The patience owner Jack Everett and trainer Larry Robideaux have shown in managing the career of Mogumbo Cat paid its greatest dividends last weekend at Louisiana Downs. The horse became a stakes winner with a powerful surge in the $50,000 Shiskabob, which marked his fourth straight win. He is headed next to the $75,000 Unbridled on the Super Derby undercard Sept. 19 and later this year could test his skills at Keeneland, Robideaux said.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Jockey Anthony Stephen continued his climb up the Fort Erie standings Tuesday, guiding favored Kilmoganny through traffic to win the sixth race.
The victory, his second on the card, brought his total to 31 for the year, putting him third behind runaway leader Rui Pimentel (78) and Melanie Pinto (34).
Stephen, 35, has begun to make his presence felt at the Fort. Since arriving in Toronto two years ago, he has been working hard to establish himself. Besides those 31 local scores, he has also won nine races at Woodbine.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Mine That Bird remained on target for a start in the $1 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 29 after an endoscopic examination Friday morning revealed his throat was clear and he was able to return to the track for training.
EDMONTON, Alberta - Leading trainer Jim Meyaard has a lot of people shaking their heads at Northlands Park. Meyaard began the meet on fire, and there are no signs that he is about to cool off. He won two more races on Wednesday, and he came into the weekend with 34 wins from 72 starts. As well as winning with 47 percent of his starters, he has had 79 percent of his starters finish in the money.
DEL MAR, Calif. - A day after two horses were euthanized as a result of injuries suffered during training, and amidst complaints from trainers about the firmness of the track, Del Mar altered the maintenance procedure of its synthetic main track Friday.
Friday's maintenance, which took place after training hours, may be the first of two such projects within a week. A second more extensive maintenance may occur after training hours Monday, depending on how the surface reacts over the weekend, according to director of racing Tom Robbins.
COLUMBUS, Neb. - Apple Crumble returns to the stakes ranks to head a field of five in the fillies division of the Columbus Breeders' Special for 3-year-old Nebraska-breds on Sunday. Sharing the spotlight is the colts and geldings division of the Breeders' Special. Each race carries a purse of $15,000 and is contested at 6 1/2 furlongs.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Saskawea was 4-5 and Glitter Rox was 15-1 when the two met at six furlongs on the turf here at Woodbine in the Grade 3 Royal North on Aug. 1.
But after Glitter Rox rallied from last place in the field of five to spring the upset, with Saskawea a disappointing fourth, the two will be much closer in price for their rematch here in Sunday's $100,000 Belle Geste.
The Belle Geste, a seven-furlong turf race, is an overnight stakes for Ontario-foaled fillies and mares and attracted five entrants.
The Grade 1 Hollywood Turf Cup is one of five six-figure stakes that have been cut from the stakes schedule of the Hollywood Park fall meeting, the track announced on Friday.
The Turf Cup, run over 1 1/2 miles, carried a purse of $250,000 in 2008. It was slashed along with the $150,000 Dahlia Handicap, the $150,000 Turf Express, and two $100,000 races for 2-year-olds - the Sharp Cat and Real Quiet stakes.
Track officials said those races have been "suspended," with the purse money reallocated to overnight purses.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - TVG and its parent company Betfair, the largest online wagering businesses in the U.S. and around the world, have entered into an agreement with the New York Racing Association to bump the purse of the Grade 1 Beldame at Belmont Park on Oct. 3 from $600,000 to $1 million provided both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta showed up to run, it was announced Friday.
By Mary Rampellini
Love Samba emerged as the fastest qualifier for next month's Grade 1, $2 million All-American Futurity for Quarter Horses on Thursday, when she won her 440-yard trial for the race in 21.20 seconds. She won by a length over Swingin Daddyo (21.35), who also made the Sept. 7 finale. The horses ran in the 19th of 20 trial races held for the All-American, all over a fast track at Ruidoso Downs. In all, 191 horses competed for the 10 spots in the finals.
