Breeders’ Cup candidate Ben’s Cat is among 151 horses who were pre-entered Friday for next weekend’s 26th annual Jim McKay Maryland Million at Laurel Park.
The list includes 13 horses who were cross-entered in more than one race on the program, which features 11 stakes for the offspring of Maryland-based sires. Post positions for the $1.05 million worth of races will be held at noon Wednesday.
ELMONT, N.Y. - There were three winning tickets purchased on Friday’s pick six at Belmont Park, each returning a healthy $101,581.
There had been a two-day carryover of $114,149 and an additional $343,452 was bet into the pool on Friday.
The winning sequence of 3-9-2-1-7-5 consisted of Hillsboro Bay ($9.30), Natalie Victoria ($3.90), Boots Ahead ($6), Grey Foose ($11.40), Shankopotamus ($17.20) and Associate ($11.40).
There were 148 consolation tickets (5 of 6), each returning $429.
Although the $100,000 KC Juvenile Fillies drew a graded stakes winner in Grade 3 Debutante winner Flashy Lassie – something the Juvenile and Sprint did not – her presence did little to frighten away the opposition.
Eleven other 2-year-old fillies were entered in the mile race on Polytrack, making the Juvenile Fillies, the first of the five stakes, the deepest stakes event on the Saturday Turfway card.
Because the KC Juvenile hasn’t been run since 2008, it is no longer graded, which could become a disadvantage when trying to make the cut for the Breeders’ Cup. Still, Mike Maker is hoping that the exciting gray colt in his stable named Hansen ultimately will showcase his talent on a bigger stage, Breeders’ Cup or no.
Trainer Nick Zito has a healthy respect for Uncle Mo, last year’s 2-year-old champion, but he said neither he nor his mighty mouse of a colt Jackson Bend will be afraid to take him on in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Kelso Handicap.
“Uncle Mo is still Uncle Mo, he’s a terrific horse, but Jackson Bend is no slouch,’’ Zito said Friday from Saratoga. “Jackson doesn’t get intimidated.’’
Jackson Bend is coming off two dominant victories in one-turn races at Saratoga, and Zito hopes he has two more left – the Kelso and the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
Ramon Dominguez has given trainer David Fawkes a two-race commitment aboard sprint champion Big Drama. Those two races are Saturday’s Grade 1, $350,000 Vosburgh Invitational followed by the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.
Last year, Big Drama was ridden by Eibar Coa, who was injured earlier this year in a spill at Gulfstream Park. Daniel Centeno rode Big Drama in his 2 1/4-length victory in the Whippleton Stakes at Calder on Sept. 4.
Big Drama was scheduled to work at Calder on Saturday and ship to New York next week.
Emerald Beech, winner of four consecutive races, will step up into Grade 1 company when she runs against Beverly D. winner Stacelita in Saturday’s $500,000 Flower Bowl Invitational, trainer Jonathan Sheppard confirmed on Friday.
Emerald Beech, a 5-year-old daughter of Maria’s Mon, is coming off a convincing 1 1/2-length score in the Grade 3 Glens Falls Handicap in which she handled a very soft Saratoga turf course.
In an attempt to beat the rain, trainer Christophe Clement sent out his stakes-winning pair of Winchester and Grassy for an in-company workout Friday morning in preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont Park.
Winchester, under Christophe Lorieul, broke off 1 1/2 lengths in front of Grassy and finished about a head in front at the wire. Winchester was credited with a five-furlong time of 1:02.46, while Grassy went in 1:02.19 under Jerry Fogarty.
Even before the defection of Tizway, owner Rick Porter said he was considering running his top older filly Havre de Grace in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Ultimately, Porter and trainer Larry Jones decided to stay in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $350,000 Beldame Invitational against females.
Porter said he and Jones preferred the shorter distance of the Beldame, run at 1 1/8 miles, while hoping the race would be an easier spot to prepare for the Breeders’ Cup – whether it be the Classic against males or the Ladies’ Classic against females.
POMONA, Calif. – Quindici Man’s trainer, Craig Lewis, describes the veteran as a “blue-collar, working-class stakes horse.”
Norvsky is an unheralded California-bred racing this year in the shadow of a celebrated stablemate, Acclamation.
Quindici Man and Norvsky each has a score to settle Sunday at Fairplex Park in the signature race of the Los Angeles County Fair – the $75,000 Ralph M. Hinds Pomona Invitational Handicap at 1 1/8 miles.
