Horse Racing News

Mizdirection, making her first start since defeating males in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, ran down speedy Kindle in the shadow of the wire to register a repeat victory in the Monrovia Stakes over the hillside turf course at Santa Anita Park Jan. 6.

In his final start before he heads off to stud in California, grade I winner Coil outlasted Ultimate Eagle by a short head following a terrific stretch duel in the $150,000 San Pasqual Stakes Jan. 5 at Santa Anita Park.

Garland Williamson's homebred Hard Not to Like, whose 2012 Queen's Plate ambitions were derailed by injury, made a successful return to action in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Marshua's River Stakes on the Gulfstream Park turf.

Goldencents completed a sweep of Saturday's major three-year-old stakes by sons of Into Mischief with a workmanlike score in the Grade 3, $100,000 Sham at Santa Anita.

Pick Six Racing's Vyjack displayed plenty of heart in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Jerome at Aqueduct, re-rallying to the lead in deep stretch to post a head decision.

Finalists for the 2012 Eclipse Awards were announced Jan 5 by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters.

It's a long way from the first Saturday in January to the first Saturday in May, but for newly-minted 3-year-olds the $200,000 Jerome Stakes and the $100,000 Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack could serve as a road map to the future.

The Triple Crown season at Santa Anita Park begins Jan. 5 with the Sham Stakes led by Goldencents, recent winner of the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot and runner-up in the prestigious Champagne Stakes.

Two months out from the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert already has stable star Game On Dude penciled in for the prestigious 1 1/4-mile test.

Gulfstream Park's preliminary filing for racing dates shows it plans to have racing every week, in some cases just on Saturdays and Sundays, with a total of 153 race days during the 12 months beginning July 1.