July 10 - Arguably the horse with the best name in horseracing, 6-year-old gelding Benny the Bull will be back tomorrow (Saturday, July 11) at Calder Racecourse in Miami, Florida to defend his title in the $350,000 Smile Sprint Handicap (Gr 2), a prestigious 6 furlong race contested over dirt.

Always a crowd pleaser, Benny the Bull should be well-backed tomorrow and his trainer Rick Dutrow Jr and fans alike will be hoping he delivers the same kind of victory he delivered here last year. Then, with Edgar Prado aboard, he rallied in final stages to cross the line two lengths clear of How's Your Halo.

Not long after the Smile Sprint Handicap, Benny the Bull suffered a serious ankle injury that kept him out of racing for 11 months, and there was even a fear that it would end the 2008 Eclipse Award winner's career. But thankfully he recovered fully, and returned to racing five weeks ago at Belmont Park in NY.

Dutrow entered the gelding in the 6 furlong True North Handicap (Gr 2) where came second to Fabulous Strike. Pleased with his performance, Dutrow said that it was the ideal prep race for tomorrow's Smile Sprint. 'I think his last race was great coming off the layoff and should really help him,' he said.

'Right now Benny's on top of his game and I'm confident he's going to run another big race on Saturday. I love the way he is right now. I looked this race over, and if he plays his game he's by far the best horse in the field and they've got to beat him.' Carrying 124 pounds, Benny will again have Prado aboard.

Other contenders in the big race include his long-time rival How's Your Halo, as well as Processor's Turf, Yesbyjimminy, Ikigai and Eaton's Gift, who has travelled to Florida from his home base in Kentucky. In February How's Your Halo chalked up a win in the Richter Scale Sprint Handicap, beating Ikigai.

Also on the 13-race card tomorrow at Calder is the Princess Rooney Handicap (Gr 1), which was expected to be a humdinger with female sprint champion, Indian Blessing, but she was scratched earlier this week. The Smile Sprint and the Richter Scale are both 2009 Breeders' Cup Win and You're in races.

Other Articles:

Rachel Alexandra to Race in Haskell - 07-15-09

Eaton no Gift for Benny the Bull in Smile Sprint - 07-13-09

Big City Man Dies From Strangulated Cecum - 07-12-09

Pioneerof The Nile Forced to Retire - 09-11-09

Rocket Man Sidelined Following Injury - 07-09-09

Gai Waterhouse in Sydney Premiership Lead - 07-08-09

Large Field Expected in Hollywood Gold Cup - 07-08-09

Big City Life Wins 2009 Durban July Handicap - 07-06-09





2011/12/09 12:49:08 AM