Ide Like a Double will miss the Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs on Sept. 20 with a minor physical setback, trainer B.J. Gilbert said Tuesday. The horse had been pointing for the 1 1/8-mile race since defeating older horses in track-record time in the $200,000 Evangeline Mile at Evangeline Downs on Aug. 16.
"He's got a nagging shin on him," Gilbert said. "We thought it's time to stop and heal that properly."
AUBURN, Wash. - Trainer Tim McCanna whizzed by his own record of 55 wins at a single Emerald Downs meeting about two weeks ago, tying the mark with Especially Capable and breaking it with News Alert on Aug. 30. That in itself was not shocking, since McCanna has dominated the trainer standings at Emerald since the track's second season in 1997. With 59 wins to second-leading trainer Frank Lucarelli's 37 and only 12 days of racing remaining at the meet, his eighth Emerald training title is assured.
POMONA, Calif. - Unscheduled left-hand turns by two maiden fillies in the fourth race Friday, opening day of the Los Angeles County Fair meet at Fairplex Park, completely altered the complexion of the 16-day race meet.
Jockey Tyler Baze and apprentice Michael Martinez were not seriously injured when they were unseated, but both are sidelined indefinitely with body soreness. Baze is out until at least Sept. 20; his absence has the biggest impact. Baze, the third-leading rider at Del Mar, was expected to challenge Fairplex kingpin Martin Pedroza for the 2008 riding title.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Sunday's Woodbine Mile had been billed as a showdown between New York shippers Kip Deville and Ventura, an opinion that was not disputed even by the connections of the six local contestants.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the finish line of the $1,078,200 Woodbine Mile, which was run over a yielding turf course.
Freesgood ($8.60) wore down pacesetter Tice in deep stretch of the $61,750 Phil D. Shepherd Stakes at Fairplex Park, his first stakes win since the 2006 California Cup Juvenile. Martin Garcia rode the winner for trainer Bill Currin.
Freesgood won the 1 1/16-mile race by a half-length in 1:44.22.
* Dash Dot Dash ($2.40) won the $61,750 Bustles and Bows Stakes for 2-year-old fillies by three lengths under Martin Pedroza. Dash Dot Dash, trained by Vladimir Cerin, ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:18.54 for her second win in four starts.
Jockey Dale Beckner was the first rider to win six of eight races at Presque Isle Downs on Saturday evening. Beckner won the first race race aboard Mr Zarrow ($27), the second with Meago's Command ($4.80), the third on Paving the Way ($9.20), the fifth on Princess Lynn ($13), the sixth aboard Royal Streak($10.80), and the nightcap eighth on Takeittopapa ($6).
Despite the presence of certain heavy favorite High Resolve, 14 other 3-year-old fillies were nominated to run in Saturday's $50,000 Sweepida Stakes, a six-furlong race at the San Joaquin County Fair in Stockton, Calif.
Racing secretary Tom Doutrich said he was hopeful the Sweepida would attract a decent-sized field, noting that there is no 3-year-old filly sprint stakes offered in Southern California at the Fairplex meet and even finishing second or third in a stakes adds value to a 3-year-old filly.
EDMONTON, Alberta In what many veteran observers termed the biggest upset in the 63 runnings of the $100,000 Speed to Spare, Test Boy ran down True Metropolitan in deep stretch Saturday at Northlands to prevail by a half-length under a ground-saving ride by Rickey Walcott.
Just three rivals dared to oppose the two-time defending champion, and Test Boy paid $19.60 after bettors hammered True Metropolitan down to 1-20 in the 1 3/8-mile race, which offered win and exactor wagering only.