Wed, 05/22/2013 - 16:24

Los Alamitos: Glitter in My Face will point to Governor's Cup Futurity

CYPRESS, Calif. – Glitter in My Face is perfect in three starts following her win in the $281,100 Kindergarten Futurity at Los Alamitos last Sunday. It will be a few months before her unbeaten record will be challenged.

Owned by Antonio Flores and trained by his son, Jose Antonio Flores, Glitter in My Face is not extensively nominated to the major futurities at Los Alamitos this year. Jose Antonio Flores said after the Kindergarten that Glitter in My Face has only one more futurity this year – the Governor’s Cup Futurity on July 27.

Wed, 05/22/2013 - 16:19

Arlington: Matron may be one of Hooh Why's last starts

Barbara D. Livingston
Hooh Why (right), second in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf, will race a couple times while in foal to Leroidesanimaux.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Hooh Why, it turns out, will not actually race forever.

A 7-year-old mare with 51 starts, Hooh Why is in foal to Leroidesanimaux and has only a couple more runs left in her racing career before going on to life as a broodmare. One of them could come Saturday in the Arlington Matron, which drew Hooh Why and eight other entrants when it was drawn Wednesday.

Wed, 05/22/2013 - 15:58

Hollywood Park: Lucayan making U.S. debut in American

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The only horse in Saturday’s $150,000 American Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park to win at the highest level on turf will not be favored in the one-mile grass race.

Lucayan, who won the Group 1 French 2000 Guineas in Paris last May, makes his United States debut in the Grade 2 American Handicap for trainer Neil Drysdale.

Wed, 05/22/2013 - 15:47

Hollywood Park: Best Present Ever at a crossroads

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Best Present Ever’s summer campaign will be dictated by the results of a turf sprint at Betfair Hollywood Park on Friday.

“If she doesn’t run well on Friday, I’ll kick her out,” trainer Eric Kruljac said.

Owned by breeders Dennis and Norine Grenier, Best Present Ever won the Campanile Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies last June and was later third to the multiple stakes winner Lady of Shamrock in the Grade 1 American Oaks here last July.

Wed, 05/22/2013 - 15:44

Calder: Memorial Day Handicap stiff test for much-improved Rule Number Six

Coady Photography
The 4-year-old Rule Number Six will seek his fourth straight win in Saturday's Memorial Day Handicap.

MIAMI – Trainer Ron Gaffney has already transformed Rule Number Six from a useful allowance and starter allowance horse as a 3-year-old in 2012 into a stakes winner this season. Gaffney, a transplanted New Englander, is hoping that metamorphosis will continue Saturday when Rule Number Six puts his three-race winning streak on the line in the $75,000 Memorial Day Handicap at Calder.

Wed, 05/22/2013 - 15:41

Churchill Downs: Louisville Handicap signals return to top racing

Coady Photography/Keeneland
Dark Cove will be the highweight in the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The three-week drought between six-figure races at Churchill Downs will end Saturday when the Grade 3, $100,000 Louisville Handicap kicks off the holiday weekend.

A field of nine older horses was entered Wednesday for the Louisville, a 1 1/2-mile turf race in which Dark Cove, Ioya Bigtime, and Atigun figure as the favorites.

Wed, 05/22/2013 - 15:30

Louisiana Downs: Van Berg comes back to warm wlecome

BOSSIER CITY, La. – Trainer Jack Van Berg spent Preakness Day at Louisiana Downs, which was fitting as Van Berg’s two Preakness winners, Gate Dancer in 1984 and Alysheba in 1987, each also won this track’s premier event, the Super Derby.

In addition to his Super Derby successes, Van Berg was a major force in the overnight ranks here at Louisiana Downs. He sent sizeable strings here in the 80’s and early 90’s, annually finishing in the top 10 in the trainer standings.

Wed, 05/22/2013 - 15:08

Belmont Park: Declan's Warrior wins quickly run Gygistar, Stephens or Dwyer next

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Declan's Warrior (left) runs down Tenango to win the Gygistar Stakes at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The good news is Declan’s Warrior ($3) won Wednesday’s $85,000 Gygistar Stakes at Belmont Park. The bad news is he had to run harder – and faster – than his connections had hoped, especially with the plan being to run back in 17 days.

Declan’s Warrior, under Jose Lezcano, rallied from fourth in a five-horse field and ran down Tenango in the final strides to win the Gygistar by a neck. His final time of 1:20.85 for seven furlongs was just .68 seconds off the track record of 1:20.17 set by Left Bank in the 2002 Tom Fool Handicap.

Wed, 05/22/2013 - 14:34

Woodbine: Queen's Plate nominees face older in Friday feature

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Canadian Triple Crown nominees Honorable Guest and County Lineman will both negotiate a mile and a sixteenth for the first time Friday at Woodbine against older Ontario-sired opposition in the $56,000 allowance feature.

Honorable Guest finished either first or second in his seven 2-year-old outings, although he was demoted to fifth by disqualification in the Colin Stakes.

Wed, 05/22/2013 - 14:17

Northlands: Tango Tango finds suitable spot for local debut

Contention runs deep in an $8,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up that will serve as the feature race at Northlands Park on Friday. The six-furlong sprint drew nine horses and goes as the seventh race on an eight-race card that begins at 6 p.m. Mountain.

Tango Tango looks like a major player in his first start at Northlands. Acting on behalf of Kirk and Mitch Sutherland, trainer Rick Wise claimed him for $3,000 out of a win at Turf Paradise April 16. Tango Tango stalked a quick pace before drawing off to win by 2 3/4 lengths.