Horse Racing News on March 12, 2010

Gitano Hernando is looking good for his March 27 date in the Dubai World Cup, trainer Marco Botti reported on his website on Friday. The Newmarket-based Botti was upbeat about the preparations of his recent Winter Derby Trial winner.

John Velazquez has picked himself up a Dubai World Cup ride in the shape of Crowded House.

Trainer Jeffrey Scott Raley has been suspended a year by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission after one of his grooms was found poised to give one of his horses what officials believed to be a syringe of vodka.

A deal to open a casino at Aqueduct is dead again.

She Be Wild is the reigning Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and champion 2-year-old filly, but even her staunchest supporters may have some doubts when she tries dirt for the second time in Saturday's Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs.

Kelly Breen likes how everything is shaping up for his multiple-stakes-winning filly Bickersons entering Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Cicada at Aqueduct. Everything, that is, except the forecast.

Ramon Dominguez said it doesn't feel all that long ago when he won his 1,000th career race. It was actually Oct. 8, 2001.

After running in nothing but Grade 1 stakes since last summer, Beautician will take a meaningful class drop Saturday when she starts her season in the Grade 3, $125,000 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

At first glance, Sunday's Grade 2, $200,000 Inside Information at Gulfstream Park looks like a rematch among Kays and Jays, Tar Heel Mom, and Warbling, who were the first three across the wire here last month in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie.

The Kentucky Derby is seven weeks away, but horseplayers will get a sneak peek at three of its highest-profile candidates when Lookin At Lucky, the champion 2-year-old of 2009, and Dublin and Noble's Promise meet Saturday in the Rebel at Oaklawn Park.