HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainers rarely use overnight turf stakes as a prep for a Grade 1 event on the dirt, but such will be the case here Sunday, when Ken McPeek sends out Galloping Gal for her 3-year-old debut in the $60,000 Via Borghese Stakes.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - It's gotten to the point at Gulfstream Park this winter where it's become tough just to keep your Hosts straight.
The Chilean-bred Host is trained by Todd Pletcher and had his sights set on next Saturday's UAE Derby in Dubai only to have those plans changed at the last minute because of a bad blood test. He may now resurface locally, in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Handicap on April 3.
NEW ORLEANS - In or around the barn of trainer Richie Scherer can be found a fat goat named Junior, who sometimes requires more attention than the horses his presence is supposed to soothe. About 10 minutes after Scherer was seen holding steady a push broom Junior used to scratch his horns, the trainer Jeff Trosclair was ducking bites and dodging kicks as he ran a brush over Skate Away's glossy coat. Skate Away is feeling so avid right now that he booted his groom (who is recovering nicely) into the hospital two weeks ago.
NEW ORLEANS - As of Wednesday, the prospective field for Sunday's Grade 2 Mervin Muniz Handicap stood at about 11, pending late decisions by a couple of trainers. Whatever final choices come down, the race is shaping up as a key early-season test in the older turf division.
At 1 1/8 miles on grass, the Muniz fits both miler types and horses suited to 1 1/4 miles and beyond. The $500,000 purse suits just about anyone.
ALBANY, Calif. - Trainer Kristin Mulhall won the Golden Gate Breeders' Cup Handicap with Tronare on Sunday, and she will try to make it two straight stakes victories at Golden Gate Fields when she sends K O Love in Saturday's $55,000-added Danville Handicap.
A 4-year-old colt, K O Love has run only once, winning his maiden May 30 at Bay Meadows. He earned a 105 Beyer, winning by nine lengths.
"We had some mental issues with him before that race," Mulhall said from her Santa Anita barn. "He was always a good-feeling horses, but he'd bolt when he ran in the morning."
SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - Late nominations closed Monday for the $500,000 WinStar Derby, with 94 horses from around the country now eligible for the March 28 race.
A number of these horses can be divided into three categories: those who have run well but dropped out of the Kentucky Derby picture as distance limitations have been exposed; late bloomers who lack the seasoning to be ready for the Derby; and two or three local horses.
Von Braun, who was second to the undefeated Placid Star last out in the $75,000 Battler Star Handicap at Fair Grounds, is the one to beat in Friday night's $50,000 Azalea at Delta Downs.
The five-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies bred in Louisiana drew a field of seven, including stakes winners Cool Cool Cool and Spring Rade. Also in the race is Sheza Diva, who has won both of her career starts. Trained by Cyril Hicks, she makes her stakes debut.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Death Trappe had no problems in reacquainting himself with the sharper turns of this five-eighths-mile track last Saturday, when he narrowly missed the stakes record in taking the Ogataul Handicap by 4 1/4 lengths. He sped the six furlongs in 1:11.60 after shaking off an early challenger.
Gene owns the stakes record of 1:11.40.
The MBNA America Challenge Championships, a Breeders' Cup-style championship for Quarter Horses on Nov. 6, will highlight the Quarter Horse meet at Sam Houston Race Park. The track will run an extended, 95-date meet for Quarter Horses this year, with the season set to start on April 23 and run through Nov. 6.
Sam Houston has scheduled 58 stakes worth more than $2 million this meet. The track has taken on Quarter Horse dates from other facilities in Texas to accommodate the running of the Breeders' Cup at Lone Star Park in October.