Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird returned to the track Tuesday at Louisiana Downs following his easy five-furlong breeze in 1:04.40 last Saturday. Summer Bird is scheduled to ship to Monmouth Park later this week to begin serious preparations for the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell on Aug. 2.
The Saturday workout was Summer Bird's first since his June 6 win in the Belmont.
"He was very happy this morning," said Tim Ice, who trains Summer Bird. "He was playing, very energized."
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Rumor Has It won the Polar Expedition Stakes by almost six lengths Saturday at Arlington Park. And what that means is hard to say.
The Polar Expedition was contested at 1 3/4 miles on Polytrack. Rumor Has It's winning time of 3:03.84 set a track record because no race had ever been run under such conditions before.
MIAMI - While trainer trainer David Fawkes was busy mulling over his options for Big Drama, he suddenly found himself with another graded-stakes-caliber 3-year-old in the barn. Duke of Mischief came out of nowhere to earn some national recognition of his own, cruising to an easy victory last Friday night in the Grade 3 Iowa Derby.
Now, Fawkes finds himself in the enviable position of having to plot strategies for two horses capable of competing at or near the highest level in the 3-year-old division.
AUBURN, Wash. - Winning Machine rallied for a head victory in the $50,000 Tacoma Handicap for 3-year-olds Sunday at Emerald Downs. The favorite in the field of nine, the Kentucky-bred son of Toccet paid $6.40 and ran one mile in a stakes-record 1:34.80.
Winning Machine most recently was a close second behind Doris Harwood-trained stablemate Noosa Beach in the 6 1/2-furlong Pepsi-Cola Handicap on May 31. Noosa Beach, a two-time stakes winner at the meeting, finished a non-threatening fourth Sunday. Harwood's third starter, Proud Nicholas, finished fifth after pressing the pace.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Bob's Ring and Steeler Has It, both sons of the up-and-coming Ontario sire Where's the Ring, are among a 12-horse field in a first-level allowance for Ontario-sired runners in Thursday's Woodbine headliner.
Bob's Ring should be favored in the five-furlong dash off his front-running maiden score June 13, when he prevailed by 2 1/4 lengths over Gypsy Ring, who came right back to graduate. Bob's Ring's six-furlong time of 1:09.77 translated into a Beyer Speed Figure of 79.
AUBURN, Wash. - Gadget Queen is the horse of the moment in the filly-mare division at Emerald Downs, a distinction she earned with a snappy victory in the Washington State Legislators Handicap on June 7. She looms a strong favorite Saturday in the $50,000 King County Handicap as the fillies and mares navigate two turns for the first time this season.
ELMONT, N.Y. - A year ago at this time, It's a Bird was running in races where he could have been claimed for $40,000. Saturday, he'll attempt to win his third consecutive graded stakes when he runs in the Grade 2, $400,000 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Informed Decision is inching westward again. A couple weeks ago, trainer Jonathan Sheppard moved her from his farm in eastern Pennsylvania to Presque Isle Downs in the western part of the state. Sometime later this week, Informed Decision will board a van bound for Chicago, where she is to start Saturday in the Chicago Handicap.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - What is the best way of preparing a filly for Sunday's $700,000 American Oaks at Hollywood Park?
There is the conventional approach - taking a well-bred filly, winning a few conditional races, and succeeding at some level in stakes. Or, there is the 2009 Kenneth McPeek method. Take an inexpensive yearling filly, dangle her in a maiden claimer at Gulfstream Park, and then watch her improve through the spring.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Rahy's Attorney had failed to fend off a winter-raced Sterwins in the Connaught Cup, losing that 1 1/16-mile turf race by a head when making his seasonal bow here May 24. But the tables were turned here last Saturday in the 1 1/8-mile King Edward Gold Cup, as Rahy's Attorney, under a well-judged ride by regular partner Slade Callaghan, made all the running to score by a length, with Sterwins settling for second .
