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.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Javier Castellano will ride Kentucky Derby winner Orb in the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Sept. 28, trainer Shug McGaughey said Friday.
Castellano replaces Jose Lezcano who rode Orb to a third-place finish in the Travers, but who was subsequently injured and is uncertain to be back in time for the Gold Cup. Lezcano replaced Joel Rosario, who suffered a broken foot the day before the Travers and who is not expected back until the first week of October.
ELMONT, N.Y. – The 3-year-old filly Wedding Toast, an impressive 14 1/2-length allowance winner here at Belmont Park on Wednesday, could make her next start against her elders in the Grade 3, $200,000 Turnback the Alarm Stakes on Oct. 26, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said.
Ancil has never been better in his life, according to his trainer, and good for him. In a race as deep and difficult as the Kentucky Downs Turf Dash, he’s going to need every edge he can get.
Ancil, in off an Ellis Park victory that earned him a lifetime-high Beyer Speed Figure of 102 for trainer Joan Scott, is part of a full field of 12 Saturday in the six-furlong Turf Dash at Kentucky Downs.
AUBURN, Wash. – Big Bad Brown, a leading contender for claimer of the meeting honors, will shoot for his fourth consecutive victory Saturday in the featured race at Emerald Downs. First post for the eight-race card is 2 p.m. Pacific.
HALLANDALE BACH, Fla. – Seven months ago, Grande Shores was running in $8,000 claiming races at Tampa Bay Downs. On Saturday, Grande Shores will compete for a $100,000 purse at Gulfstream Park as one of the favorites in the one-mile Montbrook Stakes.
Grand Shores was always cut out to be a good horse. As a 2-year-old, he finished second behind Gourmet Dinner in Calder’s Dr. Fager Stakes. But shortly thereafter, he was stricken with a chronic case of colitis that nearly claimed his life.
MIAMI – The $85,000 Foolish Pleasure Stakes has traditionally been an attractive alternative for south Florida-based juveniles not eligible for the lucrative Stallion Stakes races, which have dominated the summer schedule at Calder since its inception more than 30 years ago.
Swift Warrior, a two-time Grade 3 stakes winner early this season who was beaten less than a length in a Grade 2 event two starts back, appears to hold a distinct class advantage in Saturday’s $250,000 Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association President’s Cup at Parx Racing.
The President’s Cup, scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on turf, goes as race 11 on a 12-race card and drew a field of 12 older males, including a coupled entry.
POMONA, Calif. – She was Hip No. 15 at the Barretts May sale of 2-year-olds in training, and she was likely to be outside trainer Bill Morey’s budget.
After all, City by the Bay previously sold for $110,000 at a yearling auction, breezed in a snappy 10.20 seconds at Barretts, and was by the popular stallion City Zip.
“I had pretty much written her off as too high,” Morey said. “She worked super, and initially we didn’t think we could get her.”
