ELMONT, N.Y. - The Monmouth Stakes was only a first step for Grand Couturier.
There are much bigger goals in sight for the 6-year-old Grand Couturier, including a bid for a rare Grade 1 hat trick at Saratoga: three consecutive wins in the Sword Dancer Stakes.
"To do that three years in a row would be tremendous," trainer Bobby Ribaudo said.
In that context, a rallying fifth in the Monmouth Stakes last weekend was a solid foundation.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Milwaukee Appeal, an impressive winner of the 1 1/8-mile Woodbine Oaks on June 7, has been made the 3-1 morning-line favorite for Sunday's $1 million Queen's Plate at Woodbine.
At a ceremonial draw here Thursday, a field of 13 was entered for the Queen's Plate, the 1 1/4-mile race that is the first leg of the Triple Crown for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.
The double draw method was employed, with the connections of each entrant first being assigned an order of choice in a blind draw and then selecting their post positions.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Jockey Chad Beckon remained in guarded condition in Toronto's Sunnybrook Medical Centre on Thursday after suffering multiple injuries in a horrific spill here Wednesday evening.
"He has outer cranial bleeding in his brain; that's what we're most concerned about," said Anthony Esposito, who is Beckon's agent. "If the swelling goes down, they think it will be okay."
Esposito added that Beckon had suffered fractures to his cheekbone, to his nose, and to his fifth and sixth vertebrae but that there was no spinal damage.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Fans have strolled out of Churchill Downs at night before. But that was after they had watched simulcasting from other tracks, or a private event, or a special occasion like the Rolling Stones concert in 2006 or the Police in 2007.
But when thousands of fans stream into the dark night Friday, it will be after witnessing history: the first horse races conducted under lights at Churchill, where racing has been limited to daytime for 134 years.
"There's been a huge amount of anticipation and excitement," said Churchill vice president John Asher.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Ralph Nicks believes the first race for a horse following a layoff is difficult under any circumstance.
So when Flying Pegasus returns Friday night at Churchill Downs to face older horses and race under the lights for the first time after being away for more than three months, the trainer will be watching very closely.
"I don't care what they've done before, bringing them back off a layoff is never easy," Nicks said.
Nicanor ($2.80), a full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, won his second consecutive start on turf when he captured a first-level allowance by 1 3/4 lengths Wednesday at Delaware Park. Trainer Michael Matz said that Nicanor may make his next start in the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs on July 18.
Peppers Pride will have a stakes named for her on the richest day of racing this fall at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M. The mare, who retired undefeated after setting a modern mark for consecutive wins, will be honored during the track's $1.8 million New Mexico Cup program on Nov. 8.
Bucking a national trend that has seen racetracks request fewer racing days to combat small fields as their betting handle dwindles, Penn National Race Course has been able to raise purses once again.
The latest purse increase, which went into effect June 11, raised overnight purses to a track-record daily average of $170,000.
Purses now are almost 34 percent higher than than they were in February.
With racetracks across North America struggling to fill races - some even trimming their live racing calendars - Thistledown is bucking the trend with strong field-size statistics.
Through June 13, which includes the first 27 programs of the year, Thistledown is averaging 8.45 starters per race. Last year at this time the average was 7.44.
