BOSSIER CITY, La. – The three heavy hitters from last Saturday’s Legends Night at Evangeline Downs each came out of their races in good order and have their connections putting together plans for the remainder of the summer.
Things are rather cut-and-dried for the Legends Turf winner, String King, according to his owner, breeder, trainer Charlie Smith.
“We’ll go in the Louisiana Cup Turf next month and then the Unbridled on Super Derby Day,” said Smith.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Highlander Stakes, which was run last Sunday at Woodbine, has been downgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 3 status after a downpour just prior to the race led to its being moved from turf to the main track in the interests of safety.
When conditions lead to a surface change for a graded race following the close of nominations, the race is automatically downgraded by one level for that running only.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – After serving as a pacesetter for stablemate Lady of Shamrock in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park in May, Miss Ellany has been given a chance to build her own career this summer.
A 4-year-old Irish-bred filly, Miss Ellany won an allowance over 1 1/16 miles on turf June 15, her first win in four starts in the United States. She can win her second consecutive start in a $57,000 allowance race over a mile on turf in Friday’s second race at Hollywood Park.
AUBURN, Wash. – A $15,000 claimer for older horses at 1 1/16 miles will serve as the feature race Friday as Emerald Downs starts the second half of its 75-day meeting. First post for the seven-race card is 6:45 p.m. Pacific.
The feature is restricted to horses who have yet to win three times, and the late-running Improviso, who won his Emerald Downs debut and then missed by a head in his second local start, could start as the favorite in a six-horse field.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Several top-class performances were overshadowed by the Queen’s Plate here last Sunday, an afternoon on which three graded turf stakes were scheduled but only two were run over the surface.
Trainer Reade Baker and owners Jim and Susan Hill were front and center after winning both the 1 1/8-mile Dance Smartly, for fillies and mares, and the six-furlong Highlander, which had been scheduled for turf but was switched to the main track at the 11th hour following a sudden downpour.
The California State Fair in Sacramento lost a great promotion when Russell Baze rode his 12,000th winner Sunday in the last race on closing day at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif.
Even without the Baze countdown to 12,000, there will plenty of racing attractions at the State Fair, which begins its eight-day racing meet Friday.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Away from the races for 11 months, Blingo looks to jump-start his once-promising career in a $74,000 second-level turf allowance race that serves as the feature on Belmont Park’s fifth and final “Party at the Park” card on Friday. First post is 3 p.m. Eastern.
Given that trainer John Shirreffs’s two winners this meet came with a first-time starter and a horse who had been off more than six months, the 11-month layoff should not be disconcerting to those looking to wager on Blingo. Moreover, Blingo has worked 17 times since February.
EAST BOSTON, Mass. – Jockey Andria Terrill suffered three fractures at the base of her skull in a spill at Suffolk Downs on Monday. She remained hospitalized Wednesday in “good” condition at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, but her prognosis is for a full recovery.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – When Notis Her is good she can stay in the zone for a while, and she is certainly capable of handling the small jump in class into a $10,000 claiming race for fillies and mares after winning for $7,500 June 16. Friday’s 1 1/16-mile race drew seven horses and will serve as the feature at Hastings.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – There’s an obvious lone front-runner ridden by Jesse Campbell for trainer Nick Gonzalez in Friday’s feature, and it’s not Queen’s Plate winner Midnight Aria returning on short rest. Man Stuff will be looking to break out of a slump in the second-level optional claimer, and the crafty Campbell seems like the right man for the job.
