Mullins and O'Neill an embarrassment to training

Here we go again. Southern California based trainers Jeff Mullins and Doug O'Neill have been given suspensions and fines by state regulatory agencies after positive testings in excess of the permitted level of total carbon dioxide.

According to the CHRB, Mullins has been given a 30 day suspension beginning on May 9 and fined $2,500 after Pathbreaking tested positive with a level of 37.9 millimoles per liter, above the permitted threshold of 37 millimoles.

O'Neill has been suspended for 15 days, beginning on May 9 and fined $1,000 after Stephen's Got Hope tested in excess of the 37 millimoles.

Mullins is said to be thinking of appealing his case according to his attorney, Karen Hughes.

Opening weekend at Hollywood Park

Can anyone tell me why Hollywood Park would open on Wednesday to some momentum and then be dark on Thursday? It's okay to go to a four day week and that is probably the best thing to do with racing having short fields so wouldn't a Thursday through Sunday schedule be better? Also, why does track management at Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and Del Mar run nine and ten races on the weekends and then subject themselves to having problems during the week filling the card? Food for thought.

Nice looking win on Saturday by Alphie's Bet when winning the $200,000 Snow Chief. While perhaps a cut below the best around these parts, the 3-year-old colt certainly can make some noise with the way he looked on Saturday. Trained by Alexis Barba and ridden by Mike Smith, the son of Tribal Rule proved a prompt pick at 3-5 while drawing away from his rivals to return $3.40 for the win. Connections say they may be pointing towards a run at the Belmont Stakes next.

Sorry to hear about Eskendereya, the favorite for Saturday's 136th Kentucky Derby, was withdrawn from the race Sunday morning because of swelling in his left front leg, trainer Todd Pletcher said.This is a perfect reason for fans to not get caught up in the hype and hoopla leading up to the Derby. get excited when they enter the gate, not weeks or months before. It may not be as fun, but it certainly keeps one from disappointment and letdowns.

Compari was scratched from Sunday's Grade III $100,000 Inglewood Handicap after "heat" was found in his front foot on Sunday morning. The gelded son of Redattore had galloped on Saturday.

Jess Jackson, the majority owner of 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, confirmed to Churchill Downs officials that Rachel Alexandra would run on Friday in the Grade 2, $400,000 La Troienne Stakes, part of the Kentucky Oaks undercard.

By the way, congratulations to the connections of Gallant Son who took the diluted Grade III $100,000 Inglewood Handicap under Mike Smith who gave the son of Malabar Road a nice ride for trainer Frank Lucarelli. The winner paid $8.20 to his backers.

There will be a Super High 5 carryover of $39,841.40 into Wednesday's card, courtesy of Carbon High who took the 9th race at $62.40.

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A day for the dust to settle

Excuse us for overlooking the importance of yesterday's San Juan Capistrano Handicap run on closing day yesterday at Santa Anita. This has been our favorite race run at Santa Anita since I was a kid and I have always loved the marathon distance run over the turf course. But admittedly, the race has indeed loss a lot of it's luster over the years as the europeans don't ship in as much anymore and the race can sometimes be for higher priced claimers running against one another seeing who can outlast the other. Take for example Skellytown (3rd, 25/1) running off a $25k claim in his last race. But yesterday's race brought back some class to the race, with Bourbon Bay winning.

Bourbon Bay was the first horse in 17 years to have won the Santa Anita San Luis Obispo, the San Luis Rey and the San Juan Capistrano, all marathon turf races, all graded races. The last time a horse accomplished this feat was back in 1993 when Kotashaan took the "series." Astray also won all 3 races in 1974. So Bourban Bay is third horse to accomplish this feat which is worth some recognition for sure. Congratulations to his connections for this feat. As for the europeans returning to the race, well, lets just say that the lone filly entered in the race yesterday didn't inspire many. Going postward at 24-1, Princess Taylor never raised a gallop and finished next to last in the field of 10. Maybe next year we can improve on this area.

Santa Anita was down with figures in all areas when the final numbers were counted.

