BOSSIER CITY, La. - It is always a special occasion when a young apprentice jockey boots home his first winner. When it happens twice on the same day, well, that practically qualifies for a state holiday given Louisiana's rich heritage in producing successful riders.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Some horsemen like to "take a look" at a stakes race with a prospective starter. They will enter the horse in the stakes, and if the scenario doesn't look right, scratch with no excuse required, and no penalty. But to "take a look" at the Arlington Million costs $5,000 in pre-entry money, which is why pre-entries for the Million usually - barring injury or illness - represent what comes out when final entries are taken Wednesday.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Cryptonite Kid showed plenty of potential on the turf last year, finishing fourth in the open Summer Stakes and a close second in the restricted Cup and Saucer.
Now, with just two starts under his belt this season, Cryptonite Kid will be looking to parlay that promise into a major victory in Sunday's $500,000 Breeders' Stakes, the 1 1/2-mile turf race that is the final leg of the Triple Crown for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.
AUBURN, Wash. - Most fans expected to see a season-long rivalry in Emerald Downs's 3-year-old colt and gelding division this year, but they assumed it would be between last year's juvenile rivals Gallon and Margo's Gift. As it turns out, it's between Gallon and the surprising Fear No Evil.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia Gondola should appreciate the class relief when she drops into a $20,000 claiming race for fillies and mares that have never won two races on Sunday at Hastings. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint attracted seven horses and goes as the seventh race.
EDMONTON, Alberta Robo Willie, a drawing-off winner of the six-furlong Edmonton Juvenile on July 9, heads a field of eight colts and geldings in the 6 1/2 furlong Birdcatcher at Northlands Park on Sunday.
The $50,000 Birdcatcher failed to attract a single Alberta-bred, thus the $26,000 offered in supplemental bonus money will be carried over to next season.
The Lincoln Handicap in which Peppers Pride was to bid for a record 17th consecutive win has been rescheduled for Aug. 30 at Ruidoso Downs, and it remains one of two races in which she will likely make her next start, said her trainer, Joel Marr. He said her other option is the $50,000 Carlos Salazar Stakes at The Downs at Albuquerque on Aug. 17. Both races are sprints restricted to fillies and mares bred in New Mexico.
"I just have to wait and see how she trains and make a decision," said Marr. "I just really can't say what we're going to do at this point."
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Ferocious Fires was back on the main track, back against statebreds, and as a result back in the winner's circle once again after cruising to a 4 1/4-length victory over Endless Circle in Thursday's $82,900 John Morrissey Stakes at Saratoga.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - On the seventh day of the 2007 Saratoga meet, Bill Mott won two races to move atop the trainers' standings. It was a lead he would never relinquish en route to his ninth Spa title, with a personal-best 27 wins.
On the eighth day of the 2008 Saratoga meet, the Mott-trained 2-year-old Gentleman Jeter finished sixth in a maiden race. It left Mott winless with his first 14 starters of the meet.
Mott couldn't even win a race on his birthday - something he historically does - because his 55th birthday fell last Tuesday, a dark day at Saratoga.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Zappa earned an automatic berth to the $500,000 Breeders' Cup Marathon at Santa Anita on Oct. 25 with his win in Wednesday's $150,000 Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar.
First, co-owner Gary Barber has a more lucrative goal on his mind - the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 24.
Barber said Zappa would be considered for the richest race of the Del Mar meeting after the 6-year-old gelding led throughout the Cougar II Handicap, run at 1 1/2 miles on the Polytrack.