Saturday, March 03 2012

LEROY’S DYNAMEAUX FINDS THE RIGHT SET UP IN FRIDAY’S IN EXCESS PURSE

ARCADIA, Calif. (March 2, 2012) – After managing a single victory in his previous 14 starts against mostly stakes competition, Leroy’s Dynameaux reversed his fortunes with a 1 ¼-length victory Friday in Santa Anita’s $65,618 In Excess Purse at one mile on turf.

With Rafael Bejarano in the saddle, the 5-year-old gelding rallied on the extreme outside to defeat Supreme Summit as the 5-2 second choice in a field of six after favored Pathfork ran out of gas. The 3-2 choice faded to last after opening up an eight-length lead down the backstretch before yielding at the far turn. The final time was 1:34.39.

Calhoun Entry One-Two in Friday 3YO Feature

NEW ORLEANS (Friday, March 02, 2012) – Gary and Mary West Stables’ entry of Fire Alarm and Tiz Moe both overcame sluggish beginnings to finish first and second respectively – a neck apart – in Friday’s $49,000 allowance and $50,000 optional claiming Fair Grounds feature for 3-year-olds at a mile and 70 yards.

The winning Fire Alarm, ridden by Miguel Mena, and runner-up Tiz Moe, with Rosie Napravnik in the irons, are both trained by Bret Calhoun and returned mutuels of $3.40, $3.80 and $2.20 as the odds-on choice of the Fair Grounds fans.

SHARP CHUKCHI SUNRISE CAPTURES SPRINT FEATURE

ALBANY -- The sharp 6-year-old mare Chukchi Sunrise recorded her second straight victory Friday at Golden Gate Fields when she posted a front-running score in the $29,400 allowance feature.

Chukchi Sunrise turned back a challenge from English Royal on the turn and went on to win the six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares by 2 1/4 lengths over Big Honey Bee. English Royal finished third.

Friday, March 02 2012

BRENDAN WALSH SADDLES FIRST WINNER

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Brendan Walsh, former assistant to Eddie Kenneally, saddled his first winner as a trainer when Mrs. James Moseley’s Sandcastle won the fifth race, a maiden special weight event, Friday afternoon at Gulfstream Park.

“It’s a dream of a lifetime to train a winner. To have one here is fantastic,” said Walsh, who went out on his own in October and has 10 horses at Gulfstream’s satellite training facility Palm Meadows. “We have some nice horses. Hopefully, there’s a little more to come.”

Soldat Back on Home Turf at Gulfstream

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Soldat will make his return to the site of his finest moment when he goes to post in Sunday’s sixth race at Gulfstream Park, but trainer Kiaran McLaughlin’s objective for his 4-year-old colt has changed from a year ago.

Last year, McLaughlin was determined to let Soldat prove himself on Gulfstream’s main track, over which he captured the Fountain of Youth (G2) to earn a shot in the Kentucky Derby. If his trainer has his way this year, Soldat will never see action on dirt again.

GULFSTREAM RAISES FLORIDA OWNERS AWARDS 25 PERCENT

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Gulfstream Park announced today it will raise Florida Owners Awards 25 percent beginning Wednesday, March 7.

The increase in Florida Owners Awards is in addition to the 15 percent purse increase announced earlier in the week.

Dialed In to Get Baptism by ‘Fire’ in 2012 Return

BOYNTON BEACH, FL – Dialed In will make his first start in more than eight months in Saturday’s seventh race at Gulfstream Park, but Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito found no easy spot for his 2011 Florida Derby champion’s return in the $67,1000 optional claiming allowance.

Dialed In, the 2-1 morning-line favorite in a field of eight, will meet Pants on Fire, the 2011 Louisiana Derby victor who will also be making his first start in 2012 in the mile race.

SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES (Friday March 2, 2012)

FAVORED ULTIMATE EAGLE ONE TO CATCH IN GRADE I BIG ’CAP

Mike Pender has ample respect for the 12 rivals of Ultimate Eagle in Saturday’s Santa Anita Handicap presented by San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino, in spite of the defection of defending champion Game On Dude from the Grade I, $750,000 race at a mile and a quarter.

“I don’t think it simplifies anything with Game On Dude out,” said Pender, who trains the runaway, front-running winner of the Strub Stakes, who has been installed the 5-2 morning line favorite in Santa Anita’s marquee race for older horses. “It’s still a very legitimate field with some very accomplished race horses in there.

NYRA NOTES: Friday, March 2, 2012

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Anyone following last year’s Triple Crown trail knows trainer Dale Romans can send out unheralded horses to do big things at ridiculously long odds. His eventual Preakness winner, Shackleford, ran second at 68-1 in the Florida Derby.

Romans has entered two Florida shippers in Saturday’s Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham at Aqueduct Racetrack, and one of them, Suns Out Guns Out, is still a maiden. The other, Finnegans Wake, most recently ran on the turf.

TOM FOOL VICTORY COULD BECOME A PERENNIAL TRADITION FOR CALIBRACHOA

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Quick, who is owner Mike Repole’s leading runner by graded stakes wins? The answer isn’t 2010 Champion Two-Year-Old Uncle Mo, nor is it 2011 Travers winner Stay Thirsty. That distinction belongs to Calibrachoa, who on Saturday will attempt to capture Aqueduct Racetrack’s Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap presented by Corona Extra for the second straight year.

Calibrachoa – who has won four graded stakes, compared to three apiece for Stay Thirsty and Uncle Mo – was claimed by Todd Pletcher on behalf of Repole for $40,000 in November 2010.

ENHANCED AMERICAN OAKS, GOLD CUP AMONG MEET HIGHLIGHTS

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (March 2, 2012) — The 73rd running of the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup and the American Oaks, which was increased from $250,000 to $400,000, headline a stakes schedule worth more than $6.8 million for the 2012 Spring/Summer meet at Hollywood Park.

The 50-day season begins Thursday, April 26 and continues through Sunday, July 15.

Jockey Jesse’s Fair Grounds Meet

NEW ORLEANS (Friday, March 02, 2012) – Although jockey Jesse Campbell endured a slower-than-usual beginning to his 2011-2012 winter season at Fair Grounds, he certainly ended it on a high note by capturing last Saturday’s Grade III Mineshaft Handicap with an upset win aboard Windy Hill Farm’s Nates Mineshaft for trainer Austin Smith.

The 34-year-old reinsman will conclude his Crescent City season this Saturday, seat wife Allyson and their two cats in the truck beside him before dawn Sunday and head north, driving straight through to Chicago while towing the family’s boat behind.