Stakes experience is a little hard to come by in Friday night’s filly division of the $60,000 John Franks Memorial Sales Stakes at Evangeline Downs. So rare, in fact, that Gone Kitty’s fifth-place performance in the $100,000 Texas Stallion Stakes at Lone Star Park earlier this month represents the entire sum total of the 11 2-year-old fillies entered in the 5 1/2-furlong headliner.

Claresmiezie is a complete standout in the $50,000 Princess Margaret for 2-year-old fillies at Northlands Park on Friday night. The real question is by how many, rather than who is going to win the six-furlong sprint that drew eight horses.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The promising 3-year-old Lucky Lotto will tackle older opposition over seven furlongs Friday at Woodbine in a second-level optional $62,500 claiming race.

Lucky Lotto had an inauspicious debut in maiden special company May 22, during which he failed to threaten while racing wide. A month later traveling seven furlongs, he blew away a field of $50,000 maidens with the addition of Lasix, scoring by five lengths in a time of 1:23.23, which translated into a solid 85 Beyer Speed Figure.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A stewards’ hearing into a medication violation that could result in a 3-year-old gelding named Stealing Copper being disqualified from a victory in a $10,000 maiden-claiming race last month at Churchill Downs is scheduled to be held Friday at Ellis Park in western Kentucky.

Shackleford arrived at Monmouth Park at about 7:30 a.m. Eastern Wednesday following an overnight van ride from Kentucky in his quest to add the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational to what trainer Dale Romans hopes will be a champion’s resume.

Shackleford, winner of the Preakness and one of the leading candidates for the top 3-year-old of 2011, had an uneventful trip to the New Jersey shore after leaving his home base of Churchill Downs on Tuesday evening on a Sallee horse van.

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.

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.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Tom Bush was intently eyeing Get Stormy as his multiple Grade 1 winner began to pick up momentum under jockey Ramon Dominguez during his final workout over the Oklahoma turf course in preparation for Sunday’s Grade 2 Fourstardave here at Saratoga. Suddenly, Bush heard the blaring sound of the horn that is activated when a horse gets loose on the track.

Grade 1 winner Prince Will I Am has been sent home to his owners Casa Farm in Lexington, Ky., trainer Michelle Nihei confirmed on Tuesday. Prince Will I Am won the Grade 1 Jamaica at 3 as well as both the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida and W.L. McKnight Handicap in Florida last winter. But he had finished off the board in each of his last two starts, the Grade 1 Turf Classic and Manhattan Handicap.

AUBURN, Wash. – After suffering severe injuries when she was thrown from a horse more than five months before, Jennifer Whitaker found a soft landing spot for her return to race-riding last Sunday. Reunited with Libby Creek, a 7-year-old mare with whom she had won five races previously, Whitaker worked out a last-to-first trip and landed triumphant in the Emerald Downs winner’s circle.