Channel Marker could be the first Breeders’ Cup starter for 30-year-old Kentucky native Phil Bauer. The horse’s road to the championship series runs through Keeneland on Saturday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Woodford.
Trainer Mike Stidham is branching out and has set up a stable at Laurel Park. Stidham has been based at Arlington Park since 2000 and has wintered at Fair Grounds since 1995. Since Sept. 13, he has gone 3 for 8 at Laurel.
Friday at Santa Anita, Freddies Dream and Unusually Green will start at 1 1/4 miles on turf for the first time, giving trainer Mike Puype two excellent chances to win an optional claimer, which drew a field of eight.
Songbird moved to the top of the 2-year-old filly division with her 4 1/2-length win in the Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, and is the likely favorite for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies – especially since her top rivals from the East, Rachel’s Valentina and Tap To It, will train up to the Oct. 31 race.
Turf milers? Bill Mott’s got ’em this year, and if things break the right way, Mott could have three starters in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland.
La Verdad punched her ticket last weekend as one of the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, while Judy the Beauty and Taris will try to do the same this weekend in critical final preps for the seven-furlong race.
Garnet Barnsdale's analysis of the Thursday 10/1 card at Woodbine Harness.
Songa (#3, ML 5-2) returns in Wednesday's first race at Belmont Park, a 6 1/2-furlong claiming race. It will be his first start since finishing fourth by 3 1/4 lengths in an optional claimer July 12 at Monmouth Park. The third- and fifth-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts. Get the Key Race report as part of DRF Plus. Sign up for DRF Plus here.
Brewster Smith's analysis of the Thursday 10/1 card at Yonkers Raceway.
unhappy, with Edgar Prado to ride, will be asked to overcome the sometimes-tricky rail slot when facing older horses Friday in the 163rd running of the Grade 3, $250,000 Phoenix Stakes on the opening-day card at Keeneland.
