Crafty Critter will try and start another winning streak when she drops into a $15,000 claiming race at Northlands Park Friday. The six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares drew seven horses, and Crafty Critter figures to be one of the favorites along with Recounted and Chatahoochie.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Barbara Heads is hoping for some semblance of an honest pace in a first-level $35,000 optional claiming race that will serve as Friday’s feature at Hastings. Heads has entered Grade 3 winners Trick of the North and Majesticality, who are both deep closers.
The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew seven horses and goes as race 7 on the eight-race card. Due to a B.C. Lions football game Friday evening, post time for the first race has been moved to 3:20 p.m.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Casse is sitting in what his become his customary position atop the Woodbine standings, with a healthy lead in both races won and money won heading into Friday’s 60th card of the 167-day Woodbine meeting. But Casse has never been one to stand pat, and will be looking to expand his horizons with an allocation of 22 stalls for the Saratoga session, which begins on July 22.
Casse is no stranger to Saratoga but will be having his largest presence there since making Woodbine his primary base of operations back in 1998.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Saturday’s $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup added a veteran Wednesday when defending champion Awesome Gem joined the field on the day entries were taken.
In the year since his biggest career win, Awesome Gem has been a mainstay in a handicap division that has undergone significant changes. In the 2010 Gold Cup, Awesome Gem closed from last in a field of six to beat favored Rail Trip, who is now based in New York. Richard’s Kid, who finished third, was sent to Dubai last fall.
Princess Gone Wild, sent off at 32-1, upset a field of 3-year-old Indiana-bred fillies Tuesday in the $84,000 Indiana First Lady at Indiana Downs. Princess Gone Wild paid $64.40 for the head victory in a four-horse blanket finish under Rodney Prescott.
Trained by Wayne Mogge, Princess Gone Wild chased the early leaders before rallying in the stretch to edge Dreamin Big, who was second, a head in front of longshot Down on Copperline in third. Favorite What About Ruby was another neck back in fourth.
Embur's Song led every step of the way and prevailed over Zaphyra in a thrilling stretch duel to win the $100,000 Windward at Presque Isle Downs Tuesday evening.
Patrick Husbands rode Embur's Song to the nose victory over Zaphyra, ridden by Francisco Torres. Regina Twain was 3 1/2 back in third.
The Todd Pletcher-trained Embur's Song ran the one mile over the Presque Isle Tapeta surface in 1:39.15 and returned $2.80 to win in the field of six fillies and mares. Six horses were scratched.
R Betty Graybull, who fell after the finish line when fifth in last week’s Sky Beauty Stakes here, has been retired from racing, her connection announced.
R Betty Graybull came out of that spill with inflammation in her right hind ankle, according to Bob Hutt, managing partner of Fantasy Lane Stable, which co-owns the New York-bred mare with Frank Stronach. R Betty Graybull will be sent to Stronach’s Adena Springs Farm in Kentucky and will be bred next year.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The three graded turf stakes on Saturday’s Million Preview Day program all should come up with at least decent-sized fields when the races are drawn Wednesday. Arlington racing officials expect at least 10 entrants in the Grade 2, $300,000 American Derby, and are hopeful of getting nearly as many in the other two Grade 3, $150,000 stakes, the Modesty and the Arlington Handicap.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Power Series drops in class from a sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 San Juan Capistrano Handicap at Santa Anita in April to an optional claimer at Hollywood Park on Thursday, but it may only be a temporary break from stakes.
Trainer Mike Mitchell is hoping that Power Series, racing as a gelding for the first time, will show enough in Thursday’s race over 1 1/4 miles on turf to merit a quick return to graded stakes for turf marathoners this summer.
