Monday, April 09 2012

‘Urga’ Races to Victory in Wait a While

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Race to Urga captured her third-straight victory at Gulfstream Park Sunday while capturing her stakes debut in the $70,000 Wait A While on closing day of the 2011-2012 meeting.

The Christophe Clement-trained 4-year-old filly, who had captured an allowance race before starting her Gulfstream streak, had a perfect trip under jockey Jose Lezcano in the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes.

Meeting Took Off Running and Kept Going

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Discreet Dancer set the tone for the 2011-2012 Gulfstream Park meeting when he broke a track-record in his debut on the Dec. 3 opening-day program. The action on the track and at the pari-mutuel windows kept pace throughout the 87-program meeting, culminating in record-breaking handles generated by a steady stream of world-class performances by horses, trainers and jockeys.

Discreet Cat’s trainer, Todd Pletcher, and jockey, Javier Castellano, would go on to reach important career milestones while coming out on top in their respective standings. Pletcher, who claimed an unprecedented ninth consecutive training title at Gulfstream with 72 trips to the winner’s circle, recorded his 3,000 career victory when he saddled Spring Hill Farm for a winning performance on Feb. 11. Castellano, who collected his first Gulfstream title by riding a record 112 winners, scored his 3000th career success aboard Virtuously on Feb. 24.

Gulfstream Sets Handle Records

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Gulfstream Park will end a memorable and remarkable 2011-2012 meet Sunday by setting records for on-track and all-sources handle in its new facility.

Total handle will be more than $673 million, up $80 million or 13 percent over last year’s previous record of $595 million. All sources average handle will be approximately $7.8 million, up from last year’s previous record of $7.5 million.

NYRA NOTES; Sunday, April 8, 2012

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Undefeated Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial hero Gemologist departed Belmont Park at the crack of dawn Sunday morning and was expected to arrive at Palm Meadows training center by mid-afternoon to begin preparations for the May 5 Kentucky Derby. Trainer Todd Pletcher said the 3-year-old Tiznow colt would remain in Florida until May 1, when he would leave for Churchill Downs.

“He came out of the race really well,” said Pletcher by phone from Florida. “The tentative schedule is for him to breeze twice between now and the Derby, then fly to Kentucky on May 1. We'll leave the option to call an audible if we so chose, but as long as we're happy with the conditions down here, that's the plan.”

SISTER KATE SCORES AGAIN AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS; ALVARADO HAS EASTER SUNDAY RIDING TRIPLE

ALBANY -- Sister Kate improved her record to 3-for-5 with a front-running victory in the $36,920 allowance feature at Golden Gate Fields Sunday.

Sister Kate, a 4-year-old filly by Benchmark, won her debut by seven lengths on Jan. 12 and also posted a seven-length score on March 18. Sandwiched between the two blow-out victories were fourth- and third-place finishes.

STARRY SKIES STORMS HOME TO TAKE $58,000 EASTER SUNDAY PURSE

ARCADIA, Calif. (April 8, 2012) – With leading rider Joel Rosario recording his third victory of the afternoon, odds-on favorite Starry Skies stormed home on the far outside Sunday to overtake pacesetter Tasty Treat by 1 ½ lengths in capturing Santa Anita’s $58,000 Easter Sunday Purse for California-bred fillies and mares at 6 ½ furlongs on turf.

Clocked in 1:13.16, it was the second win in as many starts for the undefeated 3-year-old daughter of Sky Mesa trained by Marty Jones.

SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES (Sunday April 8, 2012)

ONE-TWO SANTA ANITA DERBY FINISHERS HEADED TO KENTUCKY DERBY

I’ll Have Another and Creative Cause, featured players in the Santa Anita Derby drama that unfolded Saturday in the closest finish in the 3-year-old classic since 1985, when Skywalker nosed out Fast Account, came out of their mano-a-mano in good order and it’s on to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby on May 5, albeit on different paths.

Plans were undecided Sunday morning on when I’ll Have Another will head to Kentucky, but Creative Cause is set to ship on April 28.

Sunday, April 08 2012

JACKSON BEND HOLDS OFF CALEB’S POSSE TO WIN CARTER

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – With an aggressive move at the five-sixteenths pole off the rail and to the outside, jockey Corey Nakatani positioned Jackson Bend for an epic confrontation with front-running Shackleford in the Grade 1, $400,000 Carter Handicap. After matching strides to the top of the stretch, Jackson Bend finally willed his way to the lead only to have 2011 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Caleb’s Posse close in on him with every stride.

At the wire, Jackson Bend remained in front, by a nose, to win an electrifying 112th edition of the Carter on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

UNDEFEATED GEMOLOGIST SPARKLES IN RESORTS WORLD CASINO NEW YORK CITY WOOD MEMORIAL VICTORY

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Gemologist took the lead at the top of the stretch and turned back a late challenge from Alpha to win Saturday afternoon’s Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack by a hard-fought neck. Now 5-for-5, the bay son of Tiznow will bring his perfect record and $702,855 in graded stakes earnings to Churchill Downs as one of the likely favorites for the May 5 Kentucky Derby.

“That’s a great win, he’s a great horse,” said a beaming Elliott Walden of WinStar Farm, winning owner of Gemologist. “This stamps him as a Derby prospect, which we’re excited about. We needed the earnings [$600,000] today.”

TRINNIBERG MAKES IT LOOK EASY IN BAY SHORE

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trinniberg got loose on the lead and never looked back in Saturday’s 52nd running of the Grade 3, $250,000 Bay Shore at Aqueduct Racetrack, going on to a three-length victory over Hardened Wildcat to register his second straight graded stakes score.

Sent off as the 6-5 favorite in the field of eight 3-year-olds, the dark bay son of Teuflesberg rolled through an opening quarter-mile in 23.46 seconds and a half in 47.41, and was never seriously threatened as he swept under the wire in 1:23.46 for the seven furlongs.

Derby 138 Contender Hansen Sharp in Trackside Work for Toyota Blue Grass; Mucho Macho Man Sizzles

LOUISVILLE, KY (Saturday, April 7, 2012) – Dr. Kendall Hansen and Skychai Racing’s Hansen, a major contender for the 138th running of the $2 million-guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) on May 5, worked a strong five furlongs on Saturday at Churchill Downs’ Trackside Training Center in preparation for a planned run in next week’s Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI) at Keeneland.

Exercise rider Joel Barrientos was in the saddle for trainer Mike Maker as the gray son of Tapit covered the distance in 1:00 over “fast” footing on the six-furlong training oval. He was joined in upper stretch by the Maker-trained 5-year-old mare La Gran Bailadora, a multiple stakes winner who was just starting her work. The two horses worked as a team through Hansen’s final quarter-mile and were on even terms when Hansen, an emphatic winner of Aqueduct’s Gotham (GIII) in his most recent start, finished his training move midway around the first turn.

BROADWAY’S ALIBI GETS STANDING OVATION IN COMELY

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Even-money favorite Broadway’s Alibi ran her winning streak to four Saturday afternoon with a front-running, 3 ½-length victory in the 63rd edition of the Grade 3, $250,000 Comely at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Leaving from post position 1, the 3-year-old Vindication filly went straight to the front and led through an opening quarter-mile in 23.73 seconds and a half in 47.25. Challenged by Singlet and Welcome Guest on the turn, Broadway’s Alibi was asked for more by jockey Javier Castellano as they straightened for home. She responded with a rousing late kick to draw clear through the stretch, hitting the wire in 1:36.53 for the mile.