Latice and Bago are the names to note on Sunday when Longchamp holds its Arc preview day with three 1 1/2-mile races.
Winner of the 1 5/16-mile French Oaks in her last start on June 13, Latice enters the Group 1 Prix Vermeille undefeated after four career starts. There is a question concerning her ability to stay 12 furlongs, but her running style suggests she can get the trip, as she closed full of energy to take the Oaks.
Fong's Thong, a maiden winner at Arlington last summer, can earn Group 2 stripes at Doncaster Thursday in the seven-furlong Park Stakes.
Fong's Thong has won both his starts in England since owner Joe Allbritton sent him to Lambourn-based trainer Brian Meehan. Main threats to him are Suggestive, runner-up in a Group 2 and a Group 3 in his last two starts, listed-winner Pastoral Pursuits, and Godolphin Mile winner Firebreak.
Tante Rose landed a blow for the fillies, taking the Stanleybet Haydock Park Sprint Cup on Saturday by a short head from last year's winner, Somnus.
A 10-1 shot, Tante Rose came with a classic late burst to lead in the final strides under jockey Richard Hughes, who was making a welcome return to the big-race scene after a bad run with injuries.
In its Aug. 16 edition, the British news weekly The Economist editorialized that since use of use performance-enhancing drugs is here to stay, Olympic athletes should be allowed to use them more or less as they please.
A week later, a number of readers wrote to object to the magazine's position, but one letter writer was inclined to agree with them, citing horse racing as an example of an American sport which, in his opinion, "has a liberal regime towards drugs with no detriment to the sport overall."
Whipper, the recent winner of the Prix Jacques Le Marois, heads an outstanding field of 11 runners from four different countries for the $380,000 Group 1 Netjets Prix du Moulin over Longchamp's right-handed mile on Sunday.
Five of the contestants have already won at the Group 1 level, four more at Group 2 level, and the two others, Grey Lilas and Diamond Green, are group winners who finished second in classic races earlier this year.
A pair of Brazilian-bred, American-based Grade 1 winners, Hard Buck and Pico Central, both sons of Spend a Buck, could be spending some time in Asia this fall.
Trainer Kenny McPeek said Tuesday that Hard Buck, winner of the Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap and runner-up in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, would not be traveling to Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 3. Instead he will use the Canadian International at Woodbine on Oct. 24 as a possible jumping off point for the Nov. 18 Japan Cup and/or the Dec. 12 Hong Kong Cup.
Gary Stevens concluded his abbreviated French season on Sunday with a second-place finish aboard Martaline in the Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville, which was won by Martaline's Andre Fabre-trained stablemate Cherry Mix.
In fact, Fabre trained the first three across the line as Bailador took third in the 1 9/16-mile event.
Cherry Mix (5-1) won by four widening lengths, clocking 2:55.10 on heavy ground. He will go directly to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 3.