SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Last summer, trainer Neil Howard brought a late-developing 3-year-old to Saratoga and nearly pulled the shocker of the meet when Grasshopper came within a half-length of Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense in the Travers.
This year, Howard has again brought a late-developing 3-year-old to Saratoga, and with no monster like Street Sense expected for the $1 million Travers on Aug. 23, perhaps Howard can do himself one better.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - In an eventful running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Lake George Stakes, My Princess Jess bulled her way through horses in midstretch and went on to a three-quarter-length victory over Alwajeeha in the first turf race of the meet at Saratoga.
It was two lengths back to Zee Zee in third. Receipt finished fourth with Stealin' Kisses and a troubled Mousse Au Chocolat finishing last as the favorite.
My Princess Jess covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.00 and returned $6.10.
AUBURN, Wash. - Emerald Downs will present its first stakes doubleheader of the year on Sunday's Mile Preview Day program.
Six older fillies and mares be will auditioning for the Aug. 17 running of $100,000 Emerald Distaff in Sunday's race 8, the $50,000 Boeing Handicap at 1 1/16 miles.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - This weekend brings us to the midway point in the Fort Erie meet. Here is a recap of some of the highlights of the first half:
* Heavy rain has plagued the border oval over the last three months, but surprisingly the turf course has held up well, or at least it did until it was overwhelmed by downpours last weekend. Some races finally were taken off the grass, and the large, competitive fields that usually go in turf races were greatly reduced.
BOSSIER CITY, La. - Anticipation is building for next Saturday's Louisiana Champions Day, the Louisiana Downs annual tribute to horses bred in the Bayou State. Eight stakes totaling $750,000 will be offered, representing all divisions, from 2-year-olds to older grass performers.
"We have 15 more nominations this year over last," said Louisiana Downs racing secretary Doug Bredar. "We are very pleased."
Bredar said that this year's format will be a little different from past years. Noticeably absent will be the traditional four races for Louisiana-bred Quarter Horses.
Without an allowance or stakes race to highlight the day, Thursday's eight-race card at Arlington was largely forgettable. Forgettable, that is, except for the mutuel payoff fireworks that erupted in race 5.
Anchored by Purple Majesty winning the maiden $40,000 claiming turf race at 21-1, followed by 38-1 Fiesty Fitz, 14-1 Keep the Chief, and 19-1 Djeddah, the superfecta paid off to one winning ticket, a 10-cent ticket that returned $46,900.41.
The payoff was an Arlington record for a 10-cent superfecta wager, said Dave Zenner, senior communications manager at Arlington.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The connections of the majority of the entrants in an allowance race here Sunday were unpleasantly surprised when Sealy Hill, Canada's Horse of the Year in 2007, made an unexpected appearance.
The open one-mile turf allowance is billed as a prep for the $125,000 Victoriana, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for Ontario-sired fillies and mares here Aug. 17.
But, with the prep being open to all comers, trainer Mark Casse took advantage of the opportunity and put Sealy Hill's name in the entry box.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Jockeys Tony McNeil, 51, and David Shepherd, 50, have each been followed into the family business by two sons, and all six riders competed at the same meet for the first time ever during the Lone Star Park season that closes on Sunday.
It has been a productive time for both families.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Churchill Downs officials said Friday they have no set timeline in their search to replace the late Luke Kruytbosch as the track's race-caller when live racing resumes Oct. 26.
"We're just now starting that process," said Churchill spokesman John Asher. Track management has not received any calls from prospective race-callers, said Asher, "I think because they've just wanted to show their respect for Luke. But I imagine the activity will pick up pretty soon, and obviously we're familiar with the landscape out there.'
AUBURN, Wash. - Of the dozen renewals of the Grade 3, $300,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs, six have been won by locally based horses. And of those half-dozen Mile winners, four have exited the nine-furlong Mt. Rainier Handicap, which will be contested Sunday with a purse of $75,000.