Wed, 10/17/2007 - 00:00

Expanded meet to fill backstretch

Delta Downs is not lacking for horses. The Vinton, La., track has expanded its winter-spring meet by about a week at the request of horsemen, who have overstuffed the entry box for Friday night's opening card. Each of the 10 races on the program drew a full field of 10, including the featured $50,000 Zydeco Stakes.

Delta is scheduled to race 93 dates. Its season follows an Evangeline Downs meet that closed Sept. 3. Delta will race through March 29.

Tue, 10/16/2007 - 00:00

Sky Conqueror gives it another try

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Sky Conqueror acquitted himself well last year in his first attempt at Woodbine's Canadian International, finishing third after encountering some traffic trouble in the stretch.

On Sunday, Sky Conqueror will be looking for clearer sailing and a trip to the winner's circle as the only returning member from last year's Canadian International.

"He's been doing great," said Darwin Banach, who trains Sky Conqueror for owner-breeder Bill Sorokolit. "I'd say we're on track. I couldn't ask him to be any better than he is now."

Tue, 10/16/2007 - 00:00

Citronnade skips Filly-Mare Turf

ARCADIA, Calif. - Citronnade, winner of four consecutive graded stakes on turf earlier this year, was not pre-entered for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Monmouth Park on Oct. 27, trainer Bobby Frankel said Tuesday.

Frankel said he did not have a race in mind for Citronnade, who has won 8 of 13 starts and $774,205.

Pre-entries were due Monday and were scheduled to be announced by Breeders' Cup officials Wednesday.

Tue, 10/16/2007 - 00:00

Marsh Side jumps in, General Jumbo out

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Woodbine's $2 million Canadian International has gained one prospective entrant in Marsh Side but lost another in General Jumbo.

That left the probable field for Sunday's Grade 1 Canadian International, a 1 1/2-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and upward, at 14 as of Tuesday morning, with the status of locally based Sterwins still to be determined.

The Canadian International field will be announced at a special ceremonial draw at noon Thursday in Woodbine's trackside tent.

Tue, 10/16/2007 - 00:00

Lady Joanne works for BC Distaff

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Lady Joanne, one of the favorites for the Oct. 27 Breeders' Cup Distaff, had her penultimate workout toward that $2 million race when she breezed a half-mile Tuesday at her Churchill Downs home base in 48.60 seconds. The work was the fastest of 19 at the distance at the Louisville, Ky., track.

Tue, 10/16/2007 - 00:00

Going Ballistic outperforming his roots

Going Ballistic does not know he is a $4,000 purchase, and he certainly is not aware that his sire, Lite the Fuse, was a sprinter. At least that's the impression he gave in last month's Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby, when he closed relentlessly through the stretch of the 1 1/8-mile race to defeat the 1-5 favorite, Grasshopper.

With the win, Going Ballistic asserted himself as the top 3-year-old in the Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas region. The performance also made him clearly the one to beat Sunday in the $300,000 Oklahoma Derby at his home track of Remington Park.

Mon, 10/15/2007 - 00:00

Euros land for International Day

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The Europeans have descended upon Woodbine for Sunday's Canadian International Day program.

At about 12:30 a.m. Monday, a group of seven invaders from France, England, and Ireland arrived en masse after joining up at Shannon Airport.

Ask, Honolulu, Irish Wells, and Oracle West are here for the Grade 1, $2 million Canadian International, a 1 1/2-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and upward.

Mon, 10/15/2007 - 00:00

Cushion Track workouts rained out

ARCADIA, Calif. - Track officials canceled workouts on Santa Anita's main track on Saturday after the surface failed to drain sufficiently following overnight rain. This is the second time that wet weather has caused problems for the track's newly installed Cushion Track synthetic surface.

Approximately a half-inch of rain fell early Saturday morning. There was no disruption to the 10-race program on Saturday.

Mon, 10/15/2007 - 00:00

Deputiformer rallies late

Deputiformer ($14.50) outran favored Cryptonite Kid in the final strides Sunday to win his maiden in style in the $253,200 Cup and Saucer Stakes.

Deputiformer got away slowly in the 1 1/16-mile turf test for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds. He trailed the 13-horse field early, before closing strongly in the stretch, and split horses at the eighth pole en route to a neck score in a time of 1:44.47.

Cryptonite Kid was three-quarters of a length in front of the third-place finisher, Seattle Hill.

Mon, 10/15/2007 - 00:00

Genuine Devotion wires Xtra Heat

Genuine Devotion, the only 3-year-old in the field of five fillies and mares, used her brilliant speed to become a stakes winner Sunday, going gate to wire to win the $105,700 Xtra Heat Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths at Belmont Park.

Trouble Maker rallied from last to be second by 1 3/4 lengths over Stormy Kiss. Society Hostess, making her first start since New Year's Day, finished fourth as the 8-5 favorite. G City Gal was last.