Jockey Jamie Theriot (TEHR-ee-oh) is appealing a 30-day suspension he received in connection with an accident at Arlington Park that left fellow rider Rene Douglas seriously injured.

Theriot said Wednesday that he consulted with attorneys and members of the racing community before deciding the appeal was the best course of action to take.

The Illinois Racing Board suspended Theriot on Monday after Saturdays spill at the Arlington Matron Handicap.

Theriots horse clipped hooves with the horse Douglas was riding. Douglas horse flipped and tossed him over her head, then landed on him. Douglas agent has said doctors believe he may be partially paralyzed.

Theriots horse was disqualified and placed last for interference.

Supercharged versions of the new Ford Fiesta will make the lines US racing debut at the 87th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on July 19.

The Sweden-based Olsberg Motor Sport Evolution team managed by Andreas Eriksson will bring two Fiesta Rallycross cars to Colorado to try to break the 10-minute mark in the races unlimited class.

Ford is bringing the Fiesta, its small European car, stateside next summer.

Eriksson, 35, a four-time Swedish rally champion, will race one Fiesta and Marcus Gronholm the other. Gronholm, 41, is one of World Rallyings most accomplished drivers, with two World Championships and 30 WRC victories.

Japanese superstar Nobuhiro Tajima will be back in his Suzuki Sport speed machine to go for the mark. He clocked 10:18.250 last summer, and British Rallycross champ Mark Rennison will bring his 1999 Ford RS200.

Olsbergs MSE team debuted its Fiesta Rallycross car for this seasons Swedish and European Rallycross championships, and it scored its first victory in its second European championship event in Portugal last month.

Pikes Peak, with 11 classes in this years race, is the second-oldest motor sports race in America behind the Indy 500 and has been conducted since 1916. The race is run on a 12.42-mile course that begins at 9,390 feet and finishes at the 14,110-foot summit.

An $18 million equine hospital named for the superstar filly Ruffian has opened near Belmont Park, and will specialize in diagnostics and orthopedic surgery for horses of all breeds and disciplines.

Before the Ruffian Equine Medical Center opened, horses that required evaluation or surgery were usually shipped three hours away to the University of Pennsylvanias New Bolton Center, or five hours to Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.

The medical practice will be led by Dr. James Hunt and chief surgeon Dr. Patricia Hogan, but will have an open-door policy for outside surgeons and specialists.

Its overdue considering the population of horses in the area, Hunt said in a statement issued Tuesday. Were thrilled to be able to provide the best services we can to the horse owners, their trainers and their veterinarians.

The 22,000-square-foot facility includes two surgery suites, three recovery stalls, a high-speed treadmill, a full-service laboratory, three climate-controlled stalls and 26 standard stalls in the barn just off the backstretch at Belmont Park.

The medical center was designed and funded by International Equine Acquisitions Holdings, the company that owned last years Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown.

Now that the facility is finished, IEAH is a landlord and the operation of the hospital and the veterinary practice rests exclusively with Doctors Hunt and Hogan and their professional staff, and we wish them the best of luck, IEAH co-president Richard Schiavo said.

IEAH began considering the equine facility in 2003 and broke ground two years ago, near the home of the Belmont Stakes and a short drive from Aqueduct. More than 2,500 horses are regularly stabled between the two Long Island tracks.

The facility was named for Ruffian, who won her first 10 races before breaking down in a 1975 match race with Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure at Belmont Park. The filly is buried near a flag pole in the tracks infield.

A racing official says all flood waters have been pumped out of Daytona International Speedway, and the facility will be ready for the Coke Zero 400 race on the Fourth of July.

Speedway spokesman Andrew Booth said Tuesday that the speedway was not damaged.

Several days of rain drenched Daytona Beach and flooded two parts of the speedway. Water filled a tunnel used by haulers to enter the track and the apron of a viewing area near a manmade lake in the infield. None of the water ever was on the track.

Daytona Beach received 21 inches of rain last week, leaving nearly waist-deep water in several areas.

Its still a waiting game for Rachel Alexandra and jockey Calvin Borel to see if one or both will be in the Belmont Stakes.

Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra worked a half-mile at Churchill Downs on Monday, but the fillys owner says it may be another week before he decides whether to enter her in the final leg of the Triple Crown on June 6.

Jess Jackson said Rachel Alexandra is progressing well and will work again next week before a decision is made on the Belmont.

Jackson and Harold McCormick bought Rachel Alexandra after she won the Kentucky Oaks by 20 lengths May 1. On May 16, she became the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness, with Borel guiding her to a one-length victory over Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. Mike Smith replaced Borel aboard Mine That Bird in the Preakness.
Shes recovering nicely and I think, for the time thats elapsed, only nine days, shes right onbut we cant make a decision until we know, said Jackson, who owns Stonestreet Stable. My concern is her attitude. She thinks she can run through a brick wall, so her attitude has to be monitored. If anything, we have to hold her back a little bit because shes so eager to run.

Borel is waiting on a decision about the fillys status before he decides who hes going to ride in the 1 1/2 -mile Belmont.

Rachel Alexandra worked the half-mile in 50.20 seconds over a sloppy track under exercise rider Dominic Terry. Mine That Bird worked the same distance in 51 seconds under Borel.

If Rachel Alexandra does not run in the Belmont, which would give her a shot at becoming the first filly to win two-thirds of the Triple Crown, Jackson said the Mother Goose Stakes for fillies at Belmont Park on June 27 is an option.

It might not be as soon as youd want but were still considering the Belmont, Jackson said. The Mother Goose would give her a little extra time if she needs it. The Belmont would be a full (effort) for her right now.

With the no-decision, Mine That Bird trainer Chip Woolley gave Borel more time to decide which horse hell ride in the Belmont. Woolley had set a Monday deadline for the jockey.

He won me a Derby, he deserves the time it takes for him to make the conscious, right decision, Woolley said. And nobody knows really if that fillys going to be running in the Belmont, so it could work out where thats not even a decision for him. I think a little bit of times not too much to ask.

No jockey has ever won the Triple Crown by riding different horses.

If Borel chooses Mine That Bird, then Jackson will go with Robby Albarado if the filly runs in the Belmont. Smith will be riding at Hollywood Park on Belmont day.

Calvin is a great jockey and I hope hed be willing to go with her, Jackson said. He has to make his decision for himself and if were in there together and hes not on our horse itll probably be Robby Albarado, who was with us with Curlin.

Albarado is one of the top riders used by Steve Asmussen, who took over as the fillys trainer after the horse was sold.

Jackson said Rachel Alexandra will give him a sign whether or not the Belmont is next.

We have to monitor her and make sure that we preserve her because shes so special; the principal concern is the horse herself, keeping her sound and letting the public enjoy her, he said. Its not necessary that she go in the Belmont, shes got a whole season ahead. Shes been running the whole year so we have to monitor that very carefully.

After several close calls, jockey Manoel Cruz has finally earned his 2,000th win.

Cruz had eight mounts Sunday at Calder Race Course, most of them favorites, and needed only one win to reach the milestone. He missed with his first five starters, four of them finishing second, each time by more than a length.

The breakthrough came aboard Catch Rikki, the odds-on favorite in race seven. Cruzs sixth mount of the day was second down the backstretch, took the lead approaching the stretch turn, and went on to win by six lengths.

Cruz was joined in the winners circle by 10 other jockeys who offered their congratulations. Then he was doused with water from a hose wielded by fellow rider Jose Lopez.

Carolyns Cat led all the way Sunday to pull off a mild upset in the $147,000 Vagrancy Handicap for fillies and mares at Belmont Park.

The 5-1 fourth betting choice fended off early pressure from Any Limit before shaking loose in the stretch for her fourth win in 10 starts. Alan Garcia was aboard the 4-year-old for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin as Carolyns Cat beat Porto Bonheur by 3 lengths. The time was 1:16.34 for the 6 1/2 furlongs on the fast track.

Carolyns Cat paid $13, $6.20 and $4.70. Porte Bonheur returned $5.40 and $6. Are We Dreamin, the longest shot in the five-horse field at 22-1, paid $9 to show.

The two betting choices finished out of the money. Any Limit, 3-2, was fourth followed by Game Face, the 6-5 favorite.

Jockey Rene Douglas was in fair condition Sunday, a day after being thrown from his horse during a race at Arlington Park in suburban Chicago.

Douglas was aboard Born to Be during Saturdays Arlington Matron Handicap when the horse clipped heels with another horse and fell at the top of the stretch. Born to Be flipped and tossed Douglas over her head and she then landed on top of the rider.

Douglas agent, Dennis Cooper, told Thoroughbredtimes.com that he couldnt bring himself to watch the replay.

She went straight down head over heels just like in slow motion, Cooper said. She hit him with her whole body, dropped there on top of him and just laid there.

He said the horse had to be lifted from Douglas body.

Bloodhorse.com and Thoroughbredtimes.com reported Sunday that Douglas had extensive injuries to his neck and spinal cord and may lose the use of his legs.

They said he might not walk again, it didnt look like, Cooper told Bloodhorse.com.They wont be a million percent sure until after the swelling goes down in about 10 to 14 days, but it doesnt look good.

Messages left by The Associated Press for Cooper on Sunday were not immediately returned.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital said Sunday afternoon that Douglas was in fair condition. Neither the hospital nor Arlington Park officials would release any details about his injuries.

All of our thoughts and prayers are obviously with Rene and his family, and we continue to hope for the best, Arlington Park spokesman David Zenner said.

Douglas has nearly 3,600 North American victories, including the 2006 Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies with Dreaming of Anna and the 1996 Belmont Stakes on Editors Note. His mounts have earned more than $102-million through Saturday.

Veteran Brass Hat edged clear of favorite Spice Route to win Saturdays $111,800 Louisville Handicap by a half-length at Churchill Downs.

The win gave two-time Kentucky Derby winner jockey Calvin Borel his fifth victory of the day and snapped the 8-year-old horses 10-race losing streak. He covered the 1 1/2 miles on a firm turf course in 2:28.44.

Brass Hat, owned by Fred Bradley and trained by his son William Buff Bradley, paid $14, $4.80 and $3. Spice Route returned $2.60 and $2.10. Thabazimbi finished another 2 lengths back in third and paid $2.40 to show.

The victory was worth $66,546 and raised Brass Hats career earnings to $1,892,360.

Move over, Rachel Alexandra and make room for undefeated filly Zenyatta.

Zenyatta pulled away to a 1 3/4 -length victory over Life Is Sweet in Saturdays $150,000 Milady Handicap, improving to 10-0 in her career.

Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Zenyatta rallied from six lengths off the pace to win at Hollywood Park in her first start after a seven-month layoff.

Im numb, he said. Im looking for some emotion now but Im just numb. Shes just amazing.

She covered 1 1-16 miles on the synthetic Cushion Track surface in 1:42.30 and paid $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10 as the 1-9 wagering favorite.

Kentucky Oaks and Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra has generated much of the buzz in racing over the past few weeks. But Zenyatta was making headlines last year.

She was 2008 champion older female, having won the Breeders Cup Ladies Classic at Santa Anita in October. That race could be the setting this fall for a possible matchup between Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra, who became the first filly in 85 years to beat the boys last weekend in the second leg of the Triple Crown.

As far as Rachel Alexandra, shes such a great filly and I dont want to ruin what she did, Smith said. But Zenyatta is Zenyatta. When the match comes up down the road, its going to be exciting for racing.

Smith got a close-up look at Rachel Alexandra after finishing second to her aboard Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in the Preakness.

Fans crowded around the paddock rail to see Zenyatta before she headed onto the track. One held up a hand-lettered, red-white-and-blue sign that read, Rachel who, Go Zenyatta.

Zenyatta was supposed to make her 2009 debut three weeks ago in the Louisville Distaff at Churchill Downs, but Shirreffs scratched her because of muddy track conditions.

That left him and owners Jerry and Ann Moss anxious to see whether Zenyatta would preserve her undefeated streak.

The streak is always in the back of your mind, Shirreffs said. The first race back you want to make it as easy as possible.

I had a hard time sleeping last night, Ann Moss said.

Zenyattas name comes from the title of The Police album Zenyatta Mondatta.

Moss, co-founder of AM Records who had the 1980s supergroup on his label, says the moniker doesnt really mean anything. But her results sure do.

I continue to be thrilled and overwhelmed with this wonderful horse, he said in the winners circle. Shes back now, so hopefully we can have some fun this year.

Asked if that fun included a showdown with Rachel Alexandra, Moss replied, Oh sure. Whatever race comes up. We really havent thought much beyond this one.

A total of $817,589 was bet to show on the six fillies and mares in the race, with $745,418 of that wagered on Zenyatta. She was such a sure thing that a $2 show bet on her paid 10 cents.

Wasnt she just great? asked Shirreffs. What a move she made.

Zenyatta and stablemate Life Is Sweet nearly clipped heels at the back of the field going into the second turn. Smith moved his filly outside, then swung her four horses wide into the stretch turn. She quickly overtook one horse past the eighth pole before inching away without Smith going to his whip.

Garrett (Gomez) and I were playing some serious jockey games out there, Smith said. It was all clean and fair. Shes so handy that when I eased up on the pedal, she backed up for me, came around and it was all over.

Life Is Sweet, also trained by Shirreffs, came in on a three-race winning streak. The two fillies have similar come-from-behind running styles. Life Is Sweet was the second choice a 6-1, making her and Zenyatta the only horses in the race at single-digit odds.

Life Is Sweet returned $2.20 and $2.10, while Allicansayis Wow was another three-quarters of a length back in third and paid $2.80 to show.

Gomez said Life Is Sweet didnt seem to like Hollywood Parks surface, which he said more resembles dirt than Santa Anitas Pro-Ride surface, where she scored three major stakes wins earlier this year.

Down the backstretch she wasnt really taking me anywhere today, Gomez said. She picked it up down the lane and finished OK. Overall, it was a very respectable performance. What can you say about Zenyatta?

Zenyatta became the first Milady repeat winner since Azeri in 2002-03. Smith rode that champion filly, too.