LEXINGTON, Ky. – Jim Cassidy would like to run Evening Jewel in the Breeders’ Cup, but first things first. The veteran California trainer will be at Keeneland on Saturday to run the standout filly in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, and “if she runs big in there, then we can start looking at our options,” Cassidy said.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – How would trainer Ian Black have reacted at the beginning of the season if he had been told that he would be sending out Fifty Proof as a legitimate contender in the Grade 1, $2 million Canadian International?
“I probably wouldn’t have believed you,” Black said. “But maybe that’s just my optimistic nature.”
Black speaks with tongue in cheek, but there is no jest in stating that Fifty Proof will be in with a fighting chance as he makes just his second stakes appearance in Saturday’s Canadian International, a 1 1/2-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Sister Dawn had a four-race streak of top-three finishes rudely interrupted when the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 28 started without her.
The filly broke slowly, never took her customary position near the front, and finished seventh of eighth.
For her comeback, in Thursday’s seventh race at Hollywood Park, Sister Dawn will be back on familiar territory – a turf sprint in Southern California.
“She didn’t break at Saratoga,” trainer John Sadler said. “We brought her home and gave her time to build back up.”
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The lone non-claiming contest on Thursday’s eight-race card at Woodbine is a maiden special for Ontario-sired fillies and mares. The uninspiring group will divvy up a hefty $57,000 purse in the five-furlong dash.
Lovely Quid should be prominent under Emile Ramsammy, who was aboard for each of her three starts.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The ex-claimer Quick Enough won his first stakes in Monday’s $100,000 Morvich Handicap at Hollywood Park at an ideal time.
The winner of the Grade 3 Morvich earned a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 6 through the Breeders’ Cup’s Win and You’re In program, subject to the payment of entry fees.
ELMONT, N.Y. - The pick six went unhit for a second straight card Monday at Belmont Park, resulting in a carryover of $128,318 entering Thursday's card. Following a six-day week, there is no racing at Belmont Tuesday or Wednesday.
With an overflow of entries, Delaware Park decided to split the Rosenna Stakes into two divisions, but when Monday's races were rained off the turf, the number of actual runners in the Rosenna's two divisions wouldn't even have filled one race. Just five horses ran in the first Rosenna division, race 6, and five more in the second, race 8.
ELMONT, N.Y. - On Columbus Day, trainer Graham Motion discovered he has another turf stakes filly in his care in Aruna.
Forced to rally four wide entering the stretch of Belmont Park's Widener turf course, Aruna, under Ramon Dominguez, ran past the pacesetting Ultimate Class just outside the sixteenth pole and galloped home a three-length winner of Monday's $100,000 Pebbles Stakes. Bet on the Blue, who raced in third position early, finished second, one-length clear of Sea Road.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Bear's Peak wore down favored Altius in the final strides to win his maiden in style Monday at Woodbine in the $127,000 Bull Page Stakes.
Bear's Peak had an eventful trip in his only other start, and wound up a close fifth in that restricted maiden special. He faced Ontario-sired 2-year-olds again in the six-furlong Bull Page, and parlayed a wide-stalking trip into a neck victory under Patrick Husbands in 1:09.99.