ALTOONA, Iowa – As the Thoroughbred meet wound down last weekend, the preponderance of cowboy hats and large belt buckles signalling the start of the Quarter Horse season were evident on the track apron.

For a meet conducted over 26 live racing dates from this Friday until Saturday, Oct. 1, the Quarter Horses are steadily dribbling into the Prairie Meadows backside. The track’s racing secretary for Quarter Horses, Chad Keller, said, “We have about 450 of them now, but that number should rise to 800 with the meet in full swing.”

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The eighth and final race on Friday’s Woodbine card, a $40,000 conditioned claimer on the grass, includes two talented droppers whom handicappers must size up before making their wagers.

So Good Lucky took 11 starts before he won for the first time, but it looks like he has an excellent chance of doubling his win total when he runs in a first-level allowance race at Northlands Park Friday. The six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew eight horses and goes as race 7 on the eight -race card which begins at 7 p.m. Mountain.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Herescomelucky and Sunnyside Gal figure to be solid favorites in a pair of $100,000 stakes races for 2-year-olds at Hastings Friday night. Undefeated Herescomelucky stands out in the Jack Diamond Futurity, which drew nine colts and geldings, and Sunnyside Gal looks formidable in the 11-horse Sadie Diamond Futurity for fillies. Both races are restricted to horses foaled in Canada and will be contested at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Golden Gate Fields begins a seven-week racing experiment at its Albany, Calif., track Friday, when it begins a short summer meet that runs through Oct. 2.

The meet will run 22 days with three-day weeks, Fridays through Sundays, as well as racing on Labor Day Monday. At its last meet, which ran from last December to June, Golden Gate ran four days a week, Thursday-Sunday.

Golden Gate Fields general manager Robert Hartman said the shortened weeks would hopefully attract bigger fields and more out-of-state wagering.

Brinello showed little in his first two starts this season but then woke up to score by 4 3/4 lengths Aug. 5 in the one-mile allowance prep for the $50,000 Agassiz Stakes at Assiniboia Downs. And while Brinello was disqualified and placed sixth that day, the 9-year-old gelding has made his point and should make amends by recording his fifth consecutive Agassiz victory Friday evening.

The Agassiz, a one-mile stakes for Manitoba-bred 3-year-olds and upward, attracted a field of seven and goes as the seventh race on an eight-race card which also includes the $25,000 Debutante.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - If jockey Martin Garcia’s opinion counts for anything, Haskell Invitational winner Coil will be in the starting gate for the $1 million Travers Stakes here on Aug. 27.

"Go for it," Garcia said after guiding Coil through a six-furlong workout in 1:12.98 over a good Saratoga main track Wednesday morning.

Welcome to Spa Babies! I'll break down the statistics for every juvenile contest at the meet and hope for a tidy profit.

In past years, I would list the stats for each horse before writing up my analysis, selections and wagering strategy. In order to streamline the content, this year's Spa Babies will showcase written analyses of each juvenile race. Each analysis will include relevant statistical information. Following the analysis, top three selections and wagering strategy will be provided.

Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011

Welcome to Spa Babies! I'll break down the statistics for every juvenile contest at the meet and hope for a tidy profit.

In past years, I would list the stats for each horse before writing up my analysis, selections and wagering strategy. In order to streamline the content, this year's Spa Babies will showcase written analyses of each juvenile race. Each analysis will include relevant statistical information. Following the analysis, top three selections and wagering strategy will be provided.

Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011

Welcome to Spa Babies! I'll break down the statistics for every juvenile contest at the meet and hope for a tidy profit.

In past years, I would list the stats for each horse before writing up my analysis, selections and wagering strategy. In order to streamline the content, this year's Spa Babies will showcase written analyses of each juvenile race. Each analysis will include relevant statistical information. Following the analysis, top three selections and wagering strategy will be provided.

Monday's result:
Race 8: Banner Bill finished fourth