The annual Hall of Fame night at Retama Park near San Antonio on Saturday will be a family affair in a number of ways for the Asmussens of Laredo, Texas.
Former champion jockey Cash Asmussen will be inducted into the Texas Hall that night, while his brother, trainer Steve Asmussen, will start a number of top contenders on the seven-stakes card that will follow. One of those horses is owned by the brothers' father, Keith Asmussen.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer David Bell hasn't visited the stakes winner's circle at Woodbine yet this year.
But Bell will be looking to rectify that situation this weekend, with On the Game set for Saturday's $163,800 Durham Cup and Smoocher slated to start in Sunday's $250,000 Grey.
On the Game, a Kentucky-bred 5-year-old owned by John Franks, will be seeking his first stakes score in the Durham Cup, a Grade 3 handicap for 3-year-olds and upward at 1 1/8 miles.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Jersey Giant helped make the summer of 2003 an enjoyable one for trainer Jim Ryerson.
A 4-year-old gelding bred in New Jersey, Jersey Giant emerged as a major threat in open company, winning the Skip Away and Skip Trial Stakes at Monmouth Park. Jersey Giant also raced well in a pair of Grade 3 stakes, running second in the Salvator Mile and a strong third in the Iselin Handicap to finish one length behind the winner, Tenpins.
Louisiana Downs-based trainer Larry Robideaux Jr. seems to make at least one trip a year to Kentucky for stakes races with some of his best horses, and this year will be no different as he has upcoming spots picked out at Keeneland and Churchill Downs for stakes winners Distinctive Code, Zydeco Affair, and Vino Tinto.
Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., will go all out for its 100th anniversary next year by offering a $5 million "Centennial Bonus" to any 3-year-old who can sweep its Rebel Stakes, the Arkansas Derby, which has been doubled in value to $1 million, and the Kentucky Derby.
The bonus is the richest in racing alongside the $5 million Visa Triple Crown Bonus.
The purse increase of the Arkansas Derby makes the 1 1/8-mile race, to be run April 10, one of only two $1 million Kentucky Derby preps in North America. The other is the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 13.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - In recent years, Cole Norman has overwhelmed the competition in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana, but seldom has his influence gone beyond that limited sphere. So when Norman makes his first trip as a licensed trainer to Keeneland this weekend, more than a few people will be interested to see how he fares.
ARCADIA, Calif. - By any reasonable standard, Designed for Luck should not be racing this fall, certainly not as a candidate for the $1.5 million Breeders' Cup Mile on Oct. 25 at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting.
A mysterious hock injury to his left hind leg in May 2002 was so damaging, trainer Vladimir Cerin said, that veterinarians told him the gelding seemed destined for life in a pasture, not even fit enough to ride.
ARCADIA, Calif. - While Pleasantly Perfect and Toccet will use the Grade 2 Goodwood Handicap on Saturday to prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic, Joey Franco's motive is purely fiscal. "We're going in the Goodwood to try to get some good money," said trainer Darrell Vienna.
Based on Joey Franco's recent form and outstanding workout Tuesday, a good portion of the purse will be headed in his direction.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Brancusi may have been unequipped for the class demands of the Kentucky Derby in his most recent start. Thursday at Santa Anita, the question is whether Brancusi is prepared to handle a one-other-than allowance field while racing for the first time in five months.
The class drop is only slightly less severe for Tizbud. He drops out of the Grade 2 San Fernando Stakes into a first-condition Cal-bred allowance. The comeback marks the first start since January for Tizbud, and the current-form dilemma is every bit as relevant as it is for Brancusi.
