Fri, 09/21/2007 - 00:00

Jp'shanna inning all over the place

ERIE, Pa. - When Jp'shanna won the first 4 1/2-furlong race ever run at Presque Isle Downs last Sunday, she made it six victories in a row, at five different tracks, in five different states.

She began her win streak for a $30,000 claiming tag at Indiana Downs in June. It was after that race that owner Ronald Burch and trainer Justin Atkins bought her privately. Jp'shanna has since won five $5,000 starter allowance races. She has won twice at River Downs in Ohio, once at Mountaineer Race Track in West Virginia, once at Ellis Park in Kentucky, and now once here.

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 00:00

Meet increases 'event day' strategy

The Fair Grounds stakes schedule continues its evolution during the upcoming 2006-2007 meet, but the changes to this season's schedules are more superficial than fundamental.

Fair Grounds, in keeping with Churchill Downs Inc. practice, continues to focus on multi-stakes "event" days, and has added another to the schedule, while increasing the number of stakes on its three major graded stakes days from five to six.

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 00:00

Under new ownership, 48-date meet begins

Slots-rich Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M., will open for its third ever meet on Saturday, with is second set of owners. Since the season ended last winter, Penn Gaming has purchased the young track for $200 million in a deal that closed in April.

With the sale, some changes have come. But the racing product will have a familiar look during the 48-date meet for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses. The highlight of the season remains the $2 million-estimated New Mexico Cup program of 11 restricted stakes on Nov. 11 that caters to both breeds.

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 00:00

West Coast Swing bound for Keeneland

STICKNEY, Ill. - First time around two turns, first stakes race, first try on dirt, and first trip away from home - West Coast Swing overcame all those factors and remained unbeaten last Saturday at Prairie Meadows.

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 00:00

Sterwins stepping up in Sky Classic

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Malcolm Pierce had Sterwins all dressed up and ready to go for Melnyk Racing Stable should his presence have been required for last Sunday's Woodbine Mile.

But Host, a Grade 1 winner trained by Todd Pletcher, was the runner of choice for the Melnyks in the Woodbine Mile. And, when Host shipped in from New York, the participation of Sterwins was no longer deemed necessary.

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 00:00

130-pound burden threat to end Monashee's streak

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - The Grade 3, $125,000 British Columbia Breeders' Cup Oaks is supposedly the feature race at Hastings on Saturday. Nonetheless, the presence of Monashee in the $50,000 Delta Colleen Stakes somewhat upstages the Oaks.

Monashee, 5, will be shooting for her 10th straight stakes win. The only other horse based in British Columbia known to have had a comparable streak is George Royal. He won nine straight races at the old Exhibition Park in 1964 before he lost in the Longacres Derby.

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 00:00

Sam Davis gets a purse boost

Tampa Bay Downs has released its 2007-08 stakes schedule, which features an increase in the purse of the north Florida oval's second most prestigious event, the Sam F. Davis Stakes, from $150,000 to $200,000. The 26-race schedule is worth a record $2.6 million.

The 94-day Tampa meet opens on Dec. 8 and runs through May 4, 2008.

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 00:00

Five Pa.-bred stakes offer $450K in purses

ERIE, Pa. - Friday is Pennsylvania-bred night at Presque Isle Downs, with five $90,000 stakes for statebreds carded. The five stakes are named for prominent horses bred in the the Keystone State - Lil E. Tee, Presidentialaffair, Cozy Lace, Willy Wank, and First Approach. The Malvern Rose, for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs, would have been the sixth stakes of the evening but it failed to attract enough entries.

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 00:00

Arlington's handle increases

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Arlington invested close to $11 million on a Polytrack racing surface between its 2006 and 2007 race meets. It looks like money well spent.

While the 94-day 2007 meet which ended Sunday posted only modest increases over 2005, a more typical Arlington year, it represented a major rebound from a troubled 2006.

Total handle on Arlington's 2007 live product was up 12.8 percent from 2006. Last year, a total of $370,737,863 was bet on Arlington races; this year, the total was $418,103,383, a gross increase of $47,365,520.

Wed, 09/19/2007 - 00:00

Grasshopper arrives for Super Derby

BOSSIER CITY, La. – Super Derby favorite Grasshopper arrived here safely from Kentucky on Wednesday morning and shortly thereafter drew post 9 in a field of 10 for Saturday's Grade 2, $500,000 race at Louisiana Downs.

"That's fine," said Neil Howard, who trains Grasshopper. "I really don't see any downside to it."