ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Brian Lynch took a shot last Sunday with Golden Moka, and bagged the $300,000 winner’s share in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie.

On Sunday, Lynch will be looking to spring another stakes upset when he sends out Awesome Vow here at Woodbine in the $250,000 Wonder Where, a 1 1/4-mile turf race which is the final leg of the triple tiara for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.

The Wonder Where attracted a field of eight, with all entrants unproven at the distance and some of the more talented making their turf debuts.

Arapahoe Park in Aurora, Colo., will pay out record purses over the final three weeks of its current mixed meet because of a spike in handle. Increases to the track’s overnight races will go into effect on Saturday, while the purse for the Gold Rush Thoroughbred Futurity on the closing-day card Aug. 22 has been bumped up from $40,000 to $100,000.

The changes will lift purses to a record $100,000 a day, said Bill Powers, plant manager and racing secretary for Arapahoe. Purses have been averaging $83,000 a day.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Saratoga-based Sensational Slam made quite a splash when he debuted at Woodbine earlier this month, winning the $152,800 Clarendon Stakes in a lackadaisical manner. Sensational Slam figures to be the prohibitive favorite when he returns here Saturday in the $150,000 Vandal, a six-furlong stakes for Ontario-foaled 2-year-olds.

Bob Baffert says he always has a good time when he comes to Monmouth Park. His 2010 experience got off to a rocky start, however, when his colt, Lookin At Lucky, drew the rail for Sunday’s $1 million Haskell Invitational.

Lookin At Lucky had the rail for the Kentucky Derby, a race in which he was favored but also one where he encountered significant trouble in the first eighth of a mile, which forced him back to 18th early on. He would rally to finish sixth, seven lengths behind Super Saver, who is also in the Haskell and will break from post 6.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer D. Wayne Lukas knows the task that awaits 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in his next start is tall, so he’s doing everything in his power to have him up to it.
 

Toward that end, Lukas gave Mine That Bird another stiff, stamina-building workout Thursday morning at Saratoga. With regular rider Calvin Borel up, Mine That Bird went six furlongs in 1:12.40 over the Oklahoma training track. The move came nine days after Mine That Bird went a mile in 1:40.14.

Following a 10-week break while action on the circuit shifted south to Colonial Downs in Virginia, live racing returns to Maryland on Saturday when Laurel Park launches its summer mini-meet.

The 11-day stand, featuring three Friday twilight cards that begin at 3:35 p.m. Eastern and four Saturday and Sunday afternoon cards starting at 1:10 p.m., runs through Aug. 22.

In an attempt to appeal to non-racing fans, Laurel will offer free admission, along with drink and food specials, on Fridays. Live music is scheduled for all 11 days.

No Hesitation will face a serious challenge from Gold Medallion in the $50,000 Count Latham for 3-year-olds at Northlands Park Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile feature drew seven horses and goes as race 7.

The Count Latham is the final prep for the Grade 3, $300,000 Canadian Derby Aug. 21, and trainer Robertino Diodoro is hoping Gold Medallion is good enough to give him his first win in the most prestigious race in Alberta. He certainly has the credentials.

Trainer Steve Specht will bring the multiple-stakes-winning Lady Railrider back to the races at the Sonoma County Fair in the $50,000 Luther Burbank Stakes on Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile turf test drew seven runners.

Lady Railrider makes her first start in nine months, but she has run well off a layoff before. She won the California Cup Matron last October off a five-month layoff and followed up with her first turf win in the Pacific Heights at Golden Gate Fields last Oct. 24.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Jockey Chantal Sutherland notched a meet-leading 12th stakes victory Wednesday night at Woodbine on the aptly named Race for Gold in the $126,200 Deputy Minister.

Race for Gold ($3.20) dueled with another Bob Tiller-trained runner, pacemaker Arepeatee, throughout the final quarter-mile, and prevailed by a head in a time of 1:23.98 for the seven furlongs. Ten Lakes, the 6-1 second choice, finished another length back in third in the race for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds.

Race for Gold banked $75,000 in his first stakes score for The Very Dry Stable.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Blue Chagall won his second restricted stakes in the last year with a ground-saving trip in Wednesday's $80,300 Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar.

Ridden by David Flores, Blue Chagall ($24) ran a mile on turf in 1:34.19, finishing 1 1/4 lengths in front of pacesetter Aggie Engineer. Gallant Son, the 6-5 favorite, rallied from sixth in a field of seven to finish third. Ferneley, who won the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile here last August, finished last of seven in his first start of 2010.