LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A malfunction of the computerized photo-finish system during several races on the Thursday night program at Churchill Downs led racing officials to declare a dead heat for win in two of those races.
Dead heats for win were declared in the seventh and ninth races. Chief steward John Veitch said the system failed to work properly for the finish of those races and at least one other race on the card.
Del Mar officials are nearing the completion of negotiations to offer betting on its races on the four major account-wagering companies for the upcoming season, which begins on July 22.
The track's executive vice-president, Craig Fravel, said on Wednesday the track intends to offer betting through TVG, Twinspires.com, Xpressbet, and Youbet.com as well as Delmarbets.com, a recently launched account-wagering service operated by Xpressbet.
"We haven't finalized our deals yet, but we're hoping that will be the plan," Fravel said.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Nine weeks since she scored an impressive victory in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes, Mrs Kipling will attempt to win the third stakes of her career in the $700,000 American Oaks at Hollywood Park on Sunday.
The layoff is not a concern to trainer Neil Drysdale. It is the race distance of 1 1/4 miles on turf that poses more of an issue.
"We'll see if she can go 10 furlongs," Drysdale said. "We know she'll go a mile."
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Mike Keogh, who will send out the favored Woodsmoke for Sunday's Ontario Damsel, will be looking to start the weekend at Woodbine on a high note with Mobil Unit in Saturday's $150,000 Clarendon for Ontario-foaled 2-year-olds.
Mobil Unit, an Ontario-sired homebred who races for Gustav Schickedanz and Donald Howard, will be making his third start in the 5 1/2-furlong Clarendon after finishing in a dead heat for fourth and then second in restricted 4 1/2-furlong maiden races.
MIAMI - The announcement earlier this week that Indian Blessing was heading to Calder for the July 11 Summit of Speed program figured to keep the starting lineup for the Grade 1 Princess Rooney Handicap to a minimum. But as of Thursday, that did not appear to be the case, with eight or nine rivals prepared to line up against the reigning filly and mare sprint champion.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - It's been a difficult year for trainer Gregg Matties but he now appears to be getting his stable back on track.
Matties, 38, was based in New York for a number of years, but after being denied stalls at Belmont Park in 2008 he decided to move to California for a change of scenery.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Teide came from just off the pace to win the $101,102 Lieutenant Governors on Wednesday's holiday card at Hastings.
Under a confident ride by Chad Hoverson, Teide broke alertly and then settled in just behind a swift pace set by Forest Prince. He gained the lead on the stretch turn and then held off a strong late move by Texas Wildcatter to win by a half-length.
"We had a real good trip," said Hoverson. "He's a real nice horse. There aren't many horses that can be up close to that kind of pace and still run on in the stretch."
Jockeys Chris Fackler and Jesus Ponce heated up the race for leading rider with strong performances last weekend, leading up to what should be a battle to the end with two weekends remaining in the Lincoln season.
Ponce, who shared the riding title with Fackler at Fonner Park this year, has rallied from well back in the standings earlier in the meet. Last Thursday, he rode four winners on the eight-race card, then followed up with riding triples on both Friday and Saturday to draw even with Fackler at 41 wins.
Robert Gorham has a runaway lead in the Pinnacle Race Course trainer standings, having won 15 races through the first 12 days of racing at the Detroit-area track. He has failed to win on only two days of the meet.
Three trainers - Mary Anne Barron, John Rupert, and Richard Rettele - are tied for second with six wins each.
The stage is set for Saturday's Louisiana Legends Night at Evangeline Downs as exactly 100 Louisiana-breds were entered Wednesday morning for the 11-race program, which will be worth close to $1 million in purse money.
All age divisions and specialties will be represented - from the two divisions of the D.S. "Shine" Young Futurity for 2-year-olds at five furlongs to the 1 1/16-mile Attaway Darbonne for 3-year-olds and upward on the turf.
