Keeneland Recap – Oct 11th
The Polytrack was fast as always. Turf was listed as yielding. Seven races run on synthetic, and only one wire job as stalkers and closers scored six times. Late runners nabbed all three turf races.
Kent Desormeaux booted home both stakes winners on the day.
Grade 3 Bourbon: Todd Pletcher’s flashy fav Interactif did not disappoint in a good looking off the pace tally. He looms a formidable presence in the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
Grade 1 Spinster: Pace fell apart in this one, and overseas transplant Proviso was the major beneficiary…please hold all …read more

Before I take a look at Super Bowl Sunday’s graded races, let’s review the big events run this week at the Gulf.

Thursday (1-29-09):
Old Hat (G3) runner-up Elusive Heat (Elusive Quality-Xtra Heat) won a 6f allowance race as Alan Garcia pleased and stopped the clock in a rapid 1:08.94. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee is definitely headed back to the stakes ranks, and I would not want to tussle with the fleet miss around one turn.
Friday (1-30-09):
Old Hat (G3) show finisher Frolic’s Dream (Smoke Glacken) rebounded to nab the seven panel Forward Gal (G2) by 2.5 easy lengths. …read more

Sunday (11-30-08) Hollywood Park recap

Five wire jobs on a speed favoring Cushion Track surface. Turf course played fair.
Outstanding turf rider Ramon Dominguez brought home both Grade 1’s. Tyler Baze booted home a pair. Paulo Lobo saddled two winners on the card, including Kentucky Derby also-ran Gayego, who appears headed to the Malibu (G1) at Santa Anita on Dec. 26th.
Chilean bred Cocoa Beach, runner up to Zenyatta in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, ran down Robert Frankel’s lone speedster Precious Kitten in the grassy flat mile Matriarch (G1). Frankel also landed the show with Visit-GB.
Court Vision (YouTube replay …read more