HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Now that trainer Michael Matz has found the Gulfstream Park winner's circle, he would like to become a more frequent visitor.
Sunday, Matz broke an 0-for-27 skid at the meet when he saddled Political Attack to victory in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf Handicap. While the stakes won't be as high Thursday, Matz hopes to be just as successful when he sends out Banished Lover in the day's feature, a $38,000 second-level allowance race for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - This is officially the first week of Aqueduct's spring meet, but nobody sent Mother Nature a condition book. Recent rain, sleet, and snow, along with persistent freeze-thaw cycles, have conspired to keep the main track in hibernation.
Last week's spate of cancellations means handicappers may experience a strong sense of deja vu as they peruse Thursday's card.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Trainer Grant Forster will shoot for his second win from four starters at the Oaklawn Park meet on Thursday with comebacker Youcan'ttakeme. Forster, the son of longtime Pacific Northwest horseman David Forster, is training on his own for the first time after having worked for his father.
A 3-year-old filly, Youcan'ttakeme is one of seven in a six-furlong conditioned allowance race worth $32,000.
NEW ORLEANS - Lady Tak went into last weekend an undefeated filly with something to prove on a national level. She came out of it an easy winner of the Fair Grounds Oaks and a leading contender for the most important 3-year-old filly race in the country, the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.
But Lady Tak has other business before the May 1 Oaks. Trainer Steve Asmussen confirmed on Monday that Lady Tak's next scheduled race is the Grade 1 Ashland on April 5 at Keeneland.
"This way we can train her here [at Fair Grounds] and go straight to Kentucky," said Asmussen.
Cat Genius led throughout the $75,000 Sportsman's Paradise for 3-year-olds, winning his comeback from a layoff of more than three months at Delta Downs in Vinton, La. It was 4 1/2 lengths back to Cleaning House in second.
Cat Genius ($3) was making his first start since Nov. 30, when he grabbed a quarter at the start of the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and finished 12th as the favorite.
Cat Genius covered the seven furlongs, run around two turns, in 1:25.57 under jockey Calvin Borel.
After running second to Xtra Heat in January, Gazillion apparently needed a race to recover. She came back a month later and was beaten as the odds-on favorite in an optional claiming sprint. But Gazillion ($3.60) regained her best form with a 1 1/2-length victory in the $60,000 Conniver Stakes at Laurel Park.
Powers Prospect ($8.40) shipped in from Philadelphia Park and won her first stakes, the $50,000 Wide Country. Ridden by Roberto Alvarado Jr. for trainer Cathi Lynch, the 3-year-old Powers Prospect wired a group of six other 3-year-old fillies and finished a length in front of Blushing Valley.
Giovannetti turned back several challenges en route to a three-quarter-length victory in the $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup.
Giovannetti was hustled from the gate by jockey Danny Sorenson to set the early pace on a short lead inside three rivals, drew well clear in upper stretch of the six-furlong race, and then held off the late-running R. Baggio. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to 28-1 Flying Supercom in third.
