POMONA, Calif. – The gradually improving Gangnam Guy and flashy debut winner I Earned It Baby are the key entrants in Sunday’s $100,000 Barretts Juvenile at the Los Angeles County Fair. But the 6 1/2-furlong sprint is more than a two-horse contest. A good field entered the race for 2-year-old colts and geldings offered for sale at any Barretts auction.
ELMONT, N.Y. – With Hessonite retired and Dayatthespa headed back to race in open company, Sunday’s $150,000 John Hettinger Stakes at Belmont Park offers 10 New York-bred fillies and mares a fair shot at winning a stakes race.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Deep closers Ganbei and Shintoism should have plenty of speed up front to work to their benefit when they run in a $17,500 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up that will serve as Sunday’s feature at Hastings. The 1 1/16-mile race drew seven horses and headlines an eight-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Gold Element is no morning glory. To the contrary, the Texas-bred 6-year-old gelding was so unimpressive in his morning works that he began his career in a $15,000 maiden-claiming race at Sam Houston in December 2009.
“He’s one of those horses that’s a lot better in the afternoon than the morning,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “This horse has a lot of heart. You’ll take that every time.”
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – A Grade 1 victory would be a feather in Forte Dei Marmi’s cap and would significantly improve his chances of becoming the 2013 Canadian Horse of the Year. The durable 7-year-old will get an opportunity for that elusive score while going 1 1/2 miles in Sunday’s $300,000 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes, the main supporting feature on Woodbine Mile Day.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Winning Cause has run into some buzzsaws in his two tries on the local Polytrack, finishing second behind Up With the Birds in the 1 1/16-mile Marine and ending the runner-up to Five Iron in the 1 1/8-mile Victoria Park.
On Sunday at Woodbine, Winning Cause will be back in from New York for the Grade 3, $150,000 Ontario Derby and looms the one to beat in the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds.
FORT ERIE, Ontario – Julie Robillard is once again a major force on the Fort Erie trainer’s list.
Last season, she had her stable in top form and her 24 wins tied Ross Armata for most victories at the meeting.
This year, the 33-year-old Robillard has 16 wins and leads the trainers’ standings going into the final month of the 2013 season.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Solid Appeal, back on her home turf following a sixth-place finish in Arlington’s Grade 1 Beverly D., will look to resume her winning ways when she faces eight fillies and mares in Sunday’s Grade 2 Canadian Stakes.
The $300,000 Canadian, at 1 1/8 miles, is a Win and You’re In qualifying race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Wise Dan, the reigning North American Horse of the Year, will attempt to become the first two-time winner of the $1 million Woodbine Mile on Sunday. His imposing presence scared away several potential rivals, as just five others were entered in the 17th running of the Grade 1 stakes, which is a Win and You’re In qualifying race for the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Strong Mandate will make his next start in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes on Oct. 5 at Belmont Park after the colt had his first breeze since romping to victory in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes.
Lukas also had considered the Grade 1 FrontRunner on Sept. 28 at Santa Anita as the horse’s final prep for the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile before deciding on the Belmont race.
