Fri, 09/26/2008 - 00:00

Pilgrim and Miss Grillo rescheduled

ELMONT, N.Y. - The wet weather that prompted the New York Racing Association to cancel Friday's nine-race card at Belmont Park also led to the postponement of two graded stakes scheduled for Sunday that were stepping-stones to Breeders' Cup races next month at Santa Anita.

Fri, 09/26/2008 - 00:00

Annabill targets repeat on turf

MIAMI - Annabill is unquestionably the leader of the local filly and mare handicap division on dirt. On Sunday, she'll try to put her name at the head of the turf division as well when she attempts to defend her title in the $55,000 Capital Request Stakes, which is scheduled to be run at a mile on the grass. The Capital Request Stakes lured a full field of 12, plus two also-eligibles, and includes such turf specialists as Dancing Band, Silversider, Lydia's Love, and Saint Knows.

Fri, 09/26/2008 - 00:00

Chicago circuit adjusts back to dirt

STICKNEY, Ill. - Okay, there was no hat contest, and there were no celebrity sightings, even of the C-list variety. There was no ocean breeze, or talk of which racetrack dining institution would be patronized in the evening. No one ever said this was Del Mar or Saratoga, but opening day of the 2008 Hawthorne fall meet went off with pristine weather and a decent Friday afternoon crowd. And with trainer Tom Tomillo - a Hawthorne veteran if ever one existed - capturing the meet-opener with a low-level claimer named Charming Bay, everything felt just about right in the Hawthorne universe.

Fri, 09/26/2008 - 00:00

Right Honorable eyes repeat

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Right Honorable looks like the one to beat in a 6 1/2-furlong first-level allowance race for 3-year-olds that will serve as the feature race at Hastings on Sunday. There is a $50,000 claiming option on the race and Right Honorable, who wasn’t eligible to be claimed when he won a similar race on Sept. 13, has been entered for the price.

Fri, 09/26/2008 - 00:00

Turfway changes Saturday post times

Turfway Park has revised its original post-time schedule for the 12-race Kentucky Cup program on Saturday to accommodate TVG and Fox Sports while also avoiding conflict with the running of the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park.

Fri, 09/26/2008 - 00:00

Belmont cancels Friday card

ELMONT, N.Y. - With two inches of rain having fallen overnight and with at least that much more forecasted for Friday along with high winds, Belmont Park canceled Friday's nine-race program. The cancellation comes one day before Saturday's five Grade 1 stakes, led by the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup featuring Curlin's bid to become North America's all-time leading money earner.

Fri, 09/26/2008 - 00:00

Two day carryover: $349,000

ARCADIA, Calif.-For the second consecutive day, the pick six at Santa Anita was too tough for bettors, resulting in a carryover of $349,176 for Friday’s eight-race program.

An upset by Dr. Zaentz ($33.80) in Thursday’s seventh race helped produced the carryover.

Friday’s eight-race program begins at 1 p.m. Pacific. The pick six covers the third through eighth races, with the third race scheduled off at 2:03 p.m.

Thu, 09/25/2008 - 00:00

Louisiana barn fire kills 12 horses

The stallion Deerhound was among 12 horses who died in an early-morning barn fire at Benton Training Center in Benton, La., on Thursday morning. There was no loss of human life, according to J.T. Wallace, the fire chief in Benton.

The training center, which is also home to various stallions and breeding stock, is located about 20 minutes from Louisiana Downs.

Thu, 09/25/2008 - 00:00

Full fields in final three stakes of meet

The final three stakes of the meet highlight the penultimate day of racing at the 101-day Presque Isle Downs meet. The stakes are worth $100,000 each and all three attracted full fields of 12.

The seventh race on the card is the HBPA, a mile and 70-yard race for fillies and mares. Leah's Secret, who is coming off an even fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga, will be the favorite in the HBPA if she starts. Trainer Todd Pletcher has also entered her in Saturday's Grade 1 Beldame at Belmont Park.

Thu, 09/25/2008 - 00:00

Nakatani out with arm injury

ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Corey Nakatani suffered a collarbone injury in a spill at Santa Anita on Wednesday that is expected to leave him sidelined for the pivotal Breeders' Cup prep races this weekend, according to his agent, Ron Ebanks.