AUBURN, Wash. – Trainer Tom Wenzel is aiming high with Lady Golightly. After resounding victories in her first two stakes appearances at Emerald Downs, the speedy 2-year-old filly will try the boys Sept. 26 in the season-ending Gottstein Futurity.
Only nine fillies have captured the Gottstein in 72 runnings since the race’s inception in 1940, and only Smarty Deb has won it since Emerald Downs opened in 1996.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Frostad and owner Sam-Son Farm rarely miss a Woodbine Mile, having been represented in 11 of the first 13 runnings.
On Sunday, the outfit will be looking for its third win in the Woodbine Mile, with Grand Adventure set to go postward in Grade 1, $1 million turf feature for 3-year-olds and up.
Grand Adventure, a Kentucky-bred 4-year-old, will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Quiet Resolve, who won the 1999 running of the Woodbine Mile via a disqualification, and Soaring Free, who scored without an assist from the stewards in 2004.
Severely injured jockey Michael Martinez continues to show improvement after the Sunday spill at Golden Gate Fields that severed his spinal cord.
On Tuesday, his lung function improved enough for him to be removed from a breathing machine and a chest tube was removed from his right side. Doctors at Highland Hospital in Oakland hope to remove the chest tube from his left side Wednesday, according to Golden Gate Fields’ track physician, Dr. David Seftel.
POMONA, Calif. – When first-time starter Belleofthebridle scored a 5 3/4-length blowout April 21 in the first 2-year-old race of the Hollywood Park meet, the sky was the limit. Five months and three starts later, Belleofthebridle is still looking for her second win.
It could happen Friday at Fairplex Park, where Belleofthebridle meets Hi Ho Yodeler in the $50,000 Phil D. Shepherd Stakes at seven furlongs.
Honey’n Roses paid decent prices while reeling off three straight wins for trainer Pam McDougall, but she should be favored when she runs in a $40,000 optional claimer for 3-year-old fillies that will serve as Friday’s feature at Northlands Park. The 6 1/2-furlong dash drew six horses and will go as race 4 on the eight-race card that begins an hour earlier than usual at 6 p.m.
Ruby’s Big Band, who has been the top 3-year-old filly racing at Assiniboia Downs this year, and Golden Stripe, the leading older female in the province, will clash in the $72,500 Matron Stakes on Friday.
The 1 1/8-mile Matron attracted a field of eight, which also includes Preservata, whose hold on the older female division has slipped this year, and Anna Bella, upset winner of the Winnipeg Sun.
Ruby’s Big Band, trained by Charlie Smith, has won 6 of her 7 starts at Assiniboia Downs, including the 1 1/16-mile Assiniboia Oaks via disqualification.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – If Bearrock N Roll can come close to repeating his sharp performance in a first-level optional $30,000 claiming race Aug. 15, he will be tough to beat in a similar race at Hastings on Friday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses and will go as race 3.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – With the Californians checking in late Tuesday afternoon, the Europeans arriving shortly thereafter, and the main turf course open for training on Wednesday morning, the countdown has begun to this weekend’s quintet of graded turf stakes at Woodbine.
The action will begin Saturday with a pair of Grade 3 races for 2-year-olds, the Natalma Stakes and the Summer Stakes, both of which are in the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In series.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Gas N Dash had valid excuses in his two most recent races and should get back on track in Friday’s eighth race at Woodbine, a seven-furlong allowance for Ontario-sired runners.
Gas N Dash scored twice in seven outings last year but is winless in eight appearances at this stand. He wound up second in three of those races, which were all at Friday’s nonwinners-of-three level. Three starts ago, he was beaten a neck going seven furlongs after setting an honest pace.