In a reflection of a difficult economic climate, the Los Angeles County Fair at Fairplex Park has cut the number of stakes and the prize money available for its upcoming meeting, which runs from Sept. 10-28.
The 15-day meeting will offer 14 Thoroughbred stakes, down from 17 in 2008. The track is running one fewer day than last year.
Last year, the minimum stakes purse was $65,000-guaranteed; this year, the minimum is $50,000-guaranteed.
AUBURN, Wash. - Atta Boy Roy cemented his status as the fastest horse at Emerald Downs with a speedy victory Sunday in the $50,000 Governor's Handicap. The 4-year-old Tribunal colt set a pressured pace, drew clear in mid-stretch and held off two challengers in the final strides to win in 1:14.20, the fastest 6 1/2-furlong time at the meeting and 1.20 seconds shy of Sabertooth's track and North American record.
AUBURN, Wash. - Elusive Horizon sprung a mild upset Saturday at Emerald Downs, leading every step of the way to defeat 3-5 wagering favorite Gadget Queen by four lengths in the $50,000 King Country Handicap for fillies and mares. Elusive Horizon, the second choice in the wagering, returned $5.40 and ran one mile in 1:35. Gadget Queen rallied gamely to finish second in the field of seven, and Screaminleapofaith was another 2 1/4 lengths back in third.
Indiana Downs canceled all of their dirt races Monday evening due to the main track being uneven following heavy rains over the weekend. Three races that were scheduled on the turf were contested.
In the $100,000 Indiana Downs Distaff, which was scheduled for the turf, Keertana came from just off the pace to defeat nine other 3-year-old fillies. Jockey Jesus Castanon kept Keertana to the inside while chasing the early pace before swinging her to the outside and rallying in the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length.
The third time proved to be the charm for trainer Christophe Clement.
Third in the past two runnings of the Dr. James Penny Memorial Handicap with horses that went off at 2-1 or less, Clement finally got a win in Monday's $200,000 turf race for fillies and mares at Philadelphia Park when heavily favored Carribean Sunset defeated I Lost My Choo.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Who's Big Daddy, following in the footsteps of his big sister Cawaja Beach, became a stakes winner here at Woodbine in last Saturday's $150,800 Clarendon.
Making his third career start in the Clarendon, a 5 1/2-furlong race for Ontario-foaled 2-year-olds, Who's Big Daddy quickly seized command and never looked back en route to a three-quarter-length victory under regular rider Gerry Olguin.
MIAMI - When the powers that be at Calder Race Course conceived the Summit of Speed in 2000, they did so with the hopes it would attract premier sprinters from around the country to south Florida. And thus far, the event has exceeded all expectations.
But never could track management have imagined the windfall that will come its way for Saturday's 10th renewal of the Summit of Speed, which has lured not one but both reigning Eclipse Award sprint champions - Benny the Bull for the Grade 2 Smile and Indian Blessing to the Grade 1 Princess Rooney Handicap.
Milwaukee Appeal taking on males again
By Bill Tallon
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Milwaukee Appeal, a close third when she faced males for the first time here in the June 21 Queen's Plate, will be seeking to avenge that defeat in Sunday's Prince of Wales at Fort Erie.
The field for the $500,000 Prince of Wales, the 1 3/16 mile dirt race that follows the 1 1/4-mile Queen's Plate as the second leg of the Triple Crown for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds, will be announced at a special draw at Fort Erie on Wednesday.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - A horse shuttle runs from Keeneland and Churchill to Arlington Park, bringing Kentucky horses to race in suburban Chicago. The equine travel route from Illinois to the far side of Pennsylvania is a road much less traveled, but a significant one this summer.
