Horse Racing News

Last January, Champ Pegasus was a maiden. By July, he was a two-time winner and stakes-placed. By October, he was a two-time stakes winner. A month later, he nearly won the nation's biggest turf race in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs.

Grant Jack, who is proven class as a stakes winner at two turns, and Archarcharch, who showed raw talent in winning his maiden in a stakes race, meet for the first time Monday in the $100,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park.

Santa Anita's return to a dirt surface this season prompted trainer Steve Asmussen to finally send a string of horses to the West Coast, and California fans are quickly realizing that wherever Asmussen runs, he wins.

Tar Heel Mom appeared home free at midstretch in last year's $100,000 Sugar Swirl at Gulfstream Park only to falter in the final strides and finish third, beaten a head by Pretty Prolific.

Trainer David Fawkes said it would have been a little embarrassing to show up at Monday's night's Eclipse Award ceremonies had his Eclipse Award candidate Big Drama lost his 2011 debut 48 hours earlier in Gulfstream Park's $100,000 Mr. Prospector.

Zazu will have a new jockey when she makes her first start of the season as the favorite in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

The initial list of races for Sidney's Candy at Santa Anita this winter did not include a start in Saturday's $150,000 San Fernando Stakes.

With the Oaklawn Park racing surface failing to thaw out fast enough following a Sunday snowstorm, track officials have called off Friday's nine-race opening-day card. Oaklawn is expected to race on Saturday.

A high-profile trainer, Jones is making his comeback during the Oaklawn Park meet that opens on Friday. He had retired in November 2009, but after clearing up a complex health issue that had dogged him for a while.

The New Jersey Senate and Assembly passed legislation late on Monday night that would direct $30 million over the next three years from a newly created state casino fund to the New Jersey Racing Commission, according to reports.