Mon, 10/04/2010 - 16:59

Shorter better for Mossbank

Mossbank should appreciate the move back to a sprint when he runs in Wednesday’s feature at Northlands Park. The 6 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up running for a $10,000 claiming price drew eight horses and goes as race 7 on the final mid-week card of the 2010 meet which ends on Canadian Thanksgiving next Monday.

Mon, 10/04/2010 - 16:52

Switch will stick to Plan A

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – A half-length loss to Zenyatta in Saturday’s $250,000 Lady’s Secret Stakes has not changed trainer John Sadler’s autumn plans for Switch.

Even though the 3-year-old filly would appear to be a suitable contender for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic over 1 1/8 miles at Churchill Downs on Nov.  5 following her determined performance against Zenyatta, Sadler said she is better suited to the $1 million Filly and Mare Sprint over seven furlongs on the same day.

“We are looking at the seven-eighths,” Sadler said.

Mon, 10/04/2010 - 16:35

Monsignor ships in to make stakes debut in Oklahoma Derby

Monsignor will be part of a diverse field on Sunday when he makes his stakes debut in the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park. He flew into Oklahoma City from New York on Monday for the 1 1/8-mile race that is also expected to draw Grade 3 Ohio Derby winner Pleasant Prince; Grade 3 Canadian Derby winner No Hesitation, and Grade 2 Super Derby runner-up Distorted Economy.

Mon, 10/04/2010 - 16:32

Blind Luck and Havre de Grace could take rivalry to Ladies' Classic

The budding rivalry between Blind Luck, the nation’s top 3-year-old filly, and Havre de Grace, who defeated her last Saturday in the Grade 2, $750,000 Fitz Dixon Cotillion at Parx Racing, could make its way to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.

The 1 1/8-mile race has long been the objective for Blind Luck, who won the Kentucky Oaks at the distance in May, while Havre de Grace’s connections were pondering a start on Monday.

Mon, 10/04/2010 - 16:23

Coo C Note looking sharp

STICKNEY, Ill. – During Hawthorne’s opening two-day racing week, the main track played like a plowed field. Even winners labored home with slow closing fractions. Redding Colliery won the Hawthorne Gold Cup running a final quarter-mile in more than 27 seconds because no one could finish fast enough to come get him. The turf course? Entirely different story. After a wet early summer, Chicago has seen a sustained period of little rain, and even some precipitation Friday night and Saturday did little to soften the ground.

Mon, 10/04/2010 - 16:02

Endless Circle still looks good in slightly revamped Easy N' Dirty

ELMONT, N.Y. – Post positions and field composition may have changed, but one thing remains the same about Wednesday’s $70,000 Easy N’ Dirty Stakes at Belmont Park: Endless Circle remains the horse to beat.

Originally carded for Friday, the Easy N’ Dirty was rescheduled and redrawn for Wednesday after Friday’s card was canceled due to heavy rains and strong winds. Rain remained in the forecast Monday through Wednesday, but it is unlikely to force a cancellation.

Mon, 10/04/2010 - 15:54

Zenyatta in gear for Classic defense

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Of the many things that can be said about Zenyatta, this one is certainly true: She has never needed an excuse. Track surface, pace, weight, distance, trip – none of it has mattered, for nearly three years running, a truly remarkable feat. She ran her record to a perfect 19 for 19 on Saturday at Hollywood Park in the Lady’s Secret Stakes, which for the third straight year has set her up for a start in the Breeders’ Cup.

Mon, 10/04/2010 - 15:53

Fair regulars get rewarded with $25,000 series of races

FRESNO, Calif. – The Northern California fair circuit completes its 2010 racing season with a two-week stop at the Big Fresno Fair beginning Wednesday.

The two-week meeting, which includes Columbus Day holiday racing on Monday, is attracting good-size fields despite Golden Gate Fields carding a pair of 10-race cards last weekend.

Mon, 10/04/2010 - 15:53

Delp Memorial tough spot for classy comebackers

The Buddy Delp Memorial isn’t even part of Delaware Park’s regular stakes schedule. Despite its modest $50,000 purse, the overnight stakes on Wednesday’s card attracted three horses who have finished first in a Grade 3 stakes within the past 15 months.

The millionaire 7-year-old Arson Squad, joined by 4-year-olds Win Willy and Our Edge, provide more than a touch of class to a six-horse field for the 1 1/16-mile Delp, named in honor of the Hall of Fame trainer who shares the track record with Scott Lake for most consecutive leading trainer titles with seven from 1963 to 1969.

Mon, 10/04/2010 - 15:29

Turfway's average daily handle slips 3 percent

While gross handle fell precipitously because of fewer race dates, average all-sources handle at the Turfway Park meet that ended Sunday was down less than 3 percent, according to figures released Monday by the Florence, Ky., track.