The large amount of speed in the field, including from a few fillies cutting back slightly in distance, will make a $134,000 allowance/optional-claiming race for fillies and mares on Sunday a competitive affair – and will perhaps lead to a good trip for Amarth, the lone sophomore in the field.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Go Kart Mozart takes a two-race win streak into Sunday’s $100,000 Lake Huron, one of two five-furlong inner-turf stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds on the Woodbine card, along with the $100,000 Georgian Bay for fillies.
The two races kick off the Ontario Sired Heritage Series, which is comprised of four $100,000 stakes for each sex over different distances and surfaces. Post time for the Sunday card has been moved to 4 p.m. Eastern due to extreme heat in the Toronto area.
The $3 million Gun Runner colt who set an OBS sale record in March when purchased by Donato Lanni on behalf of Zedan Racing has been named Brant and is in steady training with Bob Baffert at Santa Anita.
The colt was consigned by Eddie Woods, helping him go out on a high note. Woods retired as a consignor after more than three decades in the business. The colt eclipsed the previous OBS record of $2.45 million paid by agent John Moynihan on behalf of Coolmore interests for a Tiznow colt at the April 2017 2-year-olds-in-training sale.
The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. wrapped up the company’s 50th anniversary 2-year-old sales season, and the North American breeze-up season in general, with a flourish at its June sale.
Founded in 1974, OBS conducted its first 2-year-old sale in January 1975, trading 187 juveniles – a fraction of the some 1,500 2-year-olds it sold across three sales in 2025. Nowadays, OBS offers the bulk of the publicly available 2-year-old crop in North America while also offering annual yearling and breeding stock sales.
Separating their quality 3-year-olds for the second half of the season is a nice problem to have for owner Winchell Thoroughbreds and trainer Steve Asmussen, with three stakes winners preparing to get back to the races in the coming weeks.
Stakes season at Emerald Downs starts with a bang Sunday afternoon, with four $50,000, six-furlong sprints for various divisions highlighting a 10-race card. Whereas in years past Emerald spread its stakes throughout the meet, this year the track has consolidated them all on five dates, drawing mixed reactions on the backstretch.
“If they think they can have a big day and generate more gambling, I’m all for it,” trainer Blaine Wright said.
Tom Wenzel, however, feels differently.
Saratoga and Del Mar around a couple corners. For now, North Randall, Ohio.
Ohio Derby
Will Clever Again be the 9-5 favorite? How much support will McAfee attract? The questions arise because Chunk of Gold, listed as the 7-2 third choice, might offer value.
McAfee could go favored over Clever Again. Rick Dutrow trains McAfee, and his horses in spots like this often take more betting than they should. Dutrow sent him early to work over the track. He means business, apparently.
On class alone, Where’s My Ring looms large in the $250,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes on Saturday at Thistledown. A Grade 3 winner last year, she is Grade 1-placed two starts back against no less a foe than reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna.
But despite all that, Where’s My Ring appears vulnerable at the moment, coming off a nondescript effort in her first outing for a new barn. If she does not bounce back to her prior form, it leaves an opening – perhaps for Ohio-bred Candlelight Hours to be a hometown hero.
Sushi Man moves into stakes company on Saturday night for the $50,000 Canterbury Park Derby and while he’s a “raw talent,” his diet does not include raw fish.
“Exactly,” laughed trainer Coty Rosin. “It’s a fun name.”
The Canterbury Derby shares a card with two other stakes, the $50,000 Brooks Fields Mile and the $50,000 Lady Canterbury. The races are part of a pick five that has a reduced takeout of 10 percent. The 50-cent bet runs on races 2-6.
