ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Ralph Biamonte stable has fashioned an enviable record with its 2-year-olds at this meeting, clicking with 5 of 8 starters, including Victoria Stakes winner Banner Bill.

On Sunday, Biamonte will be looking to enhance that statistic when he sends out Jenna’s Wabbit for the $125,000 Clarendon Stakes.

The Clarendon, a 5 1/2-furlong race for Ontario-foaled 2-year-olds, attracted a field of seven, and Jenna’s Wabbit is the only winner.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Coming off a dominant victory in the Grade 2 Vagrancy Handicap here June 4, Hilda’s Passion would have been a logical candidate for next weekend’s Grade 1, $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap at Calder.

Despite the larger purse and the fact she would have been an odds-on favorite in that six-furlong race, Hilda’s Passion remained home in New York to run in Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Bed o’ Roses Handicap, where she also figures to be heavily favored in this seven-furlong stakes.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Castinette Dancer will put her three-race winning streak on the line when she stretches out to 1 1/16 miles for the first time in the $50,000 Supernaturel for 3-year-old fillies at Hastings Sunday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Spooky Kitten gave the brilliant Inglorious a run for her money in the Woodbine Oaks, a performance that makes her the one to fear most in Sunday’s $250,000 Bison City Stakes.

The 1 1/16-mile Bison City follows the Oaks as the second leg of the Canadian triple tiara, a lucrative series for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies. The race lost some of its luster when Inglorious skipped it in favor of a successful run in last Sunday’s Queen’s Plate, but there are some promising fillies in the six-horse field.

Give Me Five will try and make amends in a first-level allowance race for 3-year-old fillies that will serve as Sunday’s feature race at Northlands Park. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew seven horses and goes as race 3 on the eight-race card.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - As of midnight Thursday, Canterbury Park has ceased all racing, simulcasting, and card club activities due to the shutdown of the Minnesota state government. Gov. Mark Dayton and the state legislature were unable to come to agreement on a budget in time to keep the government functioning. As a result, the Minnesota Racing Commission shut down operations, so there would be no stewards, state veterinarians, or test lab available to run the track. Canterbury also was forced to discontinue simulcasting and card room operations.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Caracortado was nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program for $25,000 on Thursday, co-owner and trainer Mike Machowsky said. The Thursday payment met an Open Enrollment deadline set by the Breeders’ Cup for discounted nominations for 3-year-olds and up, and came just in time for Caracortado’s important start in Saturday’s $300,000 Shoemaker Mile.

Wally Van has been beaten just once in Colorado-bred company, when he got caught in a speed duel. On Saturday, trainer Tyrone Gleason is hoping for a little different trip from the horse when he attempts to nail down his second stakes of the Arapahoe Park meet in the $30,000 Colorado Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Derby.

“I think he’ll sit,” Gleason said. “I think he can lay back there off of them a bit.”

A field of 10 Ohio-bred 3-year-olds will meet in Saturday’s 44th running of the 1  1/8-mile, $75,000 Daniel Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup at Thistledown.

The two top contenders are Master Rocket and Trophy Boy, both stakes winners this year. The pair met in the 1 1/16-mile Green Carpet Stakes on the grass at River Downs in their last start on May 29, with Master Rocket proving best by a length. It was his first try around two turns.
Master Rocket is owned by his breeder, Fred Nemann. He is trained by Kris Nemann and will be ridden by Ramon Luna.

ELMONT, N.Y. − It was no surprise when Hilda’s Passion rolled to a 5 1/4-length victory in last month’s Grade 2 Vagrancy Handicap at Belmont Park. The big surprise was the runner-up, Curlina, who four months earlier was available to be claimed for $15,000.

Curlina will again try to tackle the beast that is Hilda’s Passion in Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Bed o’ Roses Handicap at Belmont Park. And while Hilda’s Passion will again be heavily favored to win, the connections of Curlina will be hoping for another top-three finish.