POMONA, Calif. – No stakes, no problem. Gambling is the focus Saturday at Fairplex Park, where full fields compensate for the absence of a weekend showcase stakes race.

Only four California-bred fillies and mares nominated to the $50,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes scheduled for Saturday; only three entered even after the statebred restriction was lifted. Officials canceled the 1 1/16-mile stakes and expect increased interest Sept. 24, when fillies and mares run long in the $50,000 Las Madrinas Handicap.

DEL MAR, Calif. – A few days before Del Mar’s meeting began, trainer Bob Baffert cited a few unraced 2-year-old colts he expected to do well at the meet. One of the horses, a Lawyer Ron colt, had yet to be named, but Baffert said the name Volt had been submitted to the Jockey Club.

ELMONT, N.Y. − While Grace Hall has come out of her victory in Sunday’s Grade 1 Spinaway in good order, trainer Tony Dutrow and his owners have not yet decided what is next for her.

The Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont on Oct. 8 seems a logical target, but Dutrow said he isn’t sure if he wants to run her in that spot.

BOSSIER CITY, La.– There are few turf stakes at Louisiana Downs that have eluded Category Seven. She has compiled a 5-for-9 record over the local course, and even defeated males in a stakes last season.

But success in the River Cites, a $100,000 turf race for fillies and mares at Louisiana Downs, has been hard to come by for Category Seven. She has finished second in the race the last two years, a trend her trainer, Kenneth Hargrave, hopes to reverse Saturday.

“It might be payback,” he quipped. “It might be our time.”

ELMONT, N.Y. – While the Belmont fall meet has lost its championship moniker in the Breeders’ Cup era, it has the potential to regain that lofty status this year.

The 37-day meet that begins Saturday and runs through Oct. 30 will feature 31 stakes – 21 graded – with purses totaling $6.2 million. The biggest days of the meet are Oct. 1 and Oct. 8 during which eight of the nine Grade 1 races scheduled will be run.

ELMONT, N.Y. − Uncle Mo, beaten a nose in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop in his first start in 140 days, will “most likely” make his next start in the Grade 2, $200,000 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park on Oct. 1, owner Mike Repole said Thursday.

AUBURN, Wash. – After a whirlwind seven weeks at Del Mar, trainer Vann Belvoir spent Thursday morning hauling horses up to Santa Anita. Belvoir is still a factor at Emerald Downs, ranking sixth in the trainer standings, but for the time being, his focus is on Southern California. He swam with the big fish at Del Mar, finishing with 5 wins from 32 starters, and plans to jump back into deep waters when Santa Anita kicks off its fall schedule Sept. 30.

Before the first race of the Zia Park meet is even run Saturday in Hobbs, N.M., purses will have been increased. Officials said Thursday that all overnight purses would be boosted 5 percent heading into the 50-date season for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses that runs through Dec. 4. The move puts average daily purses, including stakes, at a record $285,000 a program.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Moments after Sanagas won the John’s Call Stakes on Aug. 5 despite drifting toward the outside rail of Saratoga’s Mellon turf course, trainer Graham Motion said he would consider running the 5-year-old gelding back in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont Park.

After some more consideration – and realizing Sanagas is not Breeders’ Cup nominated – Motion came up with a revised schedule that begins with Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Bowling Green Handicap, the opening-day feature at Belmont.

Shotgun Gulch could improve with her regular rider back aboard Saturday when she goes postward as one of the top contenders in the highlight of the Presque Isle Downs meet, the Grade 2, $400,000 Masters. The 6 1/2-furlong Masters attracted 15 entries but only 12 fillies and mares will be allowed to start.

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