three-year-old crop.  Amont those expected for Saturday’s Rebel are Watson, Pegram and Weltman’s champion two-year-old Lookin At Lucky, Chasing Dreams Racing 2008’s Noble’s Promise and WinStar Farm’s Super Saver, all considered among the top ten Triple Crown prospects.

Lookin At Lucky comes from the barn of trainer Bob Baffert, who has scored with both of the horses he has sent to Oaklawn for stakes events this far this year, Conveyance in the Southwest and Freedom Star in the Azeri.  The bay son of Smart Strike, who also sired former Oaklawn champion Curlin, has won five of six outings, losing only in a photo to Vale Of York in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. Baffert has expressed a desire to give the winner of $1,243,000 a chance to prove himself on conventional dirt, since all his previous efforts have been on synthetic tracks.  Champion jockey Garrett Gomez, a former regular at Oaklawn, will be anticipated back in the saddle for Looking At Lucky on Saturday.

Noble’s Promise, trained by another former Oaklawn regular, Ken McPeek, has hopes of gaining a measure of revenge, having suffered losses in his last two races to Lookin At Lucky.  The bay son of Cuvee followed a win in Keeneland’s Breeders’ Futurity Stakes with a third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, then second to Lookin At Lucky in Hollywood Park’s Cash Call Futurity.  His record now shows three wins from six starts and earnings of $733,500.  However, like Lookin At Lucky, all his success has been on synthetic tracks, so trainer McPeek is seeking out a good test on a conventional dirt track prior to his assault on the Triple Crown.

On the other hand Super Saver, from the strong barn of trainer Todd Pletcher, has enjoyed dirt track success, thanks to a win in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs in November.  The speedy son of Maria’s Mon has earnings of $171,232, so he will likely need to win one of the remaining preps to amass enough earnings to get a chance to start in the Kentucky Derby.

While Lukas anticipates a big effort from Dublin on Saturday, he is also anticipating some success with Westrock Stable’s Decelerator in Sunday’s Honeybee.  Decelerator returned to the winner’s circle in the one mile Martha Washington Stakes on February 13.  The daughter of Dehere had been runner-up in three consecutive stakes, Churchill’s Goldenrod and Pocahontas, followed by Oaklawn’s Dixie Belle, prior to her one-length score in the Martha Washington.  Decelerator is a versatile sort, but has done her best running from off the pace.

Peter Callahan’s Beautician, a shipper from Florida for trainer Ken McPeek, may be her most serious opposition.  Beautician finished second to champion She Be Wild in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Stakes.  Like Decelerator, Beautician is a daughter of Dehere and likes to do her best running from off the pace.

If he chooses to, Lukas could send out Westrock Stable’s Tidal Pool for the Honeybee.  Tidal Pool opened local eyes with a brilliant one mile allowance win at Oaklawn on February 18, getting the distance in 1:36 2/5, equal to Rachel Alexandra’s winning time in the 2009 Martha Washington Stakes.  Tidal Pool has exceptional speed and could be the kind of late-developer who might come along just in time to win the major races for her division.

Tim Ritchey can be expected to saddle Bean Counter Stables speedy Eve Giselle for the Honeybee and the daughter of Five Star Day has enough speed and quality to go wire-to-wire to victory.  She was with the leaders all the way before falling to second behind Decelerator in the Martha Washington.  She won her previous three starts and may just improve with racing.

On Saturday fans will also enjoy the annual Boat and Truck Giveaway.  One lucky patron will leave with a Tahoe Deckboat from Bradford Marine, along with a pickup truck to take it to the water.  Oaklawn will also be showing the Apple Blossom Invitational prep races for both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta on Saturday afternoon.  Those races will be shown on closed circuit monitors throughout the grandstand as well as on the infield videoboard.  Weather permitting, the infield area will be open to the public on Saturday afternoon.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – It makes perfect sense that Calder Casino & Race Course – owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated – will host a “Road to the Kentucky Derby” promotion this spring as well as “South Florida’s Biggest Kentucky Derby Party” on May 1.   Calder’s promotion will focus on four key prep races for the Derby and feature expert handicapping analysis, food and beverage specials, half-priced Daily Racing Forms, a scratch-off game, and drawings for prizes – including a trip to this year’s Kentucky Derby.

Calder invites racing fans to enjoy a live analysis of four major Derby prep races by renowned handicapper Toby Callet, free coffee and donuts, a free handicapping sheet, a “Novice Corner “ for those new to racing, and chances to win some great prizes. 

Held in the Winner’s Edge Room on the second floor of the grandstand, these events will be held on March 20 (Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park in Florida), March 27 (Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in Louisiana), April 3 (Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park in California), and April 10 (Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas).  The time for each event is 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and admission is free.

Guests will have a chance to win the Grand Prize of a trip for two to the 2010 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.  Entry blanks are part of Calder’s “Road to the Kentucky Derby” scratch-off game and need to be submitted by 5 p.m. on April 10, the day of the drawing.  The trip for two includes airfare, hotel and tickets to the world’s most legendary horse race, the Kentucky Derby.

