JC / Railbird

Races/Results Archive

Noted: May 15

– Weekend results: “With no impetus other than his own desire, Wanna Runner took possession of Saturday’s $300,000 Lone Star Derby.” At Hollywood Park, Grey Swallow won the Jim Murray by five lengths, and Surf Cat made an amazing move from last to first to win the Mervyn LeRoy. “I saw a lightning flash,” said trainer Bruce Headley. “That was some kind of move.” Jockey Alex Solis had a big day at the track, sweeping all three graded stakes at Hollywood on Saturday.
– Trainer Bob Baffert said neither Point Determined nor Bob and John would run in the Preakness. “I’ll take them back to California on Monday,” said Baffert. “I’ll let [those entered] soften Barbaro up in the Preakness so we can get him in the Belmont.” The defection of Baffert’s duo leaves just six probables (making the likely Preakness field the smallest since 1979), but two others are still being considered for the race: Trainer King Leatherbury may supplement Federico Tesio winner Ah Day to the race, and trainer Steve Klesaris may enter allowance winner Diabolical.
– Hemingway’s Key worked five furlongs in 1:00.2 at the Oklahoma training track on Sunday in preparation for the Preakness. Jeremy Rose has been named to ride the colt, but the jockey may pass: “It’s not 100 percent whether or not we’re going to ride in the Preakness,” said Rose’s agent, Kid Breeden. “Right now it’s at best a 50/50 possibility.”
– The Green Monkey, aka the $16 million colt, worked for the first time on Sunday, breezing three furlongs in :39.4 at Belmont.
– Lost in the Fog could make his next start at Lone Star. Trainer Greg Gilchrist has nominated last year’s champion sprinter for the May 29 Beck Auto Group Turf Sprint. “We’ve always wanted to find a grass race for this horse,” said Gilchrist, “and this race at Lone Star would fit nicely in his schedule.”
– Julien Leparoux may be an apprentice, but he’s also the country’s leading jockey.
– Mid-Atlantic tracks like Delaware Park are growing crowded with Triple Crown race-winning trainers and jockeys. “They have slots, the trainers are getting better, the horses are getting better,” explained jockey Jeremy Rose.

Posted in Races/Results, Triple Crown on May 15, 2006

Weekend Results

– Lost in the Fog finished second to Carthage in the Golden Gate Fields Sprint. “You just have to tip your hat to [Carthage],” said Greg Gilchrist, who trains Lost in the Fog. “You have to give him a lot of credit because he ran a helluva race.” The race was Lost in the Fog’s first start since finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last October. “I wish we could have won it,” said jockey Russell Baze, “but at least we got a race into him.”
– Magnolia Jackson recovered well from a bobbled start to win the Bed o’Roses Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Aqueduct. “What a gritty filly she is,” said trainer Gary Contessa. “Maybe now she’ll get a little respect.” Champion filly Smuggler finished fifth in the race, her first start since winning the Coaching Club Oaks last July. “It was good to get her back going,” said trainer Shug McGaughey.
– The old guy does it again: Proven Cure won the Littlebitlively Stakes at Lone Star Park on Saturday. “This horse amazes me,” said trainer John Locke of the 12-year-old gelding. “There were some very fast horses in there, and he seemed to win easily. He’s just amazing.”
– Proven Cure isn’t the only racetrack veteran to score a victory recently. Stormy Do, a 13-year-old gelding, won his 15th race since turning 10 on Monday at Philadelphia Park. “I don’t know he keeps doing it,” said trainer Jayne Vaders. “I imagine it’s just because he has a big heart.”
– In only his third career start and his first try around two turns, Showing Up won the Lexington Stakes, earning enough for a Kentucky Derby berth.

Posted in Races/Results on April 23, 2006

Rematch in Works

A rematch is on the schedule for Round Pond and Happy Ticket, the one-two finishers in last weekend’s very exciting Azeri Breeders’ Cup at Oaklawn (worth watching in replay if you somehow missed it — Round Pond set the pace, with Happy Ticket testing her every step and even catching her for a second as the pair neared the wire). Both came out of the Azeri in fine form and will make their next starts in the April 8 Apple Blossom Handicap.

Posted in Races/Results on March 15, 2006

Weekend Results & News

– A big crowd of 49,000 turned out to watch former $50,000 claimer Lava Man win the $1 million Big ‘Cap at Santa Anita on Saturday. “It really is a dream come true,” said co-owner Steve Kenly after. “From a claimer to the Big ‘Cap. It’s amazing.” Giacomo finished fifth, with no apparent explanation, other than that the race just didn’t set up for a deep closer like last year’s Kentucky Derby winner.
– Harlington wins the Gulfstream Park Handicap in his stakes debut; Mister Fotis the Richter Scale; and a fresh Wend leads all the way in the Honey Ryder.
– Saturday could have been called “Bobby Frankel Day.” The trainer started 11 horses on the 11-race card, but unfortunately, only went to the winner’s circle once, when First Word won the eighth, an allowance.
– Brother Derek wins the Santa Catalina; Corinthian beats First Samurai in the Fountain of Youth only to be disqualified and placed third for interference; and the field is the favorite in pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. More details, plus weekend workouts, in Derby Watch.

Posted in Races/Results on March 5, 2006