Horse Racing News

Kanthaka benefited from a torrid early pace that sapped odds-on favorite Ax Man and set it up for a horse with Kanthaka's late-running style.

Stronger Than Ever, the 3-year-old filly who scored an upset victory Jan. 13 in the Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds, won't start in the Grade 2, $200,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes on Feb. 17.

Dona Bruja will have a new rider in Eclipse champion Jose Ortiz when she faces La Coronel and Ultra Brat in a terrific lineup of eight older fillies and mares in the Grade 3, 1 1/16-mile Endeavour Stakes on Saturday.

If anyone ever accuses Mark Casse of having Derby fever, well, he's got a good comeback. "Doesn't everybody?" Casse said, laughing.

Trainer Mark Casse said all systems are go with World Approval, the reigning Eclipse turf champion who will be using the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Stakes on Saturday as a prep for the $6 million Dubai Turf on March 31. John Velazquez has the return mount.

Trainer Mark Hennig was in New York on Wednesday, getting a little taste of winter as snow fell gently outside of his Belmont Park office.

Itsinthepost won his fifth Grade 2 stakes in the last year in Saturday's $200,690 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita, holding off Hayabusa One to win by a nose.

What failed on the backstretch worked in the homestretch for Accelerate in Saturday's Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita.

Trainer Todd Pletcher called a bit of an audible when bringing his talented New York-bred Audible down to south Florida a little earlier than originally planned due to the inclement weather and spate of cancellations at Aqueduct earlier this winter.

Speed Franco took the length of the stretch to reel in front-running Gidu in a photo finish while Untamed Domain had to settle for the best view when finishing another 2 3/4 lengths back in third in a field of nine 3-year-olds Saturday in the Dania Beach.