INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Liberian Freighter has displayed quirky habits before the start of his recent races, standing or prancing near the gate, sometimes proving to be tough for handlers, and generally behaving a manner that trainer Neil Drysdale describes as “playful.”
Due to a lack of entries Hastings has cancelled next Friday evening’s card. The only three races that could have been carded had six horses entered.
“We’re disappointed,” said racing director Paul Ryneveld. “We had some momentum with a solid purse increase and we have some big promotions coming up with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. We have 904 horses that have recorded works at the track, so I am a bit surprised we didn’t get enough entries.”
Management at Hastings wasn’t sure if the lost day would be made up later in the year.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Neither steady rain, a sloppy track, nor even a little thunder and lightning could keep Kentucky Derby hopefuls Mucho Macho Man and Stay Thirsty from keeping their appointed rounds and working at soggy Churchill Downs on Sunday morning.
Trainer Dan McFarlane and jockey Glenn Corbett completed a sweep of the Prairie Meadows opening weekend stakes races when Arcadian scored in Saturday's $57,000 Golden Circle Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds.
McFarlane and Corbett combined with 3-year-old filly Joe Ja to win the $60,000 Goldfinch Stakes on Friday evening.
Arcadian was never headed in the four-horse field and won by 3 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:09.77. Sent off as the third choice at 4-1, the gelded son of Songandaprayer collected $36000 for his owners Sawyer Cattle Company.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Classic Alley Kat ($21.40) broke on top from the rail and never looked back while cruising to a 5 3/4-length win in the $50,000 Brighouse Belles for fillies and mares at Hastings on Saturday. With longshot Notoriously holdling off second choice Wind Storm for second, the trifecta paid $2,768.80.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Nahem gave jockey Victor Espinoza fits through the stretch of Saturday’s $150,000 Snow Chief Stakes, but the fuss was worth it.
Making his stakes debut, Nahem ($26) prevailed by a head over 15-1 Woodman’s Luck to win the race over 1 1/8 miles for statebred 3-year-olds. Thirtyfirststreet finished third, a half-length in front of 5-2 favorite Chiloquin in the field of seven. Nahem was timed in 1:52.20.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - As expected, the total pool for Saturday's dispersal of Gulfstream Park's 10-cent Rainbow 6 exceeded $5 million.
Unfortunately, the expected big payday never materialized, as a series of short-priced winners in the opening five races of the sequence resulted in a final payoff of only $3,279 after the 10-1 shot Rachel's Girl won the finale.
A total of nearly $3.6 million was added Saturday to the already-existing jackpot of just over $1.4 million.
