Thursday, March 11 2010

PICK SIX CARRYOVER OF $81,826 INTO THURSDAY

ARCADIA, Calif. (March 10, 2010)—For the 13th time in 49 racing days, no one correctly tabbed six winners in Santa Anita’s popular Pick Six on Wednesday, creating a carryover of $81,826 into Thursday and the expectation of a total pool of more than $300,000.

Wednesday’s Pick Six began in race three, which was won by Nitro Active, under Garrett Gomez. The Doug O’Neill trainee paid $12.60 to win and is owned by Decker Racing, Flintridge Stable and A. Venneri Racing. Nitro Active is a 5-year-old California-bred gelding by Capsized.

QUISISANA EXTENDS WIN STREAK IN PREP FOR GR. III LAS FLORES HANDICAP

ARCADIA, Calif. (March 10, 2010) – Following a nose victory in the $200,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint on Jan. 30, Quisisana extended her winning streak to three Wednesday when overtaking game longshot Hallelujah Trail by one length in Santa Anita’s $62,940 allowance feature for fillies and mares at six furlongs.

With the meet’s leading rider, Rafael Bejarano, at the controls, the 5-year-old daughter of Decarchy rallied from third in the field of six to win going away in the race that served as a prep for the Grade III, $100,000 Las Flores Handicap at 6 ½ furlongs on April 4.

ZENYATTA FACES EIGHT IN SATURDAY’S SANTA MARGARITA

ARCADIA, Calif. (March 10, 2010) – Zenyatta, racing’s paragon of perfection, returns to action Saturday in the 73rd running of the Grade I, $250,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap at Santa Anita, where last seen on Nov. 7 she was scoring an unprecedented victory over males in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic that extended her unbeaten streak to 14, led to a repeat as champion older female, and emblazoned her enormous popularity.

If you listen to her Hall of Fame jockey, Zenyatta’s 2010 campaign as a 6-year-old will only buttress her brilliance. “I know it sounds funny,” Mike Smith said following a recent workout, “but I really think she’s getting better.”

WILLIE MARTINEZ NAMED HILTON GARDEN INN JOCKEY OF THE MONTH

OLDSMAR, Fla. (March 10, 2010) Hilton Garden Inn Jockey of the Month Willie Martinez has had an outstanding week at the Oldsmar oval, booting home five winners from nine starters at average odds of 13-1. One of those wins was in March 13’s Challenger Stakes, when Martinez guided Bold Start to victory in track record-setting fashion, besting the previous fastest time set by Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense for the 1 1/16 miles distance.

IT’S HARD TO QUIBBLE WITH BICKERSONS IN CICADA

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Back on short rest, Bickersons heads a field of eight 3-year-old fillies assembled for Saturday’s 18th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Cicada at Aqueduct Racetrack, the first graded stakes of the year in New York for females.

The dark bay daughter of Silver Deputy was dominant in the Grade 2, seven-furlong Forward Gal stakes at Gulfstream Park two starts back on January 31, winning by seven lengths and defeating 2009 2-year-old filly champion She Be Wild, who finished fifth. Bickersons earned a career best Beyer Speed Figure of 97 in the Forward Gal.

GGF TO SIMULCAST RACES FEATURING ZENYATTA AND RACHEL ALEXANDRA

ALBANY -- The undefeated mare Zenyatta and the brilliant filly Rachel Alexandra will both be in action Saturday and Golden Gate Fields will simulcast their respective races.

Zenyatta, the champion mare of 2008 and 2009, will make her 2010 debut in the Grade 1 $250,000 Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita. Perfect in 14 career races, Zenyatta will be making her first start since she unleashed an electrifying stretch run to defeat top male runners in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 7.

de Kock in Secret Jebel Ali Sprint bid

Friday's Jebel Ali meeting features a cracking renewal of the Listed Jebel Ali Sprint, over 1000m and sponsored by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Farm.

Hammadi won the race last year for Doug Watson, who also has Alsadeek in the field this year, when chased home by Frosty Secret and Alo Pura who both renew rivalry.

Wednesday, March 10 2010

Eskendereya Leads Florida Derby Nominations

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL (Wed., Mar. 10, 2010) – Zayat Stable’s Eskendereya, 8 ½ lengths winner of the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 20, is among 92 3-year-olds nominated for the $750,000 Florida Derby (G1) to be run at 1 1/8 miles on Sat., Mar. 20, and trainer Todd Pletcher has confirmed it is the next logical start for his promising colt.

The 59th edition of the Florida Derby will highlight the biggest day of racing annually on the South Florida calendar and will also include renewals of the $150,000 Swale Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs, $200,000 Bonnie Miss Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles, $150,000 Rampart Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles and $100,000 Appleton Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 7 ½ furlongs on turf.

Grasshopper & ‘Phil’ Clash in Gulfstream Park Handicap

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL (Wed., Mar. 10, 2010) – William S. Farish and partners’ 6-year-old Grasshopper and Paul Pompa, Jr. and partners’ highly-accomplished sprinter This Ones for Phil meet for the first time going one mile Saturday in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2), a distance perhaps short for one and longer than the other prefers.

Jockey Alan Garcia rides Grasshopper for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin in the 66th running of the storied event won early in its history by Armed, Coaltown, Sailor, Round Table, Bald Eagle, Kelso and Gun Bow and later by Forego, Bowl Game, Christmas Past, Cigar, Skip Away and Corinthian.

Santa Anita STABLE NOTES, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10TH, 2010

ZENYATTA TO ARRIVE AT SANTA ANITA THURSDAY FOR 2010 DEBUT SATURDAY

The countdown to Zenyatta’s 2010 debut is on in earnest. The undefeated Breeders’ Cup Classic winner is set to accept high weight of 127 pounds for Saturday’s Grade I, $250,000 Santa Margarita Handicap, a race the racing world expects will lead to a showdown with Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the $5 million Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park on April 9.

Hollinger heads Queen’s Plate Winterbook

TORONTO, March 10 - Undefeated three-year-old Hollinger was today installed the early 5-2 favourite for the 151st edition of the Queen's Plate.

Last year, Sam-Son Farm’s Eye of the Leopard rallied in deep stretch to defeat Mr. Foricos Two U and Milwaukee Appeal to take the winner's share of the $1 million purse. The son of A.P. Indy was 40-1 in the Winterbook.

Rachel Alexandra Stretches Legs in Wednesday Gallop, plus New Orleans Ladies Facts & Figures

NEW ORLEANS (Wednesday, March 10, 2010) – Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra returned to the track Wednesday morning for an easy gallop three days prior to her 4-year-old debut in Saturday’s $200,000 New Orleans Ladies. On Tuesday, the Medaglia d’Oro filly walked the shed row in trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn, the normal routine on the morning following a workout. Wednesday’s exercise came over a fast track on a breezy morning with temperatures in the low-60s.