CYPRESS, Calif. – It’s easy to look up to Raul Valenzuela Jr., the leading Quarter Horse rider at Los Alamitos this winter.
The 20-year-old jockey stands 5 feet 11 inches, tall for even a Quarter Horse rider who can tack a few more pounds than their Thoroughbred counterparts. Valenzuela, a native of Arizona, rides at 120 pounds and typically has mounts with weight assignments of 124.
Wise Dan, the reigning two-time Horse of the Year, is back on a breeze schedule at Keeneland and is tentatively on target to make his first start as a 7-year-old at his home track.
“We’re a little farther behind compared to last year because of how bad the weather’s been,” trainer Charlie LoPresti said Wednesday by phone from Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. “But if we can make it, we’ll start him off right here. We try to make the spring meet with all our horses.”
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Closer Looks >> |
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| Gifted Ruler |
| Speedy gray moves to the fence while dropping in half in claiming price following another fade in his turf debut; there doesn't look to be much other lick in here so expect this top new pilot to push him hard from the bell; he'll have an added half panel to deal with today and that may not benefit him, but it looks like they'll have to run him down to win. |
Rise Up might make his next start in the Louisiana Derby, trainer Tom Amoss said, despite finishing seventh in the Risen Star, his first start since a comfortable win in the Nov. 23 Delta Downs Jackpot.
“I’m in a tough position because he’s a three-time winner and there are no allowance races for him right now,” Amoss said.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
With Untapable, Unbridled Forever, and, to a lesser extent, Fiftyshadesofgold, the Fair Grounds Oaks is coming up a very tough race. So tough, in fact, that the connections of Ria Antonia might choose not to be a part of it.
Trainer Jeremiah Englehart said Tuesday that Ria Antonia, at this point, is more likely to start in the April 5 Santa Anita Oaks than the week before in the Fair Grounds Oaks.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Champion Will Take Charge tuned up for the Santa Anita Handicap in the first set of workers Tuesday, breezing a half-mile in 48.20 seconds. Clockers had his final quarter in 23.20 and a five-furlong gallop-out in 1:02.20.
Strong Mandate, his stablemate and the runner-up in the Southwest Stakes, worked in the second set, covering a half-mile in a bullet 48 seconds.
Oaklawn head clocker Jim Hamilton carried Strong Mandate through an opening eighth-mile in 12.20, a first quarter in 24.40, three furlongs in 35.80, and galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.40.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – There are a number of ways to judge the health of a meet, from handle to attendance to purses. But claiming activity also offers insight, and just 25 days into the Oaklawn Park meet 187 horses have changed hands for a collective $2,745,000.
That averages out to 7.48 claims per card, for $109,800 in spending between stables on a daily basis. The price of the average claim is $14,679.
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Havana, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita in November, completed his major preparation for his 3-year-old debut Sunday by breezing an easy five furlongs in 1:00.90 at Palm Meadows. Havana will return to the races in the Grade 3, $150,000 Swale Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.
Havana, a son of Dunkirk, showed good energy on the gallop-out Sunday.
