Feb. 22-23

February 22-23

UPI Weekend Racing - U.S. and Around the Globe Highlights include two Derby preps and two Oaks preps, plus some handicaps in the U.S. and two overseas Grade 1 contests in Hong Kong and Japan.

UPI Racing Roundup Past Weekend

ROAD TO THE CROWN

All things Ky DerbyTrail / Triple Crown  Also, look for Jeremy Plonk's COUNTDOWN TO THE CROWN Feb. 21 edition.
Pursuit of the Crown - HRTV 2-20-14

Beginning Saturday, February 22 through the Sunland Derby on March 23, the Kentucky Derby qualifying races will give the winner enough points to ensure entry into the starting gate on the first Saturday in May, and in some cases, second place will have enough points as well.  The two qualifying races this weekend, the Risen Star at the Fair Grounds, and the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream, will award 50-20-10-5 points to the first 4 finishers in each race.

For Oaks standings, go to:  KY Oaks Leaderboard

KY Oaks Prep Schedule
KY Derby Prep Schedule
KY Derby Leaderboard
Year To Date Graded Stakes Race Replays
Steve Haskin Derby Dozen - Feb. 17
A Day In The Life of Jockey Mike Smith

FEATURED RACES 

Ann Maree's Time Ordered Races/Entries - printable file

Come back here once the race is run for a replay at BloodHorse Results page at the Card link.

SATURDAY

1:52 ET  King's Point S. (R), Aqu, $100,000, 3&Up, 1 1/16m  R4 CARD
2:56 ET  John B. Campbell H., Laurel, $100,000, 3&Up, 1 1/8m R6  CARD
4:17 ET  Stymie S, Aqu, $100,000 3+, 1 1/8 Mi, R9  CARD
4:24 ET  Barbara Fritchie H. (G2), Laurel, $300,000, 3&Up, F&M, 7f  R9 CARD
4:33 ET Davona Dale S.-G2, GP, $200,000, 3yo, F, 1 1/16m # R9 #  CARD
5:03 ET Canadian Turf S.-G3, GP, $150,000, 4yo/Up, 1mt R10  CARD
5:25 ET Rachel Alexandra S.-G3, FG,  $200,000, 3yo, F, 1 1/16m # R9 #  CARD
5:33 ET Fountain Of Youth S.-G2, GP, $400,000, 3yo,1 1/16m * R11  CARD
5:38 ET  Spring Fever S., Oaklawn, $100,000, 4&Up, F&M, 5 1/2f R8  CARD
5:55 ET Fair Grounds H.-G3, FG, $150,000, 4yo/Up, 1 1/8mt R10  CARD
6:25 ET Risen Star S.-G2, $400,000, FG, 3yo, 1 1/16m *  R11  CARD
6:40 ET Mine That Bird Derby, Sunland, $120,000, 3yo, 1 1/16 Mi, R10  CARD
6:55 ET Mineshaft H.-G3, FG, $150,000, 4yo/Up, 1 1/16m R12  CARD
7:00 ET  Sensational Star S. (r), SA, $100,000, 4&up, abt 6 1/2fT R8  CARD
* = Derby Prep points 50-20-10-5             # = Oaks Prep points 50-20-10-5

Results (for replay of races, click on above Card)
Wildcat Red outduels General A Rod in Fountain of Youth
Intense Holiday gets up late for Risen Star
Untapable dominates in Rachel Alexandra
Onlyforyou uncatchable in Davona Dale
My Wandy's Girl prevails in Barbara Fritchie, avenging narrow loss last year

More on today's races:
Ria Antonia's connections seek respect in the Rachel Alexandra
Steve Haskin podcast on General A Rod in the Fountain of Youth
General A Rod in the Gulfstream Park Derby beating Wildcat Red by a head

SUNDAY
International
Japan
Race Card - Grade 1 February Stakes - Tokyo - Dirt
1:40 a.m. ET  February Stakes Preview  Tokyo, $1.8 Million, 4+, 1600 meters, dirt

From UPI:  "Sunday, 16 horses will start in the 31st running of the February Stakes. Most attention is on Belshazzar, winner of last November's Group 1 Japan Cup Dirt at Kyoto, and Hokko Tarumae, who finished third in that event. However, both are tentatively ticketed for the March 29 races in Dubai and may not be fully cranked for this event."

Result:  COPANO RICKEY Pulls Upset in this year’s February Stakes - write up. Copano Rickey gave a terrific stretch run to deter the chase from some of the top dirt runners and take home his first G1 victory in his first attempt at this level and the first start of 2014. The Gold Allure colt was the first least favored horse in 13 years and fourth overall to win a JRA G1 title.

Hong Kong
Military Attack primed to strike back in the Hong Kong Gold Cup
3:00 a.m. ET  Hong Kong Gold Cup, G1, $1,031,000, 2000 meters, R7
Preview of Hong Kong Gold Cup
Race card - Grade 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup
Military Attack has to face Akeed Mofeed, who won his prep for this race 3 weeks back. 
Note:  If you haven't explored the Hong Kong Jockey Club's site, be sure to click on the Race Card, then enjoy exploring each horse's form, including free replays of past races.  A pure pleasure to navigate.

Result:  Race replay in English    Write-up of result
MILITARY ATTACK STEPS UP AND REASSERTS IN THE HONG KONG GOLD CUP! After some hard losses in his last few times up, he overcame having to look at Akeed Mofeed's heels in the past, AM could manage no more than a 5th. Military Attack makes it 2 for 2 in the Gold Cup in dominant fashion.