1. Daily handle was down 15%
2. Overall daily handle was down 11%
3. Track attendance was down 6 %
4. 5 less racing days due to cancelations with rain

Lets hope that track management will elect to bring back the dirt to Santa Anita and fix the drainage situation that has been a huge problem for the start of Oak Tree and run horses over the surface they were meant to run over. Dirt.

Stewards amaze us again, Bourbon Bay takes San Juan

Okay, what is with the Santa Anita stewards? Yesterday we mentioned the jockey's claim of foul in the 6th race in which jockey Joe Talamo was pinched back and had to steady with his mount. Today, again, it happened as Talamo lodged another riders claim of foul in the 8th race as he was bounced and pinballed off of the runner-up while finishing third. In our opinion, not only should the stewards have called both inquiries, they elected to make no change after a review of the tapes. In both cases, there should have been a change made.

Congratulations to the Grade II $150,000 winner of the San Juan Capistrano, Bourbon Bay who swept the three marathon turf races this meeting at Santa Anita. Trained by Neil Drysdale and owned by David and Jil Heerensperger, the son of Sligo Bay returned $3.60 to his backers with the win. The 4-year-old gelding is razor sharp right now, notching up career win number five from 13 career starts.

Hollywood Park opens thier doors on Wednesday April 21 with the start of the 61-day spring/summer meeting.

Tiz Chrome euthanized at Churchill Downs

Sad news from Churchill Downs Sunday morning that the Bob Baffert trained Tiz Chrome was euthanized after a workout. With Dana Barnes aboard, and working in company, Tiz Chrome suffered a compound fracture of his left front leg, according to track officials. Barnes was not injured, nor were any other horses or riders. The incident occurred shortly after all Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses had cleared the track following the 8:30-8:45 a.m. Eastern window reserved solely for them.

Eskendereya breezed Saturday at the Palm Meadows training center in South Florida in 1:02.25 as the colt prepares for the Kentucky Derby for trainer Todd Pletcher. The clockers' stand was overflowing with spectators by the time Eskendereya broke off at the five-furlong pole under exercise rider Patti Barry shortly after 9 a.m. Eskendereya maintained a steady pace throughout over a racetrack officially labeled fast but which was perhaps closer to good after the renovation break, completing his opening quarter-mile in 25.01 seconds and the final quarter in 25.13 into a stiff headwind before galloping out strong and pulling up six furlongs in 1:15.32.

Sidney's Candy worked at Churchill Downs on Saturday, galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.80. "It gave me some goose bumps," said Sadler assistant Larry Benavidez, who watched frontside.

Where does the time go?

Wow! Santa Anita has come and gone. It seems like just yesterday we began the meet at the Great Race Place. Now we look forward to Hollywood Park opening their doors on Wednesday, April 21. Hollywood Park has always been a good meeting for us. We have always enjoyed the Friday night venue and the "fair" synthetic racing surface.

Just how good is Tuscan Evening right now? The daughter of Oasis Dream out of a Suave Dancer mare set the pace with fractions of :24.56, :49.02, 1:13.77, 1:36.91 and a final clocking of 2:00.22 under leading rider Rafael Bejarano for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer while taking Saturday's $150,000 Grade II Santa Barbara Handicap. She was winning her 4th graded stakes of the meeting and has now won from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/4 miles. Can't wait to see her again at Hollywood Park.

So much for the theory that Mr. Gruff would bounce off his solid return win on March 19. Trainer Ronald Ellis had this guy ready to fire again and fire he did with another good looking win in today's Grade III $100,000 San Simeon Handicap. Ridden again nicely by Joel Rosario the 5-year-old gelding turned back all rivals and should be followed again when he surfaces at Hollywood Park.

Race fans are reminded that the best racing coverage is available on-line at http://www.calracing.com/ You get professional racing coverage with a live feed from the race track that shows odds, paddock shots, warm-ups, etc without the constant dribble and meaningless commentary that TVG provides.

One final thought. On questioning today's decision by Santa Anita stewards to let stand the result of the 6th race when jockey Joe Talamo lodged an objection when his mount Afleet Ruler was squeezed in the stretch, one long time veteran observer told us that jockey objections are hardly ever allowed because it makes the stewards look bad for not posting the objection themselves. Certainly was the case here as Talamo had a right to lodge the objection and should have been moved up to the runner-up spot.