Thu, 10/11/2012 - 14:32

Woodbine: Imperial Monarch 3-1 in field of 11 for Canadian International

Michael Burns
Reliable Man is the 4-1 second choice on the morning line for the Grade 1 Canadian International.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Imperial Monarch, a lightly raced Irish-bred 3-year-old who became a Group 1 winner in Paris in his last start, has been made the 3-1 morning-line favorite in a field of 11 for Sunday’s $1.5 million Canadian International.

Post positions for the 1 1/2-mile Canadian International, which is one of three Grade 1 turf stakes here Sunday along with the 1 1/4-mile E.P. Taylor and six-furlong Nearctic, were announced at a special ceremonial draw in the trackside tent here Thursday. All three races are Win and You’re In events for the Breeders’ Cup.

Thu, 10/11/2012 - 14:10

Belmont: Boisterous finds comfortable setting in Knickerbocker

Tom Keyser
Boisterous has won four of seven starts on Belmont turf.

ELMONT, N.Y. – After an unsuccessful summer racing in Chicago, Boisterous is back at Belmont Park – on his favorite turf course – seeking a repeat in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Knickerbocker Stakes.

Boisterous, a 5-year-old son of Distorted Humor, is 4 for 7 over Belmont’s turf and 3 for 12 off of it. Moreover, three of those four wins have come on yielding turf, the type of ground he is likely to encounter on Saturday in the 1 1/8-mile Knickerbocker.

Thu, 10/11/2012 - 13:24

Woodbine: E.P. Taylor's depth may boost Barefoot Lady's odds

Michael Burns
Barefoot Lady, with David Moran a late substitute for Jamie Spencer, captures the Grade 2 Canadian.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Barefoot Lady was shipping in from England below the radar when she won the Grade 2 Canadian Handicap over 1 1/8 miles of turf at odds of 7-1 here at Woodbine on Sept. 16.

Thu, 10/11/2012 - 12:18

Hastings: Shintoism looks tough in Saturday allowance

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Shintoism looks like the one to beat in a first-level allowance race that will serve as Saturday’s feature at Hastings. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint attracted seven 3-year-olds and goes as the eighth race on the second-to-last day of live racing at Hastings this year.

Wed, 10/10/2012 - 17:53

Remington Park notes: Prospective possible for Clark at Churchill

Barbara D. Livingston
Prospective’s wins this year include the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby and Grade 3 Ohio Derby.

Prospective, a five-time stakes winner who in his most recent start finished fifth in the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby, will be considered for the Grade 1, $400,000 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on Nov. 23, said trainer Mark Casse. Prospective’s wins this year include the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby and Grade 3 Ohio Derby.

“I don’t have specific plans for him, but maybe the Clark,” Casse said Wednesday.

Wed, 10/10/2012 - 17:32

Belmont: Flashpoint on comeback trail

ELMONT, N.Y. - Flashpoint, a multiple graded stakes-winning 3-year-old sprinter of 2011 who was retired last fall, is on the comeback trail.

Flashpoint, a son of Pomeroy, won the Grade 2 Hutcheson at Gulfstream and the Grade 3 Jersey Shore at Monmouth last year. Following a fourth-place finish as the favorite in the Grade 3 Phoenix at Keeneland last October, Flashpoint was retired because of a torn suspensory ligament.

Wed, 10/10/2012 - 16:58

Belmont Park notes: Candy Feat a winning survivor

Barbara D. Livingston
Much Rejoicing was one of several horses injured in a van accident.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Regardless if he ever won a race, just getting to the starting gate was a victory in itself for Candy Feat.

On Friday, Candy Feat, a 3-year-old son of Hard Spun, goes for his second consecutive victory in a first-level allowance that goes as race 8 at Belmont Park.

Wed, 10/10/2012 - 16:52

Santa Anita: Silentio seeks a prep for Hollywood Derby

Benoit & Assoicates
Silentio is part of a field of nine in an optional claimer over 1 1/8 miles on turf on Friday at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Silentio needs a start on turf at Santa Anita on Friday to remain on course for the $250,000 Hollywood Derby at Betfair Hollywood Park on Nov. 25.

Undefeated in two starts, Silentio is part of a field of nine in an optional claimer over 1 1/8 miles on turf. Earlier this week, trainer Gary Mandella said Silentio is approaching Friday’s race in good condition, but that he was concerned about the weather. Rain is expected Thursday, and there is a possibility that Friday’s race could be shifted to the main track.

Wed, 10/10/2012 - 16:49

Breeders’ Cup Classic an ‘unlikely’ next stop for Alternation

Barbara D. Livingston
Alternation was the 4-5 favorite in the Hawthorne Gold Cup.

Alternation on Wednesday was “unlikely” to advance to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic after finishing sixth in last weekend’s Grade 2, $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup, said trainer Donnie Von Hemel. The horse was still in Chicago as of Wednesday, and Von Hemel said no plans for him have been set, including with regard to the BC Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.

“Unlikely is probably as far as I would go right now,” Von Hemel said of Alternation’s status for the Classic. “We do not have any plans at all right now.”

Wed, 10/10/2012 - 16:45

Meadowlands: All-turf meeting kicks off Friday

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The New Jersey Thoroughbred racing season concludes where it began – at the Meadowlands Racetrack for eight all-turf cards.

The circuit began at the Big M in May before shifting to Monmouth Park for the core meet. Now it’s back to the Meadowlands on Friday afternoon for a six-race program starting at 2:15 p.m. Eastern.