Jennie R. vs. Honour Colony - again

STICKNEY, Ill. - Haven't we been down this path before? It was just five weeks ago that Jennie R. and Honour Colony locked horns on the front end of a turf stakes race at Arlington, and the speedy pair figure to be at it again Sunday in the $45,000 Summertime Promise Stakes.

Jennie R. and Honour Colony comprise a full 40 percent of the Summertime Promise field, which also drew Solo Survivor, Glitter Star, and Classical Ryder. And even though there may be no avoiding a fast pace on Sunday, Jennie R. still should be a solid choice under jockey Terry Houghton, since she set a Hawthorne grass course record for Sunday's 1 1/16-mile distance while easily winning the Indian Maid Handicap here Sept. 29.

This probably will be the final start Jennie R. makes for trainer Michele Boyce and the racing partnership that owns her, since she is scheduled to be sold at auction early next month at Keeneland. And no wonder. Jennie R. was entered for a $50,000 claiming price June 3 in her first start this season, but her value has soared, thanks to two stakes wins and a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Modesty Handicap. Jennie R. is a free-running sort who doesn't like to be taken back, but she also has the ability to sustain a strong pace over a distance of ground - which is what she'll need to do again Sunday.

Jennie R. rated a couple lengths behind Honour Colony at Arlington, but this time she breaks from the rail, and may be forced up into the pace. In the Arlington race, an Illinois-bred filly named Love Handles took advantage of the demanding splits and outfinished Jennie R. The question is whether any of the other three here are good enough to take advantage of a similarly beneficial setup.

Classical Ryder seems to be in this for a stakes placing, and doesn't look good enough to win. Glitter Star took a run at Jennie R. last time, but tired late and wound up third. That leaves Solo Survivor, who had gone winless in four grass starts before capturing an Arlington turf allowance in June. Solo Survivor exits a last-place finish in the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes at Keeneland, but is capable of a much better performance in this spot.

Change works wonders for Fort Prado

Chris Block is deflecting credit for Fort Prado's stakes win on Thursday at Keeneland. It was his father, Dave Block, who first proposed trying Fort Prado in turf sprints.

"He's the one who said we really need to try this horse short on the turf and see what happens," Block said.

What's happened is that Fort Prado looks entirely rejuvenated.

After putting in a flashy late run to win going five furlongs in a Sept. 16 Arlington turf-sprint allowance, Fort Prado overcame seven kinds of trouble when he captured the $112,000 Woodford Stakes on Thursday at Keeneland.

"He had trouble three times that I counted," Block said. "At the eighth pole, I was going to be happy to settle for second money to T.D. Vance," the race favorite.

Fort Prado had other ideas. A final brilliant turn of foot, and he was up by a head. Block beamed in the winner's circle.

On Friday, Fort Prado was on his way back to Block's barn at Hawthorne, but he probably will return to Kentucky for the $100,000 Cherokee Run on Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.