Action Tonight returns with fresh legs

Action Tonight, who has been freshened for a fall campaign, goes for his third straight stakes win Saturday in the colts and geldings division of the $100,000-estimated Friendship at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La.

The six-furlong race drew a field of six, and is restricted to 2-year-olds bred in Texas.

Action Tonight did not seem to need a break after winning stakes in his last two starts - the $122,000 Texas Stallion on June 29 and the $100,000 Middleground on July 13 - but was given one anyway in order to have him on top of his game for the remainder of 2002.

"We thought it would be best to rest the colt for a little bit and have fresh legs for the Friendship and the other leg of the Texas Stallion Stakes," said Danny Pish, who trains Action Tonight for George Wolff.

"We were conservative in giving him a break. He did not ask for it, but we felt like he deserved one."

Action Tonight has worked sharply for his comeback, drilling five furlongs in 59.40 seconds at his Retama Park base Sept. 7. Pish likes how the colt is coming into the race, and also likes his ability to either set the pace or race behind it. "He's a talented colt," said the trainer, who has given the mount to Roman Chapa.

Pish and Chapa teamed to win the 2000 running of the Friendship with Wild Again Again.