Great Lakes Downs track report

Nominations have closed for the Oct. 9 Michigan Sire Stakes, with 100 horses eligible. The Sire Stakes, the highlight of the track's racing calendar, is a series of six races for the progeny of Michigan stallions. The six divisions are by age and gender, and each offers an estimated purse of $120,000.

Trainer Bob Gorham nominated Rockem Sockem to the 3-year-old colt and gelding division, which drew 12 nominees. Rockem Sockem, who won the juvenile She Stakes race and state divisional honors last season, won four stakes this year before being sidelined following throat surgery. Gorham said Rockem Sockem missed some training but is ready for this race.

Secret Romeo, the top earner in the six-year history of this oval, was one of 16 older male runners nominated. Also named to the race are That Gift, American Deputy, Monetary Star, and Catch the Dew, who upset Secret Romeo in the recent Frontier Handicap.

The undefeated Foolininthemead-ow is one of 17 juvenile fillies pointing to the Sire Stakes. Trained by Karl Waters, Foolininthemeadow is the winner of the Temptress and Sickle's Image Stakes.

Dancin for Gold and Clever Moon, each a stakes winner at this meet, head the 13 nominations in the filly and mare division.

None of the 3-year-old filly nominees are stakes winners at the meet, but Send 'Em Pakin, who won the Sire Stakes last year as a 2-year-old, is one of 19 named to the race.

The male juvenile race will not have the winners of the two stakes races run for the division this meet. There are 18 maidens among the 23 nominees to the race.

* Great Lakes Downs has applied for similar racing dates in 2005. The track asked for 118 days, starting on April 25 and running through Nov. 5, a week later than usual. Dates should be awarded before this meet ends on Oct. 30.