Horse Racing Cpasules: N.Y. gov drops support for Aqueduct racino group

ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. David Paterson’s administration dropped its support Thursday for a consortium chosen to build and operate up to 4,500 video slot machines at the Aqueduct racetrack, promising to further delay the 8-year-old plan to put a lucrative racino in Queens.

The governor’s office said in a terse statement that it wants a quick and transparent process to choose another operator after the state Lottery Division concluded it can’t issue a gaming license to Aqueduct Entertainment Group.

The racino has been seen as a way to generate hundreds of millions of dollars to help support public education and the state’s horse racing industry.

AEG attorney Barry Berke called the state decision "arbitrary and capricious" and said the group remains ready and able to close a deal and pay an upfront $300 million fee. He also raised the possibility of a lawsuit.

"In the event that AEG is not given an opportunity to address the issues raised by the Lottery, and the decision to reverse the prior selection of AEG as the successful bidder is not reconsidered, AEG intends to pursue all available remedies," he said.

Problems with applications filed by AEG included a changing list of participants, with some dropped only after reviewers discovered they were unqualified, according to Lottery Division officials. Applications were never filed on behalf of some others who withdrew, they said.

The group includes builders, bankers and a casino operator. A minor stakeholder, the Rev. Floyd Flake, recently withdrew. The politically influential Queens pastor and former congressman said his involvement had become a distraction from his church and community work.

Paterson, Senate Democratic leader John Sampson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver chose AEG in late January from among a half-dozen bidders to build and operate the racino. Sampson said he respects the Paterson administration’s decision.

"We need now to move forward with the selection of a new vendor in a responsible and timely manner," he said.

Silver had set four conditions on AEG’s selection before he would sign an agreement, including payment of an upfront $300 million licensing fee, which another bidder offered and which AEG agreed to pay by March 31. He also required all investors to get a New York gaming license, which would exclude anyone denied a license elsewhere or convicted in the past 15 years of fraud, theft, tax evasion or any other financial crime.

"According to information put out by the governor today, those conditions could not be met," Silver spokesman Dan Weiller said.

After AEG was chosen, losing bidders quickly raised complaints, including political favoritism.

State Inspector General Joseph Fisch and federal investigators have requested records related to the bidders from the Lottery Division. Silver had asked Fisch to examine whether the selection process broke any laws and his conditions were followed.

Last week, Paterson recused himself from negotiations with AEG, citing the advice of his lawyer, and delegated the task to his staff.

The governor has said that a meeting with Flake to seek his political support shortly after AEG was selected was unrelated to the decision. He said that meeting had been postponed for six months while the Aqueduct bids were reviewed.

The governor subsequently dropped out of the race for election to a full term. Flake is also a political mentor to Senate President Malcolm Smith of Queens.

"You know, the bottom line for me is we need to get this done. This is the problem with government," Sampson said Wednesday as the deal appeared to be collapsing. "This is what people are saying. This is exactly what is wrong with government. Too many bureaucrats, red tape going on, investigations. If this was private industry, the deal would have been made."

Lookin At Lucky to make 2010 debut in Rebel

Lookin At Lucky won’t be looking at much in Saturday’s Rebel Stakes, and that’s exactly how his trainer wants it.

The Kentucky Derby hopeful will wear blinkers for the first time when he makes his 2010 debut in the second of Oaklawn Park’s three big 3-year-old prep races. Lookin At Lucky headlines a seven-horse field for the Rebel in Hot Springs, Ark., which will be his first race since December.

Although his horse has won five of six career starts, trainer Bob Baffert is willing to tinker a bit since the Derby is still a little while off. Blinkers can restrict a horse’s vision a bit, reducing distractions and helping him stay focused on running straight.

"When he makes the lead, he sort of shuts it down. So far he’s been working with blinkers, and he’s been working very well with it," Baffert said. "We’re running on dirt, blinkers. We’re going to find out a lot about him. If you’re going to do an experiment, it’s important to do it in this race and not the race next. The final prep is important."

Oaklawn’s preps have included several successful horses in recent years, including Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex and Curlin. This year’s series started with the Southwest last month and concludes with the Arkansas Derby on April 10.

Conveyance, another Baffert-trained horse, won the Southwest, but he’s not in the Rebel. Dublin and Cardiff Giant, second and third in the Southwest, will be in the race Saturday. Dublin was second by less than a length after a difficult start.

"That stumble, on the second stride, cost him the race," trainer D. Wayne Lukas said after the Southwest. "But, he’s a good one."

Cardiff Giant, trained by Jorge Periban, was 2¼ lengths behind the winner in what was his first start on a non-synthetic surface.

"He likes this track," said Ricardo Contreras, Periban’s assistant. "It’s hard to find fault. ... He’s a little horse with a strong heart."

Lookin At Lucky is in a similar spot now, making his first start on a non-synthetic track. Baffert said Oaklawn’s surface is similar to Churchill Downs.

"I want to see what he can do on dirt," he said. "A lot of questions will be answered."

Lookin At Lucky’s only loss last year was a close second at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and he was voted the year’s top 2-year-old male. Despite not racing yet this year, Lookin At Lucky is the leader in graded stakes earnings for the Kentucky Derby.

Dublin is ninth, and the Rebel field also includes fourth-place Noble’s Promise, trained by Ken McPeek. Noble’s Promise won three straight races last year, including the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity. He hasn’t raced since December, when he was a close second to Lookin At Lucky in the Cashcall Futurity.

The Rebel field, from the rail out, is: Cardiff Giant, Lookin At Lucky, Royal Express, Uh Oh Bango, Pleasant Storm, Noble’s Promise and Dublin.

Although the field isn’t all that big, the race should be a good test for Lookin At Lucky.

"It’s going to be very competitive," Baffert said. "I want a competitive race for him. He needs to run. He’s going to get into a fight. Dublin ran well last time. Noble Promise is tough. It depends on what kind of trip, how they break."

-- Noah Trister

Zenyatta arrives at Santa Anita for season debut

ARCADIA, Calif. — Zenyatta has arrived at Santa Anita for final preparations ahead of her return to racing in the $250,000 Santa Margarita Handicap.

She arrived Thursday morning by van from her home base across town at Hollywood Park. Undefeated in 14 career races, the 6-year-old mare was scheduled to walk in Santa Anita’s paddock between races later in the day.

Zenyatta has been idle since beating the boys in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic in November on the same synthetic track that she’ll run on Saturday.

She’s been assigned high weight of 127 pounds for the Santa Margarita — 12 to 19 pounds more than her eight filly and mare rivals. Zenyatta is the 1-9 morning-line favorite in the 1 1-8-mile race.

Zenyatta was runner-up in the Horse of the Year balloting to filly Rachel Alexandra, who will make her season debut Saturday in New Orleans.

The two superstars are set to meet for the first time April 9 in the $5 million Apple Blossom Handicap in Arkansas.

Shine Upon wins Dreamy Mimi Stakes

NEW YORK — Shine Upon stretched her unbeaten streak to three, holding off Speightful Affair by a nose Thursday to win the $60,000 Dreamy Mimi Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct.

In the blanket finish, Anchorage got third — only a neck behind the top two.

It was the first tight finish for Shine Upon following wins by 4 and 6½ lengths, both at Aqueduct. She gained a slim lead on the final turn and battled to the wire to secure the victory. The time was 1:42.99 for the one mile, 70 yards on the fast track.

David Cohen was aboard for trainer Mike Hushion as Shine Upon paid $4.90, $3.40 and $2.50 as the 7-5 favorite. Speightful Affair returned $3 and $2.40 while Anchorage paid $2.50 to show.

Meadowlands to reschedule nine harness racing dates

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Meadowlands Racetrack is rescheduling nine dates on its harness racing calendar for later this year.

The track announced the move Thursday. While it did not give a reason for pushing back the dates, it is believed running them later will be more profitable.

The track said it will not run on March 17, 21, 24, 28 and 31; April 11 and 18; Memorial Day (May 31); and Father’s Day (June 20).