LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Since its inception two years ago, the Breeders’ Cup Marathon has been criticized as being a yawner of a race, a lengthy contest that lacked the purse, prestige, and drama of other Breeders’ Cup events.
No one will say it lacks drama any longer, not after Friday’s Grade 3, $500,000 Marathon. The 1 3/4-mile race proved a thriller and then was capped by a stewards’ inquiry and fight between losing jockeys Calvin Borel and Javier Castellano, just outside the winner’s circle.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Tom Longstaff died from what was called an “overwhelming infection,” in Surrey Memorial Hospital Thursday. Longstaff, who was 66, had been diagnosed with leukemia last year.
Longstaff was the owner and trainer of Dancewithavixen, who will be inducted into the British Columbia Horse Racing Hall of Fame on Dec. 10.
According to his girlfriend, jockey Stephanie Fedora, a celebration of Longstaff’s life will be scheduled in the near future.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Bourbon Bay will be after his fourth graded stakes win of 2010 in the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup next Saturday, and the Grade 1 race could lead to a more lucrative race in the Far East later this month or in December.
Trainer Neil Drysdale is considering starting Bourbon Bay in the Japan Cup on Nov. 28 or the Hong Kong Vase on Dec. 12, pending the results of the Hollywood Turf Cup.
“If he runs well, we’ll go to Hong Kong or Japan, but he has to run well,” Drysdale said.
Sweet Ducky is scheduled to ship to Delta Downs in Vinton, La., later this week to begin preparations for the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Jackpot for 2-year-olds on Nov. 20. He was one of 19 horses pre-entered in the 1 1/16-mile race Friday. Final entries for the Jackpot are Nov. 17.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The six juvenile fillies running 1 1/16 miles in the $100,000 Sharp Cat Stakes on Sunday at Hollywood Park have much to prove.
May Day Rose has not started since she was fully extended in a maiden sprint at Del Mar two months ago; True Way of Grace finished a distant fifth her first start over a route of ground; and Big Tiz scored a workmanlike maiden win last out.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Whether Sunday’s Glowing Honor overnight stakes at Aqueduct is run on turf or dirt, Ramon Dominguez figures to be riding the favorite.
Dominguez, who easily topped the Belmont fall standings for his 10th title from the last 11 New York Racing Association meets, is listed on main track only Qualia, who would be odds-on if the race is switched to the dirt.
If it remains a two-turn mile on turf as scheduled, Dominguez will be reunited with Strike the Bell and will have to call on his considerable positional expertise to work out a trip from post 10.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Reade Baker will be wearing two hats for the next couple of weeks, training his horses here at Woodbine in the morning and then heading downtown to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair to show his ducks and chickens.
Baker also has started his annual exodus to Palm Meadows in Florida, with eight horses already having shipped down from nearby Adena Springs North.
“After this, I’ll be sending out horses as soon as they’ve run their last race here,” said Baker. “They’ll be going in dribs and drabs.”
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Casse has a trio of 2-year-olds for Sunday’s $250,000 Coronation Futurity at Woodbine, Withdrawal, Strike Oil and Enduring Star. The Coronation was once a barometer for success in the prestigious Queen’s Plate, but the race, a nine-furlong route for Canadian-breds has not produced a Plate player since 2004.
Withdrawal is the most accomplished of the Casse runners. He was unplaced in his first two starts in July, which were both in restricted sprints stakes.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Rightly So, the 3-1 morning-line favorite, has been scratched from Friday's $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Churchill Downs because of an unspecified soundness issue.
Trainer Tony Dutrow said he "was very disappointed" that Rightly So, owned by Zayat Stables of Ahmed Zayat, was ordered scratched by a team of equine veterinarians that conduct prerace examinations for all Breeders' Cup starters.
