ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mac Benson, who turned 80 this past summer, has wintered his horses at Payson Park for more than 20 consecutive years. But that streak is about to end as Benson, who along with his partner, Barb Przedrzymirska, owns a home within hailing distance of the Florida training facility, will not be taking any horses south after the meeting ends up here Dec. 5.

“Truthfully, I’m looking forward to it,” said Benson, who has been training horses for more than 50 years and was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2002.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Five of the 11 fillies in the Mrs. Revere Stakes won their last races, including three in stakes, while three more starters exit a rugged edition of the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.

In sum, it’s another tough top-to-bottom group in the $175,000 Mrs. Revere, a 1 1/16-mile turf race to be run for the 20th time Saturday at Churchill Downs.

After Cathy’s Crunches won the Golden Gate Debutante two weeks ago, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer thought she might make her next start in Southern California. But when the Golden Nugget, a $50,000 six-furlong stakes for 2-year-olds, didn’t fill last week and was brought back Saturday, Hollendorfer took advantage of the opportunity and will run the filly against the boys.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Field Commission and Fatal Bullet, the last two Canadian champion sprinters, will meet over six furlongs Saturday at Woodbine Racetrack in the $150,000 Kennedy Road Stakes.

Field Commission captured the Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes last fall, before ending up second in the Grade 3 Kennedy Road, efforts that helped him to ice the Sovereign Award.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Garrett Gomez is named to ride one horse Saturday at Churchill Downs “and might feel well enough” to fulfill the mount, according to Ron Anderson, agent for the star jockey.

Gomez, who has been sidelined since winning the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill on Nov. 6 aboard Blame, was scheduled to see Dr. Dan Capen, his orthopedic specialist, again Thursday in Los Angeles to determine whether he can return earlier than had been projected. Anderson said earlier this week that Gomez was targeting Nov. 28 as a return date.

Four of the top five finishers from last month’s $500,000 West Virginia Breeders’ Classic, including 57-1 winner Sea Rescue, are back at the same 1 1/8-mile distance for Saturday night’s $50,000 A Huevo Stakes at Charles Town.

The stakes for West Virginia-breds poses two key questions for handicappers. Can Sea Rescue, who made up 11 lengths in the last three furlongs to nip Colonel J W by a head, duplicate that performance? And is Russell Road, fourth as the 1-10 favorite in the Classic, no longer the best West Virginia-bred in training?

The millionaire Bold Chieftain, who was to begin his stallion career at Applebite Farms, will return to trainer Bill Morey Jr.’s barn at Golden Gate Fields after Morey was informed that the farm is closing down. No decision has yet been made on whether to race the 7-year-old or try to stand him at stud.

“All our options are open for him,” said Morey of Bold Chieftain, whom he bred and owned in partnership with Dwaine Hall, Kenneth Robinson and the late Ernest Langbein.

Jockey Joe Crispin equaled his track record for victories by capturing seven races on the nine-race card at Portland Meadows Wednesday, including both stakes on the card. It was his third seven-win day at Portland Meadows.

Crispin won with all three starters saddled by leading trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who also won four races Wednesday at Golden Gate Fields. Crispin won the Dennis Dodge Memorial aboard the Hollendorfer-trained El Gaucho, and guided Bijou Barrister to a 5 1/2-length victory in the Mt. Hood Stakes.

ALBANY, Calif. – Leading trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and leading rider Russell Baze each scored four victories Wednesday at Golden Gate Fields.
The pair teamed up to win the first three races on the card with Sachariste ($2.80), Sky Brite Miss ($2.80) and Bimbo Magic ($3.80). The $1 pick three paid $5.30.
Hollendorfer, who also won three races Wednesday at Portland Meadows, won the fifth race with Seismic Speed ($5.60, ridden by Leslie Mawing) and ran third with Nepobedimiy in the seventh, which Baze won aboard the Bill Morey Jr.-trained Kingman Kid ($6.40).

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Euro Platinum, the longest shot in the seven-horse field, nailed favored Barracks Road on the wire to take the $150,800 Jammed Lovely Stakes Wednesday night at Woodbine Racetrack.
Barracks Road tracked pacemaker Platinum Exchange while running very wide on the backstretch of the seven-furlong event, as Euro Platinum assumed a stalking position under Jono Jones.
Barracks Road seemed headed for victory after hitting the front early in the stretch, but Euro Platinum closed widest in the final furlong and won by a nose in 1:22.94.