OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Light Man may have had the perfect trip when he won the Hudson Stakes last month at Aqueduct, but it’s one of the few times in his career things have gone smoothly for the 4-year-old gelding by Central Banker.
A knee chip. Two cases of bone bruising. An infection that nearly proved fatal. That’s what Light Man had to deal with in the 18 months he was forced to miss between his maiden victory in the summer of 2022 and his second start in January 2024.
The $2 million earner Free Like a Girl starts as an odds-on favorite facing nine other older Louisiana-bred fillies and mares in the $100,000 John Valene Memorial Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds.
She probably won’t be the shortest-priced starter among the horses in four statebred stakes on the card.
If Dashman can run shorter and My Boy Prince can run slower, either could win the Commonwealth Turf Cup on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Dashman, on a roll since returning in July from a layoff, cuts back to 1 1/16 miles from the 1 3/8-mile Jockey Club Derby Invitational last month at Aqueduct, where he finished a tough-trip fourth. My Boy Prince set an insane pace in the Bryan Station at Keeneland and can wire the Grade 3, $300,000 Commonwealth Turf with more prudent front-running tactics.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Most Handsome has proved his mettle as a Tapeta sprinter by opening his career with two wins on the synthetic surface in as many tries, including the Hollywood Beach in his most recent start.
But the undefeated youngster will have a couple of important questions to answer Saturday at Gulfstream Park when stretching out in distance and switching to the main track to take on five other Florida-bred 2-year-olds going 6 1/2 furlongs in the $65,000 Juvenile Sprint.
A foreign-trained horse has not won the Grade 1 Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse since Alkaased from Britain scored by a nose at 9-1 in 2005.
The home team has not always faced foreign competition in recent years, but will have that threat on Sunday with the presence of 2024 European Group 1 winners Auguste Rodin, Fantastic Moon, and Goliath.
Even with those credentials, the invaders may not be able to beat the Japanese-based 3-year-old filly Cervinia or 5-year-old horse Do Deuce.
DEL MAR, Calif. – A half-dozen handicap division extras will race for a $100,000 purse in the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar.
Mixto and Ultra Power figure to attract the most support based on their Aug. 31 efforts at Del Mar – Mixto upset the Grade 1 Pacific Classic, and Ultra Power earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure crushing an entry-level allowance.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Casse entered Winterberry, Patriotic War, War Signal, and Princess of Storm in Saturday’s Shady Well Stakes at Woodbine, but all four may not run in the six-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired and Ontario-bred 2-year-old fillies.
