Thu, 07/11/2013 - 14:04

Northlands: Jockey Welch sustains broken collarbone in spill

Jockey Quincy Welch is out indefinitely after breaking his collarbone when he went down in a spill aboard Boston Rob in the seventh race at Northlands Park on Wednesday evening.

Boston Rob was rallying at the top of the stretch but clipped heels when he was sandwiched between Tway, who drifted out, and Mountain Minister, who was on his outside.

According to his agent Bob Fowlis, Welch was scheduled for surgery Thursday at Royal Alexander Hospital.

Thu, 07/11/2013 - 13:59

Hastings: Touching Promise steps up after victory

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Touching Promise might be good enough to stand the considerable jump in class when she runs in an allowance race restricted to 3-year-old fillies who have not won $27,500 in 2013 or $12,000 twice this year. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew seven horses and will serve as Saturday’s feature at Hastings.

Thu, 07/11/2013 - 13:56

Woodbine notes: Skylander Girl to run on short rest in Shady Well Stakes

Michael Burns
Skylander Girl won the My Dear Stakes by three lengths last Saturday and will run back in Sunday's $150,000 Shady Well Stakes.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Owner-trainer Al Patykewich has been around the racetrack for 47 years and took out his trainer’s license in 1976. Last Saturday, the 64-year-old Patykewich enjoyed his first stakes win when Skylander Girl scored by a going-away three lengths in the My Dear, a five-furlong stakes race for 2-year-old fillies.

Thu, 07/11/2013 - 13:46

Sacramento: California Governor's Cup topped by Hollendorfer foursome

Shigeki Kikkawa
Via Villaggio, winning the Grade 3 Railbird last year, is coming off a poor performance in her 2013 debut.

It’s a Jerry Hollendorfer quartet of stakes-winning and stakes-placed fillies and mares going against a pair of stakes neophytes in Saturday’s $75,000 California Governor’s Cup Handicap at the California State Fair in Sacramento.

Hollendorfer sends out what looks to be an unbeatable hand with graded stakes winner Via Villaggio, the stakes winners Sister Kat and Cathy’s Crunches, and stakes-placed Lady Aspen.

Thu, 07/11/2013 - 13:17

Woodbine: Cryptic Message tries turf in Passing Mood Stakes

Michael Burns
Cryptic Message will make her first start on grass in Saturday's $125,000 Passing Mood Stakes.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Cryptic Message will be charting unknown territory Saturday at Woodbine against Ontario-sired 3-year-old filly opposition in the $125,000 Passing Mood Stakes at seven furlongs on the grass. The Passing Mood will be her first start on grass and first at farther than 6 1/2 furlongs.

Cryptic Message had a very productive 2-year-old campaign, during which she won 4 of 5 starts and $340,000. Three of those tallies came in restricted stakes.

Thu, 07/11/2013 - 13:09

Canterbury Park: Mister Marti Gras slight choice in inaugural Mystic Lake Mile

Tom Keyser
There should be enough speed in the Mystic Lake Mile to set up the late move of Mister Marti Gras.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – Saturday marks another important step in the partnership between the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux community and Canterbury Park as the $125,000 Mystic Lake Mile for 3-years old and up will be run for the first time. The card also includes the $100,000 Lady Canterbury for fillies and mares. Both are one-mile turf races.

Thu, 07/11/2013 - 12:47

Northlands Park: Sweet Nectar's performance better than Beyer Speed Figure indicates

Sweet Nectar earned just an average Beyer Speed Figure for her win over Candy Alley in a first-level allowance in her first start at Northlands Park on July 1, and anyone just looking at speed figures might believe she is going to have a hard time moving up in class when she runs in a second-level allowance Saturday.

Thu, 07/11/2013 - 12:34

Colonial Downs: Praia aims for first stakes victory in Virginia Oaks

Tom Keyser
Praia has one win and four runner-up finishes in six career starts heading into the Virginia Oaks.

Praia outran double-digit odds of 45-1 and 11-1 in back-to-back stakes at Churchill Downs this spring but had to settle for second behind the talented Kitten’s Dumplings both times. Without that rival to deal with Saturday, Praia is in a strong position to collect her first stakes victory in the $150,000 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs.

The Grade 3 Oaks is among four undercard stakes on a closing-day card topped by the Grade 2, $500,000 Virginia Derby.

Thu, 07/11/2013 - 11:55

Fort Erie cancels three more Monday cards

The Ontario Racing Commission has approved Fort Erie’s request to cancel three more Monday cards, July 15 through July 29, as a shortage of horses continues to take its toll on the border oval.

“Attempts to fill three cards of racing during the current circumstances could result in horses racing too frequently and increase the risk to the welfare of the equine athletes,” said Rob McKinney, the commission’s acting executive director, in his written reasons for the decision.

Wed, 07/10/2013 - 17:22

Hollywood Park: Sahara Sky may head east again for Forego

Tom Keyser
Sahara Sky has won 7 of 16 starts and $886,680.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Sahara Sky, winner of the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park in May and two other stakes earlier this year, is in light training and could reappear in the $500,000 Forego Stakes at Saratoga on Aug 31, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.

Last month, Hollendorfer said Sahara Sky could start at Del Mar, but that plan was considered unlikely earlier this week.

“This is the time of year we back up a little bit,” Hollendorfer said. “We were thinking of the Bing Crosby, but I’m not anxious to run in that race.”