Horse Racing News

Kathmanblu solidified her position near the top - if not atop - the 3-year-old filly division with a workmanlike 1 1/4-length win in the Grade 3, $147,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Jockey Eibar Coa underwent surgery to stabilize his fractured C-4 vertebra at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Fla., his agent Tito Fuentes reported shortly before 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Mucho Macho Man and jockey Rajiv Maragh were prominent from the start Saturday before turning back all comers to win the Grade 2, $300,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

After Saturday's $150,000 San Luis Obispo Stakes at Santa Anita, it's safe to say there is a tie at the top of the California turf marathon division.

Though her connections view her as a two-turn horse, Harissa displayed the ability to handle one turn just as well, cruising to a 2 1/4-length victory under Ramon Dominguez in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park.

Calvin Borel won the Meydan Masters International jockey competition at Meydan Racecourse on Friday, a night when trainer Mike de Kock scored a one-two knockout in the Group 2, $200,000 Balanchine Stakes with River Jetez and Reem.

Shipping News, a starter in a 1 3/8-mile maiden turf race Thursday, wound up splashing about in the infield lake following a series of events that began with the horse being pulled up after seven furlongs of the marathon race.

Frank Stronach, chairman and CEO of MI Developments Inc., announced Thursday the formation of the Gulfstream Park Thoroughbred After-Care Program to help find suitable homes for retired Thoroughbreds.

Nominations are out for the four stakes races to be decided here on the weekend of Feb. 26, and the two most important names on those lists are not even in the most important race of that weekend, the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.

Though Sweet Goodbye will have a home-court advantage over a quartet of New York shippers, her connections will be relying simply on her talent when she seeks a repeat victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park.