Thu, 06/13/2013 - 17:21

Indiana Downs: A Diehl, Frontside return to defend titles in turf stakes

Defending champions A Diehl and Frontside return to Indiana Downs on Saturday looking to regain their best form in a pair of $100,000, one-mile turf stakes on a card topped by the $200,000 Centaur.

The 8-year-old A Diehl will be looking to defend his title in the J. Kenneth Self Shelby County Boys and Girls Club, which goes as the fifth race Saturday.

Trained by Rusty Arnold, A Diehl won twice in 2012, both on the turf at Indiana Downs. He won an allowance and then the 2012 running of the Self last June 20.

Thu, 06/13/2013 - 17:10

Emerald Downs: Our Eagle Boy takes big drop in claimer

AUBURN, Wash. – A couple of horses on their way up the class ladder will tackle a handful of runners headed in the other direction Saturday in the feature race at Emerald Downs. The one-mile feature, a $7,500 claimer, attracted eight entrants, and Our Eagle Boy, one of the class droppers, is likely to be the favorite. First post for the nine-race card is 2 p.m. Pacific.

Thu, 06/13/2013 - 16:59

Hollywood Park: Tyler Baze taken off mounts

Benoit & Associates
Tyler Baze missed more than a year of riding, from August 2011 to October 2012, because of problems with alcoholism.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Jockey Tyler Baze was removed from his mounts at Betfair Hollywood Park on Thursday for violating the terms of his contract with the California Horse Racing Board pertaining to substance abuse testing, stewards said.

Baze, who missed more than a year of riding from August 2011 to October 2012 because of problems with alcoholism, met with track stewards Scott Chaney, Kim Sawyer and Tom Ward at lunchtime on Thursday after working horses earlier in the day.

Thu, 06/13/2013 - 16:45

Arlington Park: The Pizza Man, Coalport meet in Black Tie Affair

Four-Footed Fotos
The Pizza Man is 7 for 9 on turf, including a score in the $111,000 Buck's Boy Handicap at Hawthorne in October.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The Illinois breeding program has stagnated in the last decade, and there has been a decline in the quality of runners in many Illinois-bred stakes over the past couple of years. But a pair of emerging 4-year-olds, The Pizza Man and Coalport, are adding depth to the Illinois turf-stakes division, and the nine-horse field for Saturday’s $100,000 Black Tie Affair Handicap makes it the best-looking Illinois-bred grass stakes in recent memory.

Thu, 06/13/2013 - 16:27

Hollywood Park: More Chocolate, Lady of Fifty better than their last

Shigeki Kikkawa
More Chocolate has had good workouts on Cushion Track, but has yet to race on a synthetic surface.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – A muddled cast of fillies and mares race for a $250,000 purse on Saturday at Betfair Hollywood Park, where the Grade 1 Vanity Handicap offers a chance at redemption for two key starters.

More Chocolate and Lady of Fifty are among the favorites in the 1 1/8-mile Vanity, even though both enter off disappointing efforts.

More Chocolate completely misfired six weeks ago at Churchill Downs. She finished fifth of seven in the Grade 2 La Troienne. The lackadaisical effort still puzzles trainer John Sadler.

Thu, 06/13/2013 - 16:25

Belmont Park: Infinite Magic back on turf for Hill Prince Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Joha will make his first start for trainer Tom Albertrani in Saturday's Grade 3 Hill Prince Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. – After a failed experiment on dirt in the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes, Infinite Magic will return to turf in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont Park.

In the absence of 3-year-old male-turf-division leader Rydilluc, a dozen were entered in the Hill Prince, restricted to 3-year-olds and scheduled for one mile on the Widener turf.

Infinite Magic will be making his first start for trainer Rick Mettee, who last month took over as the private trainer for Team Valor International.

Thu, 06/13/2013 - 16:22

Monmouth Park: Jewel of a Cat returns to turf for Crank It Up Stakes

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
Jewel of a Cat will shorten up in distance and return to turf in the Crank It Up.

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Jewel of a Cat should benefit from a cutback in distance and a return to turf Saturday in the $60,000 Crank It Up Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Monmouth Park.

The 5 1/2-furlong race drew a competitive field of 10.

Jewel of a Cat stretched out to six furlongs for the Miss Preakness Stakes on the Black-Eyed Susan undercard. She got knocked around at the start and was unable to establish her preferred stalking position. Third at the top of the stretch, Jewel of a Cat finished fifth behind 9-10 winner I’m Mom’s Favorite.

Thu, 06/13/2013 - 16:04

Woodbine notes: Northern Passion eyes confidence-booster in Zadracarta

Michael Burns
Northern Passion will take on Ontario-breds in the Zadracarta.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Northern Passion has returned from a 10-month layoff to finish close in two graded stakes for fillies and mares here this spring, finishing fourth in the six-furlong Whimsical on the Polytrack and third in the Nassau at a mile on turf.

On Saturday, Northern Passion will be dropping in class to face Ontario-breds in the $125,000 Zadracarta Stakes and looms as the one to beat in the seven-furlong turf race for fillies and mares.

Thu, 06/13/2013 - 15:45

Belmont Park: My Happy Face wins comeback, Coaching Club may be next

Courtney Heeney/NYRA
My Happy Face wins the Lotka Stakes under Joel Rosario.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The last time My Happy Face ran a one-mile race at Belmont Park, she was part of a stirring stretch duel that she ultimately lost to Dreaming of Julia by a head in the Grade 1 Frizette last fall.

Thursday, in the one-mile Lotka Stakes, My Happy Face had to work hard to get by the pacesetting Girl Code, but once she did, My Happy Face edged clear for a 2 1/2-length victory that likely will set her up for a return to Grade 1 company in next month’s Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga.

Thu, 06/13/2013 - 15:45

Indiana Downs trainer banned 90 days for anti-bleeding medication

A leading trainer at Indiana Downs in Shelbyville, Ind., has been suspended 90 days after four of his horses tested positive last year for carbazochrome, an anti-hemorrhaging drug that is often administered to horses under the belief that it can reduce bleeding in the lungs.