Horse Racing News

Rachel Alexandra had another serious Monday workout at Churchill Downs, going six furlongs in 1:12 over a fast track. Afterward, trainer Steve Asmussen once again declined to commit the 2009 Horse of the Year to an upcoming race.

It may be June at Churchill Downs or June or July at Hollywood Park before the undefeated champion Zenyatta makes her next start.

Several prospects for the Coolmore Lexington Stakes had their final pre-race workouts Saturday, including Distorted Dave, a John Sadler-trained colt who figures as one of the top contenders for the Grade 2 race.

New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation postponed a plan to close on Sunday by at least a week after officials said state's legislators have shown progress in devising a plan to shore up the company's financial position, at least temporarily.

The trend has been unmistakable. Time and again in recent months, across all divisions, horses have been leaving Southern California, having raced or trained on the synthetic surfaces at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park, and won when moving to dirt.

The filly stretched and strained and a lead that was a length in early stretch was down to a neck at the finish of the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland last weekend.

Trainer Todd Pletcher reports that Eskendereya is doing very well after his eye-catching performance in last Saturday's Grade 1 Wood Memorial and is back galloping over his winter base at the Palm Meadows training center.

In an effort that thoroughly delighted the crowd of 44,973 that stuffed itself into Oaklawn Park on Friday, the great Zenyatta ran her perfect record to 16-0 with another flawless performance.

Karelian got a great forward trip under Julien Leparoux and had plenty in reserve to turn back a sustained run by favored Court Vision and avenge a bitter defeat in the Grade 1, $300,000 Maker's Mark Mile on a sun-splashed Friday afternoon at Keeneland.

Custom for Carlos usually has the need for speed, but he showed a new dimension on Friday, rallying from slightly off the pace under a clever ride by Mike Smith to win the Grade 3, $150,000 Count Fleet Handicap for older sprinters at Oaklawn Park.