On this Halloween weekend, handicappers at Belmont Park on Sunday may experience an eerie sense of déjà vu when it comes to Classic Point, who shoots for her second straight win in the Pumpkin Pie Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs.
On Thursday, Sunland Park in New Mexico announced the dates for its major stakes, including the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby, which will be run March 20.
Del Mar track officials are hopeful entries for the second week of the five-week meeting, beginning Thursday, will have stronger support,
In an attempt to increase Northeast horsemen’s participation in the Claiming Crown, Laurel Park will host Claiming Crown Preview Day on Sunday.
Hersh: Breeders' Cup pick four play for Saturday, Oct. 31
There are plenty of promising juveniles entered in the Street Sense and Rags to Riches, the twin one-mile stakes that anchor a 10-race Sunday opener at Churchill Downs as the eighth and ninth races, respectively.
Elektrum entered the Breeders’ Cup, but stayed home in California after landing on the also-eligible list for the Filly and Mare Turf. No trouble. Trainer John Sadler had a backup plan – Elektrum is likely to start favored Sunday in the Grade 2, $200,000 Goldikova at Del Mar.
Jockey Don Simington sustained the most serious injuries in a Thursday night spill at Delta Downs in which three other riders were also thrown from their mounts. Simington broke an arm and ribs, and cracked his pelvis in the incident.
Churchill Downs will open its 21-day fall meet with a 10-race card on Sunday made up of all 2-year-old races, billed as the Stars of Tomorrow card.
Beholder, who on Thursday was scratched from Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, was scheduled to fly back to California on Sunday and will race next year, trainer Richard Mandella said at Keeneland on Friday morning.