Calder Twin Spires Club members will receive scratch-off promo cards in the mail; guests who sign up for free membership in the Twin Spires Club for the first time at the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” events will also receive a scratch-off card.  Hats, racing programs and mutuel vouchers are among the instant prizes of the promotion.  The Twin Spires Club is the player reward program of Churchill Downs and its family of racetracks and membership is free.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby series at Calder culminates with the South Florida’s Biggest Kentucky Derby party on May 1. VIPDerbyVillage packages for groups of 25 or more are available and range from an outdoor BBQ to upscale parties.

Calder Casino & Race Course is conveniently located at 21001 NW 27 Avenue in Miami Gardens, just north of Sun Life Stadium.

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Based on her unprecedented success as a 3-year-old filly last year, Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra has been installed as the prohibitive 1-5 morning-line choice when she faces four female rivals in Fair Grounds’ inaugural running of the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies this Saturday in the super filly’s first start of the 2010 racing season.

The Ladies will be contested at 1 1/16-miles over the main track at the historic Crescent City oval – the same venue where Rachel Alexandra underlined her initial 2009 success with a facile 1 3/4-length win in the Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks a year ago. It will go at 5:15 p.m. CST as Race 10 on an 11-race program with first post set for 12:40 p.m. CST.

Following her score in the 2009 Fair Grounds Oaks, Rachel Alexandra journeyed to Hot Springs, Ark., where she captured the Grade II Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park. After that, it was on to Churchill Downs, where she became the fourth of the last five Fair Grounds Oaks winners to go on and capture the Grade I Kentucky Oaks. However, her win under the Twin Spires was by 20 1/4-lengths with a dominant performance on the day before the Kentucky Derby.

That Kentucky Oaks win proved to be the genesis of a private sale to Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Stable and his partner Harold McCormick, who redirected her campaign under their trainer Steve Asmussen toward a start against male rivals in the Grade I Preakness as the middle jewel of the 2009 Triple Crown. There she beat Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird by a length on May 16.

Back in against members of her own sex June 27 at Belmont Park, Rachel Alexandra was dominant again in the Grade I Mother Goose, winning by 19 1/4-lengths, a performance that set up a challenge against older males in the Grade I Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park Aug. 2. That time she defeated Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird by six lengths, setting up her final start of the year – again against older males in Saratoga’s Grade I Woodward Stakes – where she withstood last year’s Grade II New Orleans Handicap winner Macho Again by a head at the wire.

Her opponents Saturday in the New Orleans Ladies, where she will be ridden once again by regular rider Calvin Borel, are headed by Arnold Zetcher’s Brazilian-bred Zardana, fourth in Santa Anita Park’s Grade II Santa Maria Handicap on Feb. 13 but winner of Hollywood Park’s Grade II Bayakoa Handicap before that. She will be ridden by Southern California jockey David Flores and is pegged at 5-1 in the morning line.

Next in the morning line odds in the New Orleans Ladies at 6-1 is Coteau Grove Farms’ Clear Sailing, heroine of Fair Grounds’ $60,000 Pelleteri Stakes Feb. 13 and a winner by 8 3 /4-lengths here before that in a first-level allowance race Jan. 17. Shane Sellers retains the mount.

Completing the New Orleans Ladies field is a pair of 15-1 long shots – Robert Adams’ Unforgotten, seventh in the Sunshine Millions Distaff at last asking Jan. 30 who will have Miguel Mena aboard; and Jim Tafel’s Fighter Wing, second behind Clear Sailing in the Pelleteri. She will have Corey Lanerie astride.

Complete Field

Here’s the complete field for the inaugural running of the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies, for fillies and mares, four-year-olds and upward, at 1 1/16 miles, from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds): Fighter Wing (Corey Lanerie, Greg Geier, 15-1); Rachel Alexandra (Calvin Borel, Steve Asmussen, 1-5); Zardana (David Flores, John Shirreffs, 5-1); Unforgotten (Miguel Mena, Dallas Stewart, 15-1); and Clear Sailing (Shane Sellers, Glenn Delahoussaye, 6-1).

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Lloyd Madison Farms IV’s Valentine Fever, allowed to settle behind the early leaders in Monday’s Fair Grounds $44,500 feature, threaded through those with a well-judged ride by jockey Francisco Torres to win the sprint for accredited Louisiana-bred fillies and mares at about five and a half furlongs over the Stall-Wilson turf course by a head.

Trained by Greg Foley, the 5-year-old mare toured the distance in the course rated firm in 1:04.77, returned mutuels of $22, $9.40 and $5.60 and increased her career earnings to $224,969 with her fifth career victory in 21 lifetime starts.

Richard, Bertram and Elaine Klein’s Knockout Bertie, who pressed the pace but was carried wide on the turn, recovered to be second best by a half-length but could not catch the winner. That Distorted Humor filly paid $4.20 and $3.40.

L. T. B. Inc. and Hillerich Racing’s More of the Best took the lead at the top of the stretch but weakened to finish third, returning $6.

Gainesway Stable’s Ocean Colors set the early fractions of 22.40 and 46.72 before tiring to fourth at the wire.

Racing resumes Friday at Fair Grounds with a 10-race program beginning at 1:10 p.m.