Sat, 06/29/2002 - 00:00

Prodigious meets 'Kid'

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Can any of the other six horses entered in the $75,000 Lieutenant Governors' on Monday beat Kid Katabatic? Probably not, but two trainers, Terry Marshall and Steve Bryant, think that Prodigious has an excellent shot in the 1 1/8-mile Hastings Park feature.

Kim Hart, the owner of Prodigious, employs both Marshall and Bryant as his trainers. Marshall, who has horses stabled here and in northern California, has been the main caretaker of Prodigious, but when Hart's horses run here, they race under Bryant's name.

Sat, 06/29/2002 - 00:00

Small field for Chariot

EDMONTON, Alberta - Providing ample evidence that this season is not a vintage one for 3-year-old fillies at Northlands Park, Canada Day's featured Chariot Chaser will go with a field of four.

The Chariot Chaser, honoring the filly who beat the boys here in the 1965 Canadian Derby, is a

6 1/2-furlong sprint worth $40,000.

The Penny Ridge, a race for 3-year-old fillies on closing day of the Stampede Park meeting, June 16, could draw a field of just five.

Sat, 06/29/2002 - 00:00

Tails of the Crypt vs. champs

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Tails of the Crypt, Woodbine's top 3-year-old, will meet several of the more accomplished older runners on the grounds in Monday's Grade 3, $219,800 Dominion Day Handicap.

The 1 1/4-mile event has also lured Churchill Downs invader Bonus Pack, along with Canadian champions A Fleets Dancer, Catch the Ring, and Win City.

Kentucky-bred Tails of the Crypt was on the Kentucky Derby trail after finishing second in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby in March, but was shipped back here after his subpar showing in the Grade 2 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland.

Sat, 06/29/2002 - 00:00

Madness in mid-Atlantic

If Marilyn's Madness could talk, she certainly would be bragging about her two sons. What mother wouldn't proudly point out that her offspring produced two track records in different states on back-to-back days?

Marilyn's Madness is the dam of 3-year-old gelding Coco's Madness and his 5-year-old full brother Magical Madness. Both sons were sired by Sword Dance.

Coco's Madness, making his first start on turf, set a Delaware Park turf course record on May 26, winning a mile allowance race in 1:34.88 and jumping up 30 points on the Beyer Speed Figure scale to a 92.

Sat, 06/29/2002 - 00:00

Lumpkins will keep riding in north

PLEASANTON, Calif. - Jason Lumpkins, who led all riders with seven stakes victories at Bay Meadows, will remain on the fair circuit in northern California rather than riding at Del Mar.

"I didn't feel [Del Mar] was the right situation," said Lumpkins, who finished second to Russell Baze in the jockey standings at Bay Meadows for the second straight year. "I've decided to stay up here."

Fri, 06/28/2002 - 00:00

Halo Cat takes Kings Court

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Halo Cat upset 2-5 favorite Beau's Town by 4.25 lengths Friday in the $50,000 Kings Court Stakes, opening day feature at Louisiana Downs. It was another 3.25 lengths back in third to Ski Bum.

Halo Cat($9.20) was prominent throughout the Kings Court, then drew clear in the stretch under Gerard Melancon. He covered six furlongs over a fast track in 1:09.40.

The win was the fourth straight victory for Halo Cat, who won two Lone Star Park allowances and the $30,000 Manor Downs Sprint Classic leading into the Kings Court.

Fri, 06/28/2002 - 00:00

Thumbs up to import

Lone Star Park
Regiment, winning the Diamond

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - To assess the chances of a European import making his United States debut, one starts by analyzing the home team. The reviews are not always positive.

Six U.S.-based runners and one foreigner entered the Grade 3 Cinema Handicap for 3-year-old grass runners, to be run Sunday at Hollywood Park, and it takes no imagination to poke holes in the locals' form.

Fri, 06/28/2002 - 00:00

Back from bug, Collymore Hal tries Astoria

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Todd Pletcher hadn't intended for Collymore Hal to have such a big gap between starts, but when dealing with 2-year-olds Pletcher knows just about anything can happen.

Fortunately for him, Collymore Hall had nothing more serious than a virus. A Concerto filly, she came down with the bug shortly after winning her career debut by 6 1/2 lengths at Keeneland on April 25.

Collymore Hall returns to the races on Sunday at Belmont Park in the $100,000-added Astoria, meeting seven other juvenile fillies in the 5 1/2-furlong race.

Fri, 06/28/2002 - 00:00

Fleet of Foot stepping up in Damsel

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Unbeaten Fleet of Foot will attempt to take her game to the next level Sunday at Woodbine when she tries stakes company for the first time in the Ontario Damsel, a 6 1/2-furlong turf dash for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Fleet of Foot, a daughter of Gone West, is just one of a seemingly unlimited number of blue-blooded Sam-Son Farm runners. She made short work of her rivals when she debuted in a May 15 maiden event, winning by two comfortable lengths.

Fri, 06/28/2002 - 00:00

Talknow goes up without ever falling

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - He has conquered the starter allowance ranks and climbed right up the allowance ladder. Can Talknow, who just last fall raced in a $5,000 claiming race, possibly be good enough to win Sunday's Dr. Fager, a $42,000 overnight handicap?

At this point, anything seems possible.