The wind blowing from the Chicago racing circuit has been chill for years now, but somehow Arlington flew in the face of it to post considerable handle gains during a 71-day 2018 meet that ended Sept. 22.
Gross handle compared to 2017 (during which Arlington also ran a 71-day meet) increased $15.9 million, up 11.3 percent, to $157,036,147. Average daily handle was $2,211,777 this year, while handle per race rose 7.7 percent to $254,929 and handle per starter was up 4.3 percent to $34,161.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Two weeks of frustration came pouring out of Corey Lanerie as he gave an enthusiastic wave of his whip after crossing under the wire a winner in the seventh race at Keeneland on Sunday.
“Acting crazy,” Lanerie said early Monday with a laugh.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Not every horse in terrific form at this time of year is headed to the Breeders’ Cup.
Rushing Fall and Copper Town, both eye-catching winners Saturday at Keeneland as odds-on favorites under Javier Castellano, are good examples. Rushing Fall earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure as a controlling winner of the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup a few hours after Copper Town made a splashy return with a five-length allowance triumph, earning a 101 Beyer.
MIAMI – Cookie Dough, runaway winner of the final two legs of the filly division of the Florida Sire Stakes, was back on the work tab on Saturday, breezing five furlongs in 1:00.65 in company with stablemate Perspire at Gulfstream Park. The work was the first for Cookie Dough since her victory in the My Dear Girl Stakes on Sept. 29. She won by 7 1/4 lengths despite being hung wide throughout after breaking from post 12, a distinct disadvantage in races run at 1 1/16 miles over the main track at Gulfstream Park.
MIAMI – Aside from trainer Antonio Sano, nobody knows the Breeders’ Cup Classic-bound Gunnevera any better than jockey Edgard Zayas.
Zayas has been Gunnevera’s regular workout rider throughout much of his career. He’s also been aboard him five times in the afternoon, winning twice while also guiding the son of Dialed In to second-place finishes in two of the sport’s most prestigious events, the Travers in 2017 and the Woodward earlier this summer at Saratoga.
Severe winds knocked out power to Santa Anita early Monday morning and left debris strewn all over the area, forcing training to be stopped prior to the scheduled first renovation break at 6:30 a.m.
“It’s been a bizarre few days here,” said trainer John Sadler, who had a number of horses scheduled for works later Monday morning. “Rain on Saturday that was more than they thought, Sunday the track is drying out, and then this. The power went out around 5:40, and the track never reopened due to high winds.”
In regards to the Breeders’ Cup, this has been a remarkable year in the Mid-Atlantic, with three Win and You’re In qualifiers stabled at Parx racing alone. Additionally, BC Challenge Series winner Glorious Empire is gearing up for the Turf at Fair Hill, and Grade 1 Hopeful winner Mind Control is bedded down at Monmouth Park.
Trainer Butch Reid sent out 2-year-old Maximus Mischief for an impressive debut victory at Parx on Sept. 29. The son of Into Mischief returned Saturday to work a bullet half-mile in 46.75 seconds, more than two seconds faster than the next quickest work at the distance.
“That’s the way he is,” Reid said. “He’s a big, strong horse. We’re really excited about him.”
Maximus Mischief rocketed to the lead in his 5 1/2-furlong debut and then cruised to a 8 3/4-length victory without being urged by jockey Frankie Pennington. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 82.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Decorated Soldier recorded his second consecutive stakes victory in the Presque Isle Mile Stakes on Sept. 16, and will make his next start in the Grade 2, $175,000 Autumn Stakes on Nov. 3 over 1 1/16 miles on Woodbine’s Tapeta, trainer Norm McKnight said.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes winner Tiz Breathtaking will likely point to the $225,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes over 1 1/16 miles for Ontario-bred 2-year-olds here on Nov. 4, but trainer Mike Doyle has not ruled out a potential trip to Churchill Downs for a start in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
“It’s still under consideration, but staying here probably makes more sense,” he said. “We haven’t really made a decision. She’s come out of [the Mazarine] great and she might run here in the Princess Elizabeth.”
