ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The $100,000 Wando, an open 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds, was inaugurated in 2008.
Its purpose was to offer a stakes opportunity for the connections of winter-raced horses who may have been running around two turns and did not want to cut back in distance.
But, as an overnight stakes, the Wando is not guaranteed to go without a minimum of five entrants.
Entries for the Wando were taken on Wednesday, and once again just five horses will compete.
Roy Schaefer had been to Churchill Downs before, to see the 2007 Kentucky Derby won by Street Sense, so he wasn't exactly a wide-eyed bumpkin when he returned last weekend. But Schaefer and his wife, Ellie, made a critical mistake upon arriving at the track Saturday morning: They forgot to scout out the stairways, tunnels, and traffic patterns. And so, after their horse, Atta Boy Roy, captured the Grade 2, $290,000 Churchill Downs Stakes on the Derby undercard, the Schaefers found themselves in a world of trouble.
They had no idea how to get to the winner's circle.
Sing Baby Sing has been one of the Mid-South region's top sprinters for years, and he looked the part here Sunday when he won an allowance sprint in his first start since the fall with a Beyer of 99. He is expected to return to stakes competition for his next start, which is still being determined, trainer Jack Bruner said Tuesday.
"We're still deciding what way to go," said Bruner, who trains Sing Baby Sing for Tom Durant. "We'll take him back to the track and kind of evaluate him, see how his attitude is, then start making some plans."
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - One of the most talented 3-year-olds from the recent Oaklawn Park meet has yet to race around two turns, but that will change on Saturday. Henshin Hero will likely make his next start in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Derby, his trainer, Bret Calhoun, said Tuesday.
Henshin Hero is expected to face a small field in the 1 1/16-mile race, which will share a card with a pair of $100,000 divisions of the Texas Stallion Stakes.
ALBANY, Calif. - The racing landscape in Northern California became a little more barren last weekend when trainer Greg Gilchrist saddled his final runner at Golden Gate Fields.
Odds-on favorite Tribute to Sissy, who is being sent to Emerald Downs, rallied through the stretch, falling a head shy of Too Hot to Touch in a 1o1/16-mile $20,000 maiden claimer in Sunday's fourth race.
My New Lady came from just off the early pace and drew clear late and win the $75,000 Ma Kettle by a 1 1/4 lengths at Indiana Downs Monday evening.
Ridden by Jesus Castanon, My New Lady was fifth in the field of six early before being angled out into the middle of the track in the six-furlong race. Minewander was second under Frederic Lenclud, a head in front of News Brief in third. Favorite Secret Gypsy set the pace to upper stretch before giving way readily.
Careless Jewel, who had been slated for the La Troienne at Churchill Downs last Friday before having her training compromised by a quarter crack, breezed five furlongs in 58.80 here Sunday.
"She only missed three days, but they were three days at a crucial time," said Carroll. "She couldn't run."
David Clark was aboard Careless Jewel for Sunday's drill.
"She worked very comfortably," said Carroll. "She finished up very well."
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Resentless got her 3-year-old campaign off to a solid start here at Woodbine last Saturday, leading throughout the seven-furlong Fury Stakes en route to a five-length victory.
"I thought she ran about how I hoped she would," said Ian Howard, who trains Resentless for owner Donald Ross. "This was a race she figured to win. She ran great, for her first start back."
Assuming command quickly under jockey Chantal Sutherland, Resentless clipped off fractions of 22.83 seconds, 45.20, and 1:09.01 before finishing in 1:21.66 for a Beyer Speed Figure of 87.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Following a sweep of Sunday's two New York Stallion Stakes with the favorites, trainer John Terranova will now set his sights on Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Dwyer Stakes with the longshot Remand.
Though Remand has just one victory from three career starts, Terranova is quite high on the son of Successful Appeal.
"He's a good colt," Terranova said. "I think he needs racing."