Sat, 06/01/2013 - 13:56

Parx Racing: Quality Lass shows strong form for Monday optional claimer

Quality Lass began her 4-year-old campaign in mid-January running for a $25,000 claiming tag against nonwinners-of-two competition. Less than six months later, Quality Lass will compete for a $53,000 purse against some of the best non-stakes female sprinters on the grounds at Parx Racing.

Quality Lass will go for her fifth win in her last six starts when she breaks from the rail as the 123-pound highweight in Monday’s feature, a six-furlong sprint for third-level optional $40,000 claiming fillies and mares.

Sat, 06/01/2013 - 13:01

Belmont Stakes: Frac Daddy could be entered in race

Barbara D. Livingston
Frac Daddy likely will run in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 30 if his throat ulcer has healed sufficiently.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Ken McPeek revealed Saturday that he is seriously considering entering Frac Daddy in the Belmont Stakes.

Frac Daddy, 16th in the May 4 Kentucky Derby as a 25-1 shot, has had three swift workouts at Churchill Downs within a two-week span, ending with a bullet half-mile drill Friday in 47.80 seconds.

“He’s training as well as I’ve ever seen,” McPeek said. “It’s like [D. Wayne] Lukas says, you can’t win it unless you’re in it.”

McPeek engineered the biggest upset in Belmont history when sending out Sarava to a 70-1 victory in the 2002 running.

Sat, 06/01/2013 - 12:58

Churchill Downs notes: Plans for new fall meeting nearly set

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – When live racing resumes Thursday at Churchill Downs, there will be four weeks remaining at the spring meet.

That’s also what Churchill will run here in September for the first time: a four-week meet, albeit on a three-day schedule (as opposed to four in the spring).

Sat, 06/01/2013 - 09:31

Evangeline Downs: Sittin At the Bar rallies to win Acadiana

OPELOUSAS, La. - Sittin At the Bar settled comfortably off the pace before rallying four wide out of the turn under Mark Guidry to capture Friday night’s $50,000 Acadiana Stakes for Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies at Evangeline Downs.

Sat, 06/01/2013 - 00:04

Remington cancels after second race Friday; Saturday card a go

A violent tornado storm system that moved into Oklahoma City on Friday night forced Remington Park to cancel its program after two races, but a track official said Remington planned to race as scheduled on Saturday night.

During the storm, the track, which is in the midst of a Quarter Horse meet, experienced heavy rain and lightning, according to Dale Day, a spokesperson for Remington.

“At this time, the plan is to continue for racing on Saturday with the richest program ever conducted at Remington Park,” Day said in an e-mail to Daily Racing Form.

Fri, 05/31/2013 - 18:56

Hollywood Park: Espinoza gets 3,000th victory

Benoit & Associates
Victor Espinoza won the 3,000th race of his career on Friday.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Victor Espinoza’s 3,000th career win came so easily he had time to soak in the milestone during the race.

The $8,000 claimer Flashy Delight swept past the eighth pole under Espinoza in Friday’s fourth race at Betfair Hollywoood Park with a 2 1/2-length lead, and the trailing pack of eight runners was not gaining. Flashy Delight won the seven-furlong race by eight lengths, making Espinoza the second jockey to reach the 3,000-win mark at Hollywood Park this spring. Rafael Bejarano won the 3,000th race of his career on May 11.

Fri, 05/31/2013 - 18:13

Belmont Park: Saez has five wins on card

ELMONT, N.Y. - Jockey Luis Saez won five races on Friday’s card at Belmont Park, including two consecutive races in which he dead-heated for the victory.

It was the 11th time in his career the 21-year-old Saez has won at least five races on a single card, the first time he has done so outside of south Florida. Saez has twice won six races on a single card - Nov. 11, 2009 and Aug. 11, 2012 - at Calder.

Fri, 05/31/2013 - 18:02

Lone Star Park: Turf try for Tastefullyxcessive

Tastefullyxcessive is part of a strong group of fillies and mares in the fifth race Sunday at Lone Star Park. The $40,000 optional claimer will be run at a mile on turf, and the horse to catch is Temparnillo. But the horse with the best recent race is Tastefullyxcessive.

Fri, 05/31/2013 - 17:57

Lone Star Park: Fiftyshadesofgold eyes Debutante at Churchill Downs

Fiftyshadesofgold, a 2-year-old filly who romped by 10 lengths in a maiden special weight at Lone Star Park on May 24, will likely make her next start in the $100,000-added Debutante at Churchill Downs on June 22, trainer Bret Calhoun said.

“We’ve shipped her to Churchill,” Calhoun said.

Fri, 05/31/2013 - 17:50

Arapahoe Park: Streakin' Mohican a swift one

It takes a quick Thoroughbred to beat Quarter Horses at 870 yards, and in doing so last out, Streakin' Mohican has established himself as the one to catch Sunday in the $40,000 Arapahoe Park Sprint. He will face 10 others in the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up, including multiple stakes winners Hezamazing and Wally Van.