DEL MAR, Calif. – The longer, the better, it seems for the turf filly Topic. Winless in five races at distances ranging from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, she finally broke through with a victory against maidens going 1 3/16 miles, then stretched out to 1 1/4 miles and was a good third last time out in the Grade 1 American Oaks at Betfair Hollywood Park.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When No Nay Never won the Prix Morny at Deauville in France last Sunday, it gave trainer Wesley Ward the first Group 1 victory of his 22-year training career.
He hopes it’s the start of a trend.
Ward will seek his first North American Grade 1 victory Friday at Saratoga when Judy the Beauty, a three-time runner-up in Grade 1 races, starts in the $500,000 Ballerina Stakes at seven furlongs.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Seawatch, who went on a tear during the spring and early summer, returns from a short layoff in the first race Friday at Woodbine. The 1 1/8-mile starter allowance is limited to horses who competed with a claiming price of $12,500 or less in 2012-13.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The large field expected for Sunday’s $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar may work in favor of a proven closer such as Jeranimo.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Something Extra, who had been pointing to Sunday’s Play the King Stakes, will miss the balance of the meeting.
“He has bone bruising,” said Gail Cox, who trains Something Extra and owns the Kentucky-bred 5-year-old gelding in partnership with John Menary. “He went very well in his last breeze; I was on him. But for the next couple of weeks, he just didn’t seem to be himself. He was perfectly sound and training well, but his attitude was different.
Tiny, old Timonium, the last bastion of Thoroughbred racing at any fair east of the Mississippi River, got a big boost from Maryland horsemen that will enable the half-mile track that operates in conjunction with the Maryland State Fair to expand to 10 days and offer higher purses.
Desert Train has a good chance of winning his second straight race when he runs in a $17,500 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up that will serve as Friday’s feature at Northlands Park. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew seven horses, and there is an abundance of speed to set up Desert Train, who can stalk the pace.
In its first meet independent from the California Authority of Racing Fairs, average daily all-sources handle and total and average ontrack handle at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, Calif., increased over last year.
Ontrack betting increased despite two fewer days of racing. Ontrack wagering for the 13-day 2013 meet totaled $3,703,664, a 3 percent increase over the $3,580,241 bet ontrack at the 15-day 2012 meet. The daily average ontrack handle was $284,897 this year compared with $238,682 in 2012, a 19 percent increase.
Regal Silver, third when facing males last time out in the 5 1/2-furlong Graduation, will be back with fillies Friday in the $30,000 Debutante Stakes at Assiniboia Downs.
The 5 1/2-furlong Debutante, for 2-year-old fillies, attracted a field of eight.
Regal Silver, bred in Manitoba by her owner, Phil Kives, was a maiden winner first crack out at 4 1/2 furlongs and then was beaten 7 1/4 lengths as the third-place finisher in the Graduation.
