ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The French horse Shamdinan came to the Secretariat Stakes a virtual unknown to Thoroughbred people in the U.S., jockey Julien Leparoux included. But the instructions Leparoux got before the Secretariat were quite simple.
"They said, 'Ride her like you rode Gorella,' " Leparoux said.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - The $25,000 Don Valliere Memorial Cