Thu, 10/07/2010 - 16:10

What follows Shadwell Turf Mile for Gio Ponti?

LEXINGTON, Ky. – There will be an embarrassment of riches Saturday at Keeneland, and that’s forgetting for a moment the $4.3 million that Gio Ponti has amassed. It’s more the cumulative sum of all the big-money horses, Gio Ponti included, who will be making their final starts before the Breeders’ Cup.

Thu, 10/07/2010 - 15:59

Prince Will I Am primed for big race in Jamaica

ELMONT, N.Y. – Prince Will I Am may not have been ready for the big stage early in the year, but if his last two races were any indication, he could be ready to take New York by storm in Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Jamaica Breeders’ Cup at Belmont Park.

In a contentious renewal of the Jamaica, restricted to 3-year-olds and scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf, Prince Will I Am should offer some value in the 11-horse field that includes stakes winners Krypton, Lethal Combination, Teaks North, and Beau Choix.

Thu, 10/07/2010 - 15:57

Joyful Victory challenging Pletcher foursome

ELMONT, N.Y. – Todd Pletcher may have four of the nine horses entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park, but trainer Tony Dutrow thinks he has the one.

Dutrow will send out Joyful Victory against the Pletcher quartet of R Heat Lightning, Valiant Passion, Tap for Luck, and Maple Forest in the $300,000 Frizette, a one-turn mile race that awards the winner an automatic berth in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.

Thu, 10/07/2010 - 15:47

Date added to meet after rained-out card

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The Oak Tree at Hollywood Park meeting will run an additional day on Wednesday, Oct. 27 to make up for the rainout on Wednesday of this week, the track announced Thursday.

Hollywood Park canceled its eight-race Wednesday program after a significant downpour in late morning led to erosion in two places on the backstretch.

Thu, 10/07/2010 - 15:45

French import Paris Vegas gets another chance on dirt in Oklahoma Derby

Trainer Fabrice Chappet was at Remington Park on Thursday morning, far from his yard in Chantilly, France. He is in town to run Paris Vegas in Sunday’s $400,000 Oklahoma Derby, the first of two international shippers Chappet has targeting upcoming stakes in the United States. The other is Blue Panis, whom he said arrived at Hollywood Park from Paris on Wednesday night to compete in next weekend’s Grade 2, $150,000 Oak Tree Derby.

“We have a big American week,” said Chappet.

Thu, 10/07/2010 - 15:32

Trade-off brings first Arabian race to Keeneland

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The genesis of the first Arabian race in Keeneland history stems from conversations that track officials had last winter in Abu Dhabi, the capital and government seat of the United Arab Emirates.

Thu, 10/07/2010 - 15:30

Delightful Mary preps for Breeders' Cup

E TOBICOKE, Ontario – The unbeaten Delightful Mary will try to punch her ticket to the Breeders’ Cup on Saturday at Woodbine in the $225,000 Mazarine Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile test for 2-year-old fillies.

Delightful Mary was a $500,000 2-year-old purchase by John Oxley. She won her six-furlong debut over a quality field Aug. 8, while getting a 75 Beyer Speed Figure. Five weeks later, she led throughout a mile and 70-yard allowance, scoring by eight lengths with a 64 Beyer.

Trainer Mark Casse said he became enamored with Delightful Mary at the OBS April sale in Florida.

Thu, 10/07/2010 - 15:18

Four big stakes, but news isn't all good

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Hastings will close its 2010 season with a bang and a whimper.

Four stakes races with full fields highlight the weekend, including Saturday’s Grade 3 Ballerina and Sunday’s Grade 3 Premiers, which each drew the maximum 12 horses. Monday’s Jack and Sadie Diamond Futurities close Friday, and by Thursday morning there were 12 colts and geldings entered in the Jack Diamond Futurity and nine fillies in the Sadie Diamond.

Thu, 10/07/2010 - 15:14

Russell Road heads pre-entries for West Virginia Breeders Classic card

Russell Road is among 10 former winners of West Virginia Breeders’ Classic races among the pre-entries for this year’s event on Saturday, Oct. 16, at Charles Town.

The 4-year-old Russell Road will attempt to become the fifth horse to win the premier race for West Virginia-breds, the $500,000 Classic, for the second time. He won last year’s race by 8 1/2 lengths, but hasn’t been quite as consistent this season, winning 3 of 7 starts. A win in the Classic would push his career earnings past $1 million.

Thu, 10/07/2010 - 15:09

Sidney's Candy tackles older in Oak Tree Mile

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The one-mile turf course record of 1:32.59 at Hollywood Park is probably safe in Saturday’s $150,000 Oak Tree Mile.

But then the same could have been said about the Del Mar mark for 1 1/16 miles before Sidney’s Candy zipped around that turf course in record time of 1:39.52 when winning the Grade 2 La Jolla Handicap in his debut on the surface on Aug. 14.