Samaritan looking Good

GOOD Samaritan continued to flourish since trainer Bill Mott switched WinStar Farm’s son of Harlan’s Holiday to the turf, dominating the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds on the Louisiana Derby undercard.

Once again, Good Samaritan lagged and pounced to win. The race was marred by the injury to favorite, The Player. Owner/trainer Buff Bradley reported that surgery on The Player’s fractured sesamoids was a success.

Hint is hot

TOP sprinter Imperial Hint returned to win the Horses Races Now Sprint at Tampa Bay Downs on March 25th, his first start since finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar in November. The over-achieving son of Imperialism could have a big year for the low-profile barn of former jockey Luis Carvajal Jr.

Saez sizzles

JOCKEY Luis Saez won seven of 11 races at Gulfstream Park on March 29th to pad his lead atop the jockey’s standings at the winter meet. It’s the second time Saez has won seven on a card at Gulfstream this winter, tying a record.

Fatal fall

JOCKEY Jose Flores died March 22nd, after suffering a fall at Parx Racing on March 19th. The 57-year-old veteran was the all-time earnings leader at the Pennsylvania track, winning 4,650 races the hard way, banging out a living as the consummate professional, the jockey’s jockey.

Derby auditions

THE Florida Derby highlights the flat schedule on Saturday. The Grade 1 stakes attracted the best field of three-year-olds so far as Promises Fulfilled and Strike Power, 1-2 in the Fountain of Youth, Holy Bull winner Audible and Tampa Bay Derby runner-up Catholic Boy attempt to punch their tickets to the big dance in May.

Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming returns to the races for the first time since Saratoga. The Pletcher-trainee faces five rivals in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Hardacre Mile Stakes on the Florida Derby undercard.