SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - Saturday's $50,000-added Bill Thomas Memorial Handicap for older sprinters offers a full field of interesting sprinters, headed by Bang, the starting highweight at 122 pounds, who will be going for his fourth consecutive win at this meet.
Pawyne Princess was visually impressive when she won her career debut by 8 1/4 lengths last month at Laurel Park. Her performance looks even better when you put it into perspective.
A 3-year-old filly, Pawyne Princess was awarded a 99 Beyer Speed Figure for her romp in a six-furlong maiden race, exceeding the 94 that Bear Fan received in the Grade 2, seven-furlong Barbara Fritchie Handicap later on the same card. Only 13 3-year-olds, male or female, have run a higher figure this year.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - A major revamping of the stakes schedule, comprising 24 races worth a total of $2.1 million, is on tap for this year's Fort Erie meeting.
The highlight of the stakes schedule, which was released Thursday, is the introduction of four $100,000 stakes for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds and upwards.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Only three tickets correctly selected all six winners in the pick six Wednesday at Santa Anita, leading to a huge payoff of $1,567,984.60 for each ticket.
A record pick six pool was recorded Wednesday at Santa Anita. There was a carryover of $1.4 million entering the day, since no one had hit the pick six on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. With several days to replenish their bankrolls, horseplayers sent it in Wednesday. They pumped another $5,889,712 into the pick six, and bet $15,252,590 on the eight-race card.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The $1 million Santa Anita Handicap may have the richest purse and the $200,000 San Rafael Stakes may have Kentucky Derby implications, but the best betting race on Saturday's program at Santa Anita is possibly the $350,000 Frank Kilroe Mile.
Run on turf, the Kilroe drew 12 entrants and has several contenders, including the first six horses in the weights - Sarafan and Sweet Return at 119 pounds, Designed for Luck and Irish Warrior at 118, Singletary at 117, and Inesperado, 116.
ARCADIA, Calif. - When Cee Mister B scored a powerful maiden win over California-breds on Feb. 12, he jumped to the fore of the statebred male division.
returns in a $52,000 optional claimer against statebreds in Friday's fourth race at Santa Anita, a race that trainer David Bernstein hopes will move the 3-year-old colt closer to a stakes in April. The optional claimer is run over 1 1/16 miles.
Bernstein warns that Cee Mister B is returning a week earlier than expected, and that his training schedule has been disrupted by weather.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Sharp Tax Lady will attempt to transfer her good form from Ohio's Beulah Park to Portland Meadows on Friday in a 5 1/2-furlong dash for $2,500 fillies and mares that has drawn a field of nine.
Sharp Tax Lady led throughout to win her last start at Beulah Park on Feb. 10, when she ran 4 1/2 furlongs in 53.70 seconds for owner-trainer Donald W. Smith. She then shipped to Emerald Downs, where she blew out three furlongs in 35.40 Tuesday before vanning here, where she will be saddled by local trainer Robbie Baze.
Many pick six players with an eye toward Santa Anita's $1.4 million carryover on Wednesday gained wagering ammunition by hitting Aqueduct's smaller pick-six carryover earlier in the day.
A two-day carryover of $134,737 was up for grabs, and after bettors poured in another $564,646, a relatively formful run of winners ensued. The winning numbers for the last six races of the day, races 4 thru 9, were 11-1-1-3-7-5, corresponding to Coconut Martini ($3.70), Quatre Dix Neuf ($6.90), Twist and Pop ($4.10), Hyder ($14), Highgate Park ($8.40) and Distinctive Kitten ($11).
NEW ORLEANS - There is only a wisp of a chance that a horse as wonderfully gifted as Mineshaft will return to the Fair Grounds barn of trainer Neil Howard. No one knows that as well as Howard and his help.
But when Mineshaft, the 2003 Horse of the Year, went off to stud this winter, somebody had to take up residence in the stall situated about 15 feet - one quick glance - away from Howard's desk.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Eddington, a 3-year-old who has won a pair of two-turn races this meet, is expected to cut back to a one-turn mile for his next start, the Grade 3, $200,000 Gotham at Aqueduct on March 20.
Mark Hennig, who trains Eddington for the Willmott Stables, said the Gotham would be an educational experience for Eddington, who has raced up close to soft paces in both of his wins down here.