In the Stars will start in a turf stakes in November after winning for the first time in the United States in an allowance race over a mile on Friday.
Ridden by Corey Nakatani, In the Stars ($3.40) was fifth early, took the lead with a wide move on the turn, and pulled clear to finish 3 1/4 lengths in front of Mary Fildes.
Beulah Park in Grove City, Ohio, will begin its 89th year Monday.
The barn area is filling up and racing secretary Ed Vomacka is optimistic about the 44-day meet.
“Entries have gone really well so far, and we expect that to continue,” Vomacka said. “We have quite a few outfits coming from Thistledown, so it will really pick up when they are finished up there in November, I would think.”
Beulah is switching to a four-day racing week for the meet, and Vomacka sees that as a huge plus for the racing office.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Honorable Guest sticks out in holiday Monday’s $125,000 Bull Page Stakes on class and Beyer Speed Figures. He should be favored in the six-furlong dash at Woodbine, which has lured eight other Ontario-sired 2-year-olds.
Honorable Guest finished second in each of his first three outings, including two stakes, although he was demoted to fifth in the Colin for interference. He earned his diploma by eight lengths in a six-furlong maiden special for Ontario-sired stock Aug. 11.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The connections of 10 3-year-old turf fillies have accepted invitations to participate next weekend in the sixth and final Grade 1 race of the Keeneland fall meet, the $400,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on Saturday, Oct. 13.
Division leaders Stephanie’s Kitten, Lady of Shamrock, and Samitar are among those expected to be entered in the 29th running of the QEII, a 1 1/8-mile turf fixture that invariably comes up an outstanding race.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Bares Tripper won her debut on a Polytrack surface at Del Mar. She won a stakes on a dirt track at Fairplex Park. A start on turf in Monday’s $100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita is not a major issue for trainer Peter Miller.
“She should handle the turf,” Miller said. “I don’t see why she won’t handle it after she handled the synthetic. Some horses just run on anything, and I think she’s one of those.”
Barring scratches, 10 2-year-olds will start in the $50,000 Canadian Juvenile at Northlands Park on Monday, and it is anyone’s guess which horse will emerge as the winner. All 10 will be stretching out to a middle distance for the first time, and they also will be looking for their first stakes win.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Eight turf-meant 3-year-old fillies who last raced at six different tracks will meet in Monday’s $150,000 Pebbles Stakes, which is scheduled for one mile on the Widener turf course.
Todd Pletcher will be well represented by the uncoupled duo of Peace Preserver and Channel Lady, who figure to vie for favoritism after posting the field’s fastest races during the final week of racing at Saratoga.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Commander will be a heavy favorite to win his sixth stakes race in a row in the $100,000 B.C. Premiers at Hastings on Monday. The main threat to ending his streak appears to be Jebrica, who won the race for 3-year-olds and up last year.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The Grade 3, $100,000 Ballerina at Hastings on Monday features a classic matchup between the top older female at Emerald Downs, Class Included, and the dominant 3-year-old filly at Hastings, Evelyn’s Dancer.
The 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares drew seven horses and goes as race 4 on a nine-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific. Under the scale weight conditions of the race, older fillies and mares will carry 123 pounds and 3-year-olds 120.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Led by Watsdachances, trainer Chad Brown will take three shots at Monday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont Park, hoping to get back to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, the inaugural running of which Brown won four years ago with Maram.
Brown also will send out maidens Wave Theory and Atlantic Dream in the Miss Grillo, a 1 1/16-mile grass race that drew a field of 12.
