Average daily handle and attendance both rose for the 35-day mixed meeting at Arapahoe Park that ended Sunday.
All-sources wagering on live Arapahoe races averaged $120,774 daily, up 3.5 percent from $116,870 at the 39-day meet last year. Daily attendance rose 26.7 percent, from 1,535 in 2006 to 1,945 this year.
Costa Rising will bring one of the year's highest Beyer Speed Figures into next month's $200,000 Unbridled Breeders' Cup Handicap at Louisiana Downs. He will be moving back to turf for the 1 1/16-mile race following a 12-length victory in the $200,000 Evangeline Mile, for which he earned a Beyer Figure of 114. Costa Rising, who is 2 for 2 over the Louisiana Downs turf course, ran the distance at Evangeline on Saturday night in a track-record time of 1:36.51.
DEL MAR, Calif. - The last name was only going to take Craig Dollase so far in Thoroughbred racing. It helped him get started in the 1990's, when he broke away from assisting his father, the successful trainer Wally Dollase, but it did not guarantee success.
"I was waiting for the challenge," he said recently, reflecting on his start.
Craig Dollase was on his own when he won the 1998 Breeders' Cup Sprint with Reraise. At 27, he was the youngest trainer to win such a race. The record stands.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Four months ago, Santa Anita's winter meeting ended. Since then, hockey season ended. Basketball season ended. And trainer Bruce Headley stopped winning.
Whether on Cushion Track at Hollywood Park, or Polytrack at Del Mar, Headley has not won a race since April 13. He has had plenty of seconds, too many for his taste. Headley is hoping to end his inglorious streak no later than Sunday, when he sends out Arson Squad in the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic and Surf Cat in the Grade 2, $300,000 Pat O'Brien Handicap.
AUBURN, Wash. - Last weekend's twin 6 1/2-furlong stakes for 2-year-olds were superficially similar. Both No Constraints in Saturday's Knights Choice Stakes for fillies and Margo's Gift in Sunday's Strong Ruler Stakes for colts and geldings were heavily favored, and both asserted their superiority through the stretch after attending the early pace.
The winners of the two $45,000 stakes could hardly be more different, however.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Last weekend's Monmouth Oaks probably would have been an easier spot for Moon Catcher than this Saturday's Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga.
But what's the fun in taking the easy way out? And considering how much fun trainer Tim Ritchey and owner Chuck Zacney had in Saratoga three summers ago, the Alabama became the only realistic goal for Moon Catcher.
AUBURN, Wash. - The Grade 3 Longacres Mile, which will be renewed for the 72nd time Sunday with a record purse of $400,000, is the heart and soul of Northwest racing. It is the highlight of every local racing season, the race that everybody here wants to win.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Abraham Katryan has been on a roll again lately, sending out 4 winners from 8 starters last week to take over third place in the trainer standings with 32 winners heading into Wednesday's program at Woodbine.
But one thing that would make Katryan's season even sweeter is a stakes winner, and Sheer Enchantment will be looking to give him just that in Sunday's $125,000 Victoriana.
A 6-year-old owned by Glenn Harvey's Kelynack Racing Stable, Sheer Enchantment began her career with Katryan but was transferred last year to trainer Paul Attard.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Steve Asmussen said he was never planning to run Curlin in the Travers. But on Monday, he removed all doubt saying that the Preakness winner will make his next start in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont on Sept. 30.
After watching Tiz Wonderful breeze six furlongs in 1:14.22 Monday morning, Asmussen said that horse would run in the Travers.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Sunday's card at Del Mar is highlighted by the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic, but there are two other graded stakes on the program, and all three races are part of the "Win and You're in" series for the Breeders' Cup in October at Monmouth Park.