Around the Backstretch (6/28/11)

Some news and notes from around the horse racing world on this Tuesday:

North America

Hollywood: Thursday carryover $111,940 - Daily Racing Form
There is a pick six carryover of $111,940 for Thursday's eight-race program at Hollywood Park after the upset win of Woebegon ($29.60) in Sunday's ninth race, for 2-year-olds maidens.

Arlington: Block veteran earns enviable speed figure - Daily Racing Form
Chris Block was more than a little surprised to hear that he trains one of the fastest horses in the country, at least according to the initial Beyer Speed Figure assigned to Shrewd Operator for his win Saturday in the White Oak Handicap.

Hollywood Oaks winner Zazu headed to Alabama - Daily Racing Form
Zazu will be pointed for the $500,000 TVG Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 20, said trainer John Sadler. Zazu won the Grade 2 Hollywood Oaks at Hollywood Park on Saturday, catching Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty in the final furlong of the race over 1 1/16 miles. Sadler said on Sunday that Zazu will have “a Blind Luck-like schedule” this summer.

Derby-winning owner Cornacchia dies at 78 - Thoroughbred Times
Joseph M. Cornacchia, co-owner of Kentucky Derby (G1) winners Strike the Gold and Go for Gin and a former member of the New York Racing Association’s board of directors, died on Sunday. He was 78.

Pedigree Patterns: Giants Play a magnificent epitaph for Sangster - Thoroughbred Times
After John Ferguson signed the ticket for a Keeneland broodmare-record $10.5-million for champion Playful Act (Ire) at the 2007 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, he made a special point of honoring the accomplishments of her breeder, the late Robert Sangster.

Sorting Out IRAP, PRP, and Stem Cells - BloodHorse.com
A look at new methods of treatment for injured horses.

Industry Insights: Stability is a good thing - Thoroughbred Times
With the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. June sale now in the books, it is apparent that the 2011 two-year-old sales season was as good as, or perhaps even a little better, than most observers expected.

International

Coolmore trio now eligible for Breeders’ Cup - Thoroughbred Times
International racing fans hoping to catch a glimpse of European standouts Treasure Beach, Canford Cliffs, and So You Think on U.S. soil might be in luck later this year with the trio being recently nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program through the special open enrollment program.

BBC Sport - Workforce and So You Think among Eclipse field at Sandown
The 2010 Epsom Derby winner Workforce and So You Think are among eight horses left in Saturday's Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.

GERMANY: Brown Panther drawn two of 18 for Derby - Horse Racing News - Racing Post
Royal Ascot winner Brown Panther has been handed a favourable inside draw in box two in an 18 runner field for Sunday's Deutsches Derby at Hamburg racecourse

ITALY: Deauville date for Lockinge second Worthadd - Horse Racing News - Racing Post
JLT Lockinge Stakes runner up Worthadd is set to return to action in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on August 15 after which the Breeders' Cup Mile will provide his longer term target

Canford Cliffs v Frankel would be a clash to relish - The BHA handicappers - Greyhound Blogs - Racing Post
IT'S been just about the busiest week of the year for our team of Flat handicappers but there hasn't been a single complaint. Royal Ascot is one thing, but this year's meeting proved something else.

International Spotlight: Japanese planning Arc assault - Thoroughbred Times
In what has become a concerted effort to lift Europe's most valued Thoroughbred prize, four Japanese-trained horses are being aimed at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on October 2.