Fort Erie notes

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Pembroke Hall didn't get the chance to extend his winning streak to 10 this week.

The two-furlong race in which he was entered Tuesday didn't fill, as only four others were entered. The quarter-mile dashes are carded at three-week intervals, one for male runners and one for female runners.

Pembroke Hall, a 7-year-old gelding, started his streak with a victory in his final race of 2002. He scored in all six of his starts last year and both of his starts this year. All 10 races were at two furlongs.

Trainer Don MacRae says he wasn't unhappy about the recent missed opportunity. He and owner Darryl Jackson have plans to take their show on the road and have targeted Calder's $50,000 Rocket Man Stakes on July 10.

"It's a long way to go to run a quarter-mile race," said MacRae. "But I think he has a good shot. We had the Rocket Man in mind since last year. It was a reason to claim the horse. He's primed and ready."

Claimed for $21,000 on July 29 from the late David Schmidt, Pembroke Hall has been in MacRae's barn for three starts.

The Rocket Man is one of six stakes that make up the Summit of Speed program. Inaugurated in 2000, the unique card offers a total of $1.75 million in purses for the four six-furlong contests on the dirt, the five-furlong turf test, and the two-furlong dash.

The Fort's leading jockey, Martin Ramirez, will ride Pembroke Hall.

Eight in a row for Storming on Merit

Pembroke Hall's stablemate, Storming on Merit, continued her winning ways Monday, hanging on for a nose decision over Value of Luck in a two-furlong dash.

It was Storming on Merit's eighth consecutive score, all at two furlongs.

Value of Luck, who went two furlongs for the first time Monday, was a recent $5,000 claim by trainer Dan Wills.

"Wills has claimed a real fast horse," said MacRae. "She will give me a run for my money and may demolish me one time."

Storming on Merit was drifting out nearing the wire and seemed to impede the run of Value of Luck. There was no inquiry.

Clubay to be sold at Keeneland

Clubay, the 6-year-old mare who captured the Rose City Stakes here last Sunday, has been consigned to be sold at auction at the Keeneland sales in the fall.

"We'll race her till then," said Ralph Biamonte, Clubay's trainer and part owner. "We've had a couple of offers for her, but we're eligible for all those in-house stakes here."

* Neil Poznansky, who was aboard for Clubay's triumph, swept the last three races on the Sunday program and is now second in the jockey standings.

* Tom Agosti saddled three winners last week to move to the top of the trainers' list with 14 scores. Ross Armata, who went winless, drops to second, with 12 wins.