LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Theoretically, an inside post is the quickest way to victory.
But in one-turn races, most horsemen prefer an outside post, given a choice. There’s less chance for encumbrances that might be found when trapped in traffic close to the rail, and outside horses often don’t have to stand as long in the starting gate.
Fred Hutton, director of racing for Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M., has been named racing secretary for Sam Houston Race Park in Houston. He will keep his positions at both tracks, which share common ownership in Penn National Gaming.
Zia’s mixed meet closes in December, while Sam Houston opens its Thoroughbred meet Jan. 16 then segues into a Quarter Horse meet March 27.
Declan’s Fast Cat, who was second to Vicar’s in Trouble in the Grade 2, $400,000 Super Derby, could be headed next to either the Oklahoma Derby or the Indiana Derby, said his trainer, Steve Flint. Declan’s Fast Cat closed from last in the Super Derby and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 87.
“I was very pleased with his performance,” said Flint, private trainer for the horse’s owner, the Whispering Oaks Farm operation of Carroll Castille. “I was hoping for a quicker pace, but we didn’t get it. But he gave a good account of himself.”
It was midmorning on June 7, many hours before his horse, California Chrome, was to attempt to become Thoroughbred racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner, and owner Steve Coburn was in the box seats at Belmont Park. Fans below him on the apron were waving and shouting to him, throwing memorabilia his way for him to sign.
“I was signing autographs, talking to people, waving to the crowd – it was a lot of fun,” Coburn recalled this week in a phone interview.
Nates Mineshaft made a name for himself running around two turns, with wins in races such as the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap in 2012. But a powerful effort at one turn in his 7-year-old debut last Saturday night at Remington Park has him under consideration for sprint stakes at the Oklahoma City track and at Keeneland, said his trainer, J.R. Caldwell.
Shared Belief stayed on target for the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita with a six-furlong work Tuesday at Golden Gate Fields.
Shared Belief worked in company in 1:15.20 under Ricardo Gonzalez. The orchestrated workout went just as planned, according to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
“He broke off behind two workmates and finished 10 lengths in front of them,” Hollendorfer said. “He worked real well. He had the fastest work of the day.”
ELMONT, N.Y. – Sweet Reason was one of the top 2-year-old fillies in the nation last year. She is one of the top 3-year-old fillies now. But questions persist concerning possible distance limitations.
On Saturday at Parx Racing, Sweet Reason will be asked to go 1 1/16 miles around two turns as part of a deep field in the Grade 1 Cotillion. The $1 million race will include division leader Untapable.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Wildcat Red worked five furlongs in 1:00.23 with Edgard Zayas aboard after the renovation break here Tuesday in his final local prep for the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby on Sept. 28 at Remington Park.
Wildcat Red posted splits of 23.70 and 35.69 seconds and completed his final quarter in 24.54 while being nudged slightly by Zayas near the wire. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.15.
Wildcat Red finished fifth in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga in his last start. He won the Quality Road here in June and the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth in February.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A familiar face around these parts, multiple stakes winner Sr. Quisqueyano will have a new trainer, Jose Jimenez, when he drops back into allowance company in Thursday’s $40,000 feature at Gulfstream Park.
Sr. Quisqueyano has not won since last October, when he captured the Quality Road overnight stakes here for trainer Luis Olivares. Sr. Quisqueyano was turned over to Jimenez by his owner, DDRD Racing Inc., earlier this month.
