Horse Racing News on March 7, 2013

Violence, one of the winter book favorites for the Kentucky Derby, has been officially retired from racing and will reside at John G. Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farms near Lexington. The son of Medaglia d'Oro will not stand at stud this year.

Rachel Alexandra was described as "bright and alert with a good appetite" on the evening of March 7 after undergoing a surgical procedure at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital to drain an abscess discovered in the morning.

Jockey Calvin Borel claimed career win No. 5,000 March 7 at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

Janis Whitham's homebred Fort Larned, who has not started since his gutsy victory in the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Classic, will face just five opponents when he makes his 5-year-old debut March 9 in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap.

Highly-regarded sophomore Verrazano makes his stakes debut against eight others March 9 in the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs, rolling in off an impressive 16 3/4-length allowance optional claiming win at Gulfstream Park.

Flashback and Goldencents, acknowledged by most as the leading 3-year-old males in Southern California, meet for the first time in the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes March 9 at Santa Anita Park.