Fri, 07/17/2009 - 00:00

Nicanor out of Virginia Derby

Nicanor, the full brother to Barbaro and the 7-2 morning-line favorite for the $750,000 Virginia Derby on Saturday at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., was scratched from the race Friday after suffering an unspecified injury to his hind end the previous afternoon.

Thu, 07/16/2009 - 00:00

Deliverer drops in class at Lone Start

Deliverer will be making a notable class move at Lone Star Park when he drops into a $7,500 starter allowance from the restricted stakes ranks. He is one of eight older horses in the six-furlong starter, with his chief rivals being Runnin' the River, who is a threat to wire the field, and Smoken Smoke and Lunarpeal.

Thu, 07/16/2009 - 00:00

Blumin Won returns to Nebraska

Blumin Won returns to Nebraska to headline the $27,500 Who Doctor Who Handicap, the featured race on day three of the Horsemen's Park Festival of Racing. The Who Doctor Who matches seven older Nebraska-breds at a mile.

Blumin Won shipped to Canterbury Park with trainer Mike Kirby following back-to-back wins at Fonner Park this spring. In three starts there, he finished third twice and and most recently was second against optional claiming company on the turf. The turf-to-dirt switch off his strong showing last out may be enough to propel him to victory here under Ken Shino.

Thu, 07/16/2009 - 00:00

Uncoupled entries complicate Princess Elaine

The $35,000 Princess Elaine Stakes at Canterbury Park has three uncoupled entries, making the about 1 1/16-mile turf race difficult to handicap.

Trainer Mac Robertson entered Bella Notte and Seasahm in the Princess Elaine, which has attracted a field of eight older Minnesota-bred filly and mares.

Bella Notte captured the Lady Slipper Stakes here in May and figures as the likely pacesetter after posting three bullet works while preparing for this assignment. Dean Butler has the call.

Thu, 07/16/2009 - 00:00

Wide-open Oak Hall Stakes at Evangeline

The $50,000 Oak Hall Stakes at Evangeline Downs presents quite a few handicapping challenges, not the least of which is trying to locate a favorite. A field of 10 will go seven furlongs in the evening's headliner and while almost all merit respect, there are an equal number of questions.

The betting public could gravitate toward Red Rock Creek if for no other reason than name recognition. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the 8-year-old gelding will be ridden by Shane Sellers, who recently launched a comeback here.

Thu, 07/16/2009 - 00:00

Stakes close out Prairie meet

Prairie Meadows concludes its Thoroughbred meet Saturday with a pair of hotly contested juvenile stakes races, the Prairie Gold Juvenile and Prairie Gold Lassie. An abundance of shippers add intrigue to both $50,000 five-furlong events.

Representatives from Steve Asmussen's powerful stable will likely will be favored in each race and will test the mettle of trainer Kenny Smith's pair of highly-regarded, locally-based 2-year-olds.

Thu, 07/16/2009 - 00:00

Last Dance offers nice matchup at Suffolk

A rising star and a returning champ bookend a full field of Massachusetts-breds in the $50,000 Last Dance Stakes at Suffolk Downs on Saturday.

No More Goodbyes proved he's among the leading horses in the region by dominating the Rise Jim Stakes last month by more than seven lengths. He has post 12 and is in search of his fourth straight victory and first around two turns.

Thu, 07/16/2009 - 00:00

Rendezvous gets shot in Oceanside

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Back in the winter, Rendezvous was just a cut below the best 3-year-olds in Northern California, finishing third to stablemate Chocolate Candy in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields in February.

Thu, 07/16/2009 - 00:00

Vella still weighing options

Michael Burns
Field Commission, here winning the Vigil back in May, is entered in two stakes this weekend.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The participating connections agree that Saturday's Ontario Jockey Club has come up extremely tough, particularly considering that the seven-furlong turf race is an overnight stakes for Ontario foals.

But Field Commission, the horse who conceivably could be the toughest of all, has been cross-entered in Sunday's 6 1/2-furlong Bold Venture and may go in that spot.

"We haven't made any absolute decision," said Danny Vella, who trains Field Commission and owns the 4-year-old in partnership with Ed Seltzer. "We want to have a good look at both races."

Thu, 07/16/2009 - 00:00

Claiming Crown attracts 72

A total of 72 horses have been pre-entered in the seven races in the 11th annual Claiming Crown series, to be run next Saturday, July 25, at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn.

The richest race in the series, the $150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel, drew Antrim County, who was named the 2008 Claimer of the Year by one of the event sponsors, the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. Antrim County won the $50,000 Iron Horse last year.