OZONE PARK, N.Y. – By sunset Saturday, Social Inclusion could be the favorite for the Kentucky Derby or he could be a fading memory.
A late-comer to the scene, Social Inclusion has impressed with two eye-catching victories in a 19-day span at Gulfstream Park, including a 10-length victory over the Grade 2 winner Honor Code in a race in which he set a track record of 1:40.97 for 1 1/16 miles.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
Lost in all the hoopla surrounding Florida Derby weekend were the performances of Viva Majorca and Little Daddy, a pair of 3-year-olds with great potential but who were too late to arrive on the scene for the Kentucky Derby picture.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Action Andy shipped down from his winter home at Tampa Bay Downs to dominate a good field of high-priced optional-claiming competition here three weeks ago. He’ll make the four-hour trip back to Gulfstream Park to face a similarly conditioned but seemingly tougher lineup that includes the Grade 3-placed Valid and multiple stakes winner Managed Account in Friday’s $54,500 allowance headliner at seven furlongs.
Testa Rossi heads a field of 13 3-year-old fillies entered in the richest race of the opening three-day weekend at Keeneland, the Grade 1, $500,000 Ashland Stakes on Saturday.
From the rail, this is the field for the 1 1/16-mile Polytrack race: Istandford, Room Service, Macaroon, On the Backstreets, Thank You Marylou, Testa Rossi, Miss Besilu, Rosalind, Candy Kitty, Ireland, Saturday Bliss, Seeking Her Glory, and Resistivity.
Silver Max back in Kentucky
The field for the annual spring marquee at Keeneland, the Grade 1, $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes, is coming up big, with perhaps the 14-horse limit having to be invoked.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Pretty soon you can just call him “Doctor Ramsey.”
Ken Ramsey has been such a phenomenal success as a racehorse owner and businessman that he is being conferred with an honorary doctorate degree.
“I just found out [Tuesday], and it brought tears to my eyes,” Ramsey said this week from his farm in nearby Nicholasville.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – In a move with wide-ranging implications, Keeneland Race Course officials announced Wednesday that their Polytrack surface will be discarded shortly after the spring meet ends April 25 and replaced with a dirt track that will be ready for the fall meet in October.
The decision comes almost eight years after Polytrack was installed as a source of considerable intrigue and controversy at this bastion of tradition. Its elimination furthers the demise of synthetic surfaces for racing purposes in North America.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Fort Erie Race Track will run a 37-day Thoroughbred race meet in 2014 after the Ontario government announced increased funding for the province’s horse-racing industry Monday.
The track will host live racing Sundays and Tuesdays this summer, with opening day scheduled for May 27. The meet will conclude Sept. 30. First post Sundays will be 2 p.m. Eastern, and first post Tuesdays will be 4:15 p.m.
Fort Erie will host the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, on July 29.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Don’t Tell Sophia, who has won two of the three filly and mare route stakes run this meet at Oaklawn, is “50-50” for the Grade 1, $600,000 Apple Blossom on April 11, her co-owner and trainer, Phil Sims, said on Tuesday. Don’t Tell Sophia earlier this season won the Pippin and Bayakoa, was third in last year’s Apple Blossom.
“She’s just had feet issues,” Sims said. “That’s what’s holding us up a little bit.”
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Strong Mandate put in his major work for the Arkansas Derby on Tuesday morning, when he went five furlongs in 1:00.80 under regular exercise rider Alberto Rodriguez. He drilled in the second set after the renovation break, with Oaklawn head clocker Hamilton catching the horse through an opening eighth of a mile in 11.80 seconds, a first quarter in 23.40, and three furlongs in 35.80.
Strong Mandate was joined in the stretch by a stablemate, and the pair worked on to the wire while finishing on even terms.
