DEL MAR, Calif. – Holy Lute, who won his stakes debut in Friday’s $100,500 El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar, will get a class test this fall.
Trainer Jim Cassidy said the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita in November could be on the schedule for the 3-year-old Holy Lute, who made his third start Friday. A potential prep race would be the $150,000 City of Hope Stakes over a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 5.
Lunar Rock launched his 3-year-old campaign by finishing third in a pair of stakes in Maryland. Whiskey Rebellion most recently won going a two-turn mile in Ohio.
Both horses have little or no experience racing on synthetic surfaces, however, and will try to transfer their dirt form to the Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs while cutting back sharply in distance for Tuesday’s $37,000 feature.
The good news for Ben’s Cat is that he is the two-time defending champion in the $350,000 Turf Monster at Parx Racing in suburban Philadelphia.
The very good news, as far as King Leatherbury is concerned, is that the 7-year-old gelding has never been better.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Alan Goldberg said he will put Tannery on the road leaving Colts Neck, N.J., at 6 a.m. Monday with the hopes he won’t be turning the van around and bringing her back home long before she is scheduled to go off as the likely favorite later that afternoon at Saratoga in the $150,000 Glen Falls Stakes.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Laughing Falcon turns back off a disappointing route try Monday at Woodbine in the inaugural running of the $100,000 Inglorious, a six-furlong overnight stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Laughing Falcon won her first three starts on the lead, all in sprints, most notably the seven-furlong Passing Mood Stakes for Ontario-sired fillies on the grass.
Laughing Falcon switched to the Polytrack on Aug. 5 for the restricted Eternal Search Stakes, in which she set moderate fractions going 1 1/16 miles before tiring to finish a distant fourth.
Wagon Tales will have three key factors in his favor Monday when he takes on fellow fastest qualifier Hes Relentless and the undefeated filly Especially Tres in the $2.6 million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. The Quarter Horse classic that boasts the richest purse for a 2-year-old race of any breed in North America closes out the meet in New Mexico.
Senor Rojo is a deserving favorite in Monday’s $100,000 Speed to Spare at Northlands Park, but Toccetive, undefeated in two starts at the grueling 1 3/8-mile distance, appears to be coming around for trainer Dale Greenwood and could be primed to pull off a mild upset. The premier race for 3-year-olds and up at Northlands drew eight horses and headlines a 10-race card.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Taylors Deal makes his long-awaited return in the $50,000 Express for 3-year-olds and up at Hastings on Monday. The Express shares top billing on the eight-race card with the $50,000 Ladies Express for fillies and mares. Both races will be contested at six furlongs.
OCEANPORT, N.J. – Immortal Eyes and Ribo Bobo, a pair of veteran geldings riding impressive winning streaks, square off Monday in the $75,000 Icecapade Stakes at Monmouth Park.
The 11-race holiday card starts at 12:50 p.m. Eastern and concludes the core portion of the Monmouth season. Racing continues on the Jersey Shore with a two day schedule – Saturdays and Sundays – through Oct. 6.
The six-furlong Icecapade, the final open stakes of the year in New Jersey, drew seven runners, with Immortal Eyes breaking from the rail.
Why Not Be Perfect, a late-runner in a speed-laden field, headlines the $35,000 Portland Mile on Monday at Portland Meadows, part of an 11-race holiday card that includes six other stakes races and a total purse distribution of more than $139,000. It’s the biggest day of the meeting at Oregon’s flagship track, though the marquee race almost assuredly will be won by an outsider.
