SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.– Last summer, nothing could go right for Bruce Levine. This summer, little has gone wrong for the veteran trainer.

After going 1 for 48 at the 2009 Saratoga meet, Levine entered Saturday’s program a more than respectable 6 for 29, putting himself in a four-way tie for fifth in the standings. Levine’s prospects for continued success look good in Monday’s $70,000 Union Avenue Stakes when he sends out City Broad in the six-furlong race for New York-bred fillies and mares.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Zenyatta’s next race will be at the track where she has been based through her illustrious career.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There are 14 horses still under consideration for next Saturday’s $1 million Travers Stakes. Half the prospective field put in their final workouts for the Mid-Summer Derby on Saturday morning.

Considering that he has 13 victories during a 49-race career, including three already this season, the 7-year-old Cured can hardly be described as a horse who has a hard time finding the winner’s circle. Yet he remains eligible for a second-level allowance against New York-breds after failing 10 times to clear that condition since May 2008.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Good luck trying to come up with the winner of the sixth race at Hastings on Tuesday. The $7,500 claiming race for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles drew nine horses and every horse entered appears to have a legitimate chance at winning. The seven-race card begins at 6:40 p.m. Pacific.

Brinello continued his domination of the Agassiz Stakes, capturing the $50,000 race for Manitoba-breds for the fourth straight year at Assiniboia Downs on Friday night.
Trained by Carl Anderson, Brinello led throughout the one-mile Agassiz and scored by 12 1/4 lengths under jockey Larren Delorme.
Spying Eyes finished second and Percolating ran third in the field of seven.
Brinello, who returned $2.50, is a 7-year-old gelding owned by veterinarian Ross McKague.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Jockey Patrick Valenzuela won his third race on Friday’s program when Warren’s Jitterbug ($13) and Go Forth North ($6) finished in a dead heat for first in the $87,675 Sandy Blue Handicap at Del Mar.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Already listed on Inez Karlsson’s rèsumé are “amateur Swedish boxer” and “Eclipse award finalist.” Ms. Karlsson might also add “comedian."

Karlsson piloted pacesetting Saint Leon in race 5 on Friday evening at Arlington, the jockey challenge between the Young Guns and the Cagey Veterans, as Arlington had billed the race. Chasing here were retired jock Earlie Fires and stalking Bobby Sands.

At the three-eighths, I looked back and I could see Earlie coming,” Karlsson said. “He was blowing so hard, I didn’t know if it was the horse or him.”

Dan Illman and Mike Beer are joined by Harvey Pack to take a look at Saratoga's Saturday pick four. Stay tuned for new videos every Friday throughout the meet and find more in DRF's Saratoga section.

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Part two:

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Meriwether Jessica had never run as far as she had to run in Friday’s $100,000 Yaddo Stakes at Saratoga. She may never have run a better race.

Receiving an ideal stalking trip under Alan Garcia, Meriwether Jessica took over from the pacesetting Woolly Bear inside the eighth pole and was able to hold off a late-running You Go West Girl to win the Yaddo by a neck. You Go West Girl, the 3-1 favorite, got second by 1 1/4 lengths over Chestoria. It was another 1 1/4 lengths to Woolly Bear in fourth.