HORSE RACING NOTEBOOK: NOTHING EASY AHEAD FOR HARD SPUN.Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services This three-day horse-racing weekend could be pivotal for Hard Spun Hard Spun (foaled May 10, 2004 near Malvern, Pennsylvania) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse that finished second in the 2007 Kentucky Derby. The son of three-time Leading sire in North America, Danzig. He is from one of the last crops by danzig. , who heads a shrinking list of 3-year-olds with a chance to emulate Barbaro and Smarty Jones Smarty Jones (born February 28, 2001) is a thoroughbred race horse, and winner of the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He is a third-generation descendant of Mr. and become an unbeaten Kentucky Derby Kentucky Derby One of the classic U.S. Thoroughbred horse races. It was established in 1875 and run annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs track in Louisville, Ky. With the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, it makes up U.S. racing's coveted Triple Crown. winner. Hard Spun, whose Pennsylvania roots remind fans of those stars already, is 4 for 4 going into the $250,000 Southwest Stakes The Southwest Stakes is a race for thoroughbred horses held on President's Day Weekend at Oaklawn Park. The Southwest Stakes is open to three-year-olds willing to race one mile on the dirt. An ungraded stakes event, it offers a purse of $250,000. on Monday at Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is the home of The Racing Festival of the South. History and information Oaklawn Park officially opened on February 24, 1905. in Hot Springs, Ark. That's the most victories without a defeat in North America of any nominee for the May 5 Kentucky Derby. EZ Warrior is 3 for 3, but the Bob Baffert-trained colt hasn't raced beyond 6 furlongs. Day Pass is 2 for 2 and, like Hard Spun, the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained gray has gone 1 mile. Tiz Wonderful was 3 for 3 for Steve Asmussen, and was the most accomplished unbeaten with a Grade II win at 11/16 miles until physical problems knocked him off the Triple Crown trail. Two unbeatens lost last weekend: Lawrence the Roman (now 3 for 4) in the Whirlaway at Aqueduct, and the champion 2-year-old filly Dreaming of Anna Dreaming of Anna (foaled February 5, 2004 at Lantern Hill Farm in Midway, Kentucky) is an American thoroughbred filly racehorse. She was sired by the outstanding English and American stud, Rahy out of the Broad Brush mare, Justenuffheart, who was a multi graded stakes race winner (4 for 5) in a minor stakes at Gulfstream Park. Hard Spun, a Pennsylvania-bred son of Danzig who is trained by Larry Jones, ran away with the LeComte Stakes at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans lastmonth and has won his fourstarts by a seven-length average. At Santa Anita: The Grade II, $150,000 San Carlos and Buena Vista handicaps bookend a Presidents Day weekend of fourstakes at Santa Anita. In Saturday's San Carlos at 7furlongs, Malibu Stakes winner Latent Heat (Edgar Prado riding), first or second in seven of ninestarts for trainer Bobby Frankel, steps up to face stakes-level older horses, including Siren Lure (Richard Migliore) and Proud Tower Too (David Cohen). In the Buena Vista on Monday for fillies and mares going 1 mile on turf, Mia Domina (Tyler Baze), 4 for 4 on the Santa Anita grass, seeks another strong return from a layoff for trainer Ron McAnally. The 6-year-old shares the 120-pound high weight with Attima (Victor Espinoza). McCaffery memorial: Trudy McCaffery, the thoroughbred owner and breeder and racing activist who died of cancer on Monday at age 62, will be honored in a memorial service today at 5 p.m. in the Santa Anita Turf Club Chandelier Room. McCaffery -- who, with then-partner John Toffan, campaigned such horses as Free House, Bien Bien, Came Home and Mane Minister -- will be remembered as much for her involvement in the sport's politics and charities as anythng else. Hoping to foster racing interest, she founded the program Kids to the Cup, starting by taking groups of young people to the Breeders' Cup and extending it to include trips to the Kentucky Derby. "She was an enthusiastic, passionate supporter of the sport," said Sherwood Chillingworth, executive director of the OakTree Racing Association, of which McCaffery was a board member. "Although she was passionate in her beliefs, she was a team player and quick to support whatever the board's consensus was. We will miss her greatly." McCaffery also served on the board of the Edwin J. Gregson Foundation (gregsonfoundation.com), which aids backstretch back·stretch n. The part of an oval racecourse farthest from the spectators and opposite the homestretch. workers. McCaffery's family has requested donations to the foundation in lieu of flowers. Early line on the Derby: Nobiz Like Shobiz Nobiz Like Shobiz (born January 29, 2004) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse, who during his three-year-old season was considered a top contender for the 2007 U.S. Triple Crown series of races. drew the heaviest support in last weekend's Kentucky Derby future betting, the first parimutuel wagering of this Triple Crown season. The Remsen and Holy Bull Stakes The Holy Bull Stakes, once known as the Preview Stakes, is a race for thoroughbred horses dedicated to the famous race horse Holy Bull. It is held in April at Gulfstream Park and open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt. winner closed at 8-1, ahead of Breeders' Cup Juvenile The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Thoroughbred horse race for 2-year-old colts and geldings raced on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup. winner Street Sense (10-1) and Hard Spun (10-1). Churchill Downs offered 23 horses. The "field" (all others) was bet to 5-2. Southern California partisans were able to lock in Ravel at 11-1, Great Hunter at 24-1, Notional at 27-1, Exhale exhale /ex·hale/ (eks´hal) to breathe out. ex·hale v. 1. To breathe out. 2. To emit a gas, vapor, or odor. at 27-1, Belgravia at 29-1, Liquidity at 33-1, Stormello at 40-1 and EZ Warrior at 41-1 to win the May 5 Kentucky Derby. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Trudy McCaffery, with Free House at the 1997 Kentucky Derby, died Monday. Timothy A. Clary/Getty Images Box: OUT OF THE GATE |
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