Horse Racing News on February 27, 2010

Gitano Hernando's Lingfield Park prep for the Dubai World Cup went off without a hitch on Saturday as he cruised to a comfortable 4 1/2-length victory in the $61,000 listed Winter Derby Trial.

What figured to be a highly competitive second-level allowance race for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park turned into a showcase for the English-bred Radiohead, who cruised to an easy victory over stablemate Homeboykris in Saturday's third event.

Backtalk, one of the more accomplished 2-year-olds of 2009, won at two turns for the first time Friday night when he made his season debut in the $75,000 Sportsman's Paradise at Delta Downs.

Dont Blame the Cat made it two wins in a row at Laurel Park on Saturday, coming on with a late run to win the seven-furlong, $54,000 Miracle Wood by a length over Regal Warrior, with the pacesetting Cole T another half-length back in third.

Comedero gave his trainer, Michael Stidham, his second stakes win in less than a half-hour on Saturday, when he powered home by 4 1/2 lengths in the $60,000 Mountain Valley at Oaklawn Park.

Tizaqueena made her graded stakes mark racing on turf during 2009, but this mare also gets over dirt -- Fair Grounds dirt, at least -- just fine.

There are owners who go out and spend millions of dollars looking for a Kentucky Derby horse, and trainers who stockpile prospects in the hope that one of them gets there. Mike Machowsky does not have that luxury.

He was a good second in a Grade 3 turf stakes last fall at Keeneland, then was 18-1 when ridden by Garrett Gomez in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. And he's a 2010 Triple Crown nominee.

The Grade 2 Davona Dale traditionally serves as a prep for the richer Bonnie Miss later in the meet.