ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Ariana D, who has been mentioned as a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Churchill Downs, instead is scheduled to appear here in next Sunday’s Ontario Fashion.
“Unfortunately, we’re going to have to pass on the Breeders’ Cup,” said Laurie Silvera, who trains the homebred 5-year-old for owner Bill Thompson.
Ariana D would have been making her first start on dirt in the seven-furlong Filly and Mare Sprint.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Who was that bay filly masquerading as Upperline at Turfway Park? Surely not the real thing as far as trainer Mike Stidham is concerned.
“I’ve never seen her run a race like that before,” said Stidham, referring to a dreadful last-place finish as the even-money favorite four weeks ago in the Kentucky Cup Distaff. “She just never got a hold of the Polytrack at all.”
From tracks as small as Sandy Downs in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Dixie Downs in St. George, Utah, to better-known venues such as Arapahoe Park and Turf Paradise, horses from throughout the West have qualified for Sunday’s $100,000 Wild West Futurity at Los Alamitos.
The 350-yard race is restricted to 2-year-olds who have made at least two starts in 11 Western states, other than California. The 10 finalists raced earlier this year in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Utah and Washington.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Nikkis Bold Gelato has overcome a sour beginning to show plenty of promise for trainer Bob Tiller.
On Sunday, Tiller will be looking for Nikkis Bold Gelato to put the ice cream on the cake in the $125,000 Fanfreluche, a six-furlong race for Ontario-foaled 2-year-old fillies.
“She’s a good, tough filly and she’s in good order,” said Tiller. “She got over her first start.”
Nikkis Bold Gelato debuted here July 30, breaking from the 1 post in a field of 10.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Bagatelle Park and Quality Lass should give trainer Mark Casse a solid one-two punch in Sunday’s $150,000 Fanfreluche Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for Ontario-bred 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine.
Bagatelle Park was a stalking third behind future stakes winner and stablemate Northern Passion when she debuted July 9. She never started again until Sept. 18, when she captured a six-furlong maiden special after closing from third, earning a 70 Beyer Speed Figure.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – There are a few wrinkles in Woodbine’s racing dates application for 2012, which currently is awaiting approval from the Ontario Racing Commission.
While the number of dates requested is unchanged at 167, Woodbine will not be racing on Thursdays from July 19 through Sept. 6.
“Perenially, this has been our weakest horse supply period of the year, due to a combination of factors,” said Steve Koch, vice president, Thoroughbred racing, for the Woodbine Entertainment Group.
Major-network television coverage of the Nov. 4-5 Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs will be split between three networks within the ABC/ESPN family of channels, according to the organization, and will not include live coverage of the first Breeders’ Cup race on Saturday, the Marathon.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Sanagas unleashed a powerful stretch run before holding off a late bid from Tahoe Lake to post a half-length victory in the 17th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Sycamore Stakes on a dank Thursday afternoon at Keeneland Race Course.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Lovely Lil could be the shortest-priced favorite in the seven stakes races at Belmont Park on Saturday when she heads a field of nine entered in the $125,000 Iroquois Stakes for female sprinters at seven furlongs.
Lovely Lil won two races against statebred competition to start her 4-year-old season before running third to Pomeroys Pistol in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap.
“This race fit her too perfectly,” trainer Mike Hushion said of the Iroquois. “Timing-wise, distance and there’s nothing wrong with $125,000 either.”
With two wins and a second-place finish from three starts versus statebred competition this year, Gitchee Goomie is the horse to beat in the $125,000 Ticonderoga for fillies and mares at 1 1/16-miles on the turf.
The 3-year-old filly Hessonite is the one with the best chance to beat her.
In her last two starts, Hessonite defeated males in a New York Stallion Stakes at Saratoga in August and finished second to the loose-on-the-lead favorite Elusive Pearl in the $100,000 Pebbles.
