Horse Racing News
Feb 22, 2012
TBHS Prepares for KY Horse Park Show By Blood-Horse Staff
Kentucky Horse Park
Entries are being taken for the inaugural show for off-the-track Thoroughbreds conducted by the Thoroughbred Horse Show Association April 14-15 at the Kentucky Horse Park.
The TBHS Spring Show is geared for Thoroughbreds just starting their show careers with entry-level divisions in multiple disciplines, including dressage, combined training, hunter/jumper, and competitive trail riding. TBHS will hold a second show at the Horse Park Oct. 6-7, and is working with rescue organizations and others to hold additional events.
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Feb 22, 2012
Woodbine 2012 Stakes Schedule Unveiled
Woodbine, Canada
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Feb 21, 2012
Secret Circle Gives Baffert a Southwest Sweep
Oaklawn Park
A game Secret Circle outdueled Scatman in the stretch to win the second division of the $250,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) (VIDEO) , giving trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Rafael Bejarano a sweep of the President’s Day features at Oaklawn Park.
JEOG Racing’s Scatman jumped out to an early lead in the two-turn mile contest for 3-year-olds but was soon joined closely by Secret Circle, the 3-5 favorite who was making his second start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint at the end of his 2011 season.
After Scatman and jockey Luis Quinonez led through a quick pace of :46.81 for the first half-mile, Bejarano and Secret Circle engaged the leader and those two dueled to the wire, with Secret Circle getting up to win by a facile half length. More info...
Feb 21, 2012
Dutrow Duo Tops in General George
Laurel, MD
Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. got an inkling of how good he has it when his charges Yawanna Twist and This Ones for Phil finished one-two in the General George Handicap (gr. II) (VIDEO) on the Feb. 20 President’s Day card at Laurel.
Yawanna Twist, the 9-5 favorite, defeated his stablemate by a half length in the seven-furlong race to take home the winner’s share of the $200,000 purse for 3-year-olds and up. Yawanna Twist banked $120,000 for New York breeder/owner Steel Your Face Stables, and This Ones for Phil earned $40,000 for the partnership of Paul Pompa Jr., Jack Mandato, and Cast of Characters. The victory was the first in a stakes for Yawanna Twist, who finished fourth in the 2010 Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
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Feb 21, 2012
City to City Up In Time in the Buena Vista Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/67571/city-to-city-up-in-time-in-the-buena-vista#ixzz1n1azQvr1
Santa Anita, CA
City to City didn’t let being the beaten favorite in her two previous starts get in the way of her going all out in the Buena Vista Handicap (gr. IIT) (VIDEO) on Santa Anita President’s Day card Feb. 20.
The 5-year-old City Zip mare got up to win in a driving finish by a head over Up In Time, with Wild Mia finishing third. City to City covered the one mile on turf in 1:34.19 to win for owners William DeBurgh, Dr. Mark Dedomenico, and Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
The victory was City to City’s fourth stakes win and the mare’s first since she captured the Palomar Handicap (gr. IIT) at Del Mar last summer.
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Feb 20, 2012
El Padrino Heads 11-Horse Field in Risen Star
Gulfstream, Florida
El Padrino, who showed himself to be a Triple Crown contender with a sharp allowance win at Gulfstream Park Jan. 29, heads a field of 11 entered for the $300,000 Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) at Fair Grounds Feb. 25.
The 1 1/16-mile test of 3-year-olds is the headliner on a stakes-filled card at the New Orleans track. It is the final major prep before the $1 million Louisiana Derby (gr. I) April 1.
The Louisiana Derby Preview program also includes the $200,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (g. III) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles, the $125,000 Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. III) for older horses at nine furlongs on turf, and the $125,000 Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) at 1 1/16 miles.
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Feb 20, 2012
Drill Digs Deep in San Vicente Stakes Duel
Santa Anita
Rebounding from four consecutive disappointing efforts, Drill won the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) (VIDEO) by a desperate nose over a determined American Act Feb. 19 at Santa Anita. Creative Cause finished third as the odds-on favorite.
Trainer Bob Baffert, picking up steam as the spring season approaches, earned his seventh victory in the San Vicente with Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman's Drill. Baffert, who captured the seven-furlong test for 3-year-olds last year with The Factor, won three races at Santa Anita Feb. 18 and with both of his entries Sunday. More info...
Feb 20, 2012
Union Rags Ready for Fountain of Youth
Gulfstream Park, Florida
Union Rags signaled his readiness for next Sunday’s Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park when he breezed four furlongs in :48 4/5 Feb. 19 at Palm Meadows Training Center.
The Michael Matz-trained 3-year-old colt broke from the starting gate shortly after 7 a.m.
“He did it easy and galloped out fine,” said Matz, who trains the colt for Phyllis M. Wyeth. “He’s ready to go. Other than running in a race, he’s as ready as he could possibly be.”
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Feb 20, 2012
R Holiday Mood determined winner of Hurricane Bertie Stakes
Gulfstream, Florida
R Holiday Mood battled gamely in the stretch to turn back determined runner-up Funny Sunny for a neck victory in the $150,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes (G2) on Sunday at Gulfstream Park.
A three-time stakes winner, R Holiday Mood went right to the lead and showed courage late to earn her first career graded stakes victory in the Hurricane Bertie.
The four-year-old Trippi filly entered off another battle at Gulfstream Park on January 8, when she finished in a dead heat for first with Delightful Mary in the one-mile Ocala Stakes.
“She’s just a little battler,” winning rider John Velazquez said after the Hurricane Bertie. “She gives you everything she has every step of the way. I’m very proud of her.” More info...
Feb 20, 2012
Daddy Nose Best by a whisker in El Camino Real Derby
Southern California shipper Daddy Nose Best edged East Coast shipper Lucky Chappy (Ire) by a nose after a thrilling battle through the final furlong of a memorable edition of the El Camino Real Derby (G3) on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.
Grade 3-placed Daddy Nose Best dug in determinedly late and just would not let Lucky Chappy overtake him in the El Camino Real Derby, nailing down his first career stakes victory for trainer Steve Asmussen and owners Bob and Cathy Zollars.
Julien Leparoux made the trip west to ride Daddy Nose Best for his synthetic surface debut, and the 2009 Eclipse Award winner as outstanding jockey made the long journey worthwhile in Northern California’s top Triple Crown prep race. Leparoux rated Daddy Nose Best, a bay colt from the first crop of Scat Daddy, in fifth through a half-mile in :47.57. The winner was blocked in traffic near the quarter pole but split horses to launch his winning bid. More info...
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