Local owner Bob Lothenbach and Chicago-based trainer Chris Block won the inaugural Mystic Lake Mile at Canterbury Park in 2013 with Mister Marti Gras, who still is going solidly along at age 9, and the same connections will have a chance to win it again this season with Nun the Less.
Nun the Less shipped from Arlington to Canterbury last summer and won the Mystic Lake Derby, and he figures to be among the choices again Sunday despite the fact that he’ll be making his first start since Nov. 27.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Recount, who won the Addison Cammack Stakes here last Saturday, has no certain target race, nor does Puntsville, who captured the Isaac Murphy Stakes on the same card. But both horses came out of their races in good shape and have plenty of options since each handles dirt, turf, and synthetic surfaces.
Recount led early, was headed at the top of the stretch, but came back on to win the Cammack by two lengths, earning an 88 Beyer Speed Figure. He won for the seventh time in 19 starts and is now 5 for 6 on Arlington’s main track.
Hastings-based trainers Rosann Anderson and Robert Gilker are planning to return to Emerald Downs in the near future.
Anderson won a first-level allowance race at Emerald with Bonus Spin last Sunday. Gilker won the $50,000 Irish Day for 3-year-old fillies with Princess Katie on May 29.
Bonus Spin came from a stalking position to win the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares, and Anderson was happy with the way she came out of the race.
“She’s doing well,” she said. “She’s eligible for the same condition, so we’ll probably go back down with her.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Effinex has been assigned post 3 as the favorite in a field of seven older horses for the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap, which will help kick off the unofficial second half of the North American racing season with its 35th running Saturday night at Churchill Downs.
Effinex, with Gary Stevens to ride, will carry 122 pounds as the highweight in the 1 1/8-mile Foster, which not only offers a $500,000 purse but also a Win and You’re In berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Stellar Wind, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2015, is likely to have two starts before the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita in November.
Trainer John Sadler said on Wednesday that Stellar Wind is likely to start in the summer and in early autumn before the BC Distaff. Last October at Keeneland, Stellar Wind was second in the BC Distaff.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Phil D’Amato is bringing numbers to compete against the undefeated champion Songbird in Saturday’s $200,000 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita.
As of Wednesday morning, D’Amato was contemplating starting three fillies in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at 1 1/16 miles – Bellamentary, the winner of the Angels Flight Stakes on May 15; Coppa, unbeaten in two starts; and possibly Sutton’s Smile, who was third in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos last December.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Hoppertunity, third in the $10 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on March 26, will be pointed for the Del Mar summer meeting and will miss the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 25, trainer Bob Baffert said on Wednesday.
Baffert said Hoppertunity is not ready for the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita.
“I got behind on him,” Baffert said. “He’s slowly starting to respond. He looks good, and he’s healthy.”
Hoppertunity will be pointed for the $100,000 Cougar II Handicap at 1 1/2 miles on the main track July 24, Baffert said.
Jockey Victor Carrasco had a big week at Plimlico, winning with nine of his 14 mounts Saturday through Monday. Carrasco is now tied for the lead in the Pimlico standings with Feargal Lynch, whose business has steadily grown since he shifted his base north from Florida in mid-March.
Carrasco and Lynch each have 21 wins at the Pimlico meet, which concludes June 26. Trevor McCarthy is third in the standings with 17 wins.
Carrasco went 5 for 9 at Pimlico on Saturday and then 2 for 3 on Sunday. He won with both of his mounts at Delaware Park on Monday.
Expected Ruler, who finished fourth as the 3-1 second choice in the Select Stakes at Monmouth Park last Sunday, grabbed his right front ankle during the race, but the injury does not appear to be serious, according to trainer Liam Benson Jr.
Benson believes the injury occurred near the quarter pole.
“It’s about the size of a penny but pretty deep,” Benson said. “It’s more like a puncture than a cut, just above his right ankle.”
Expected Ruler was nailed for third in deep stretch. He was beaten 2 3/4 lengths by race winner Full Salute.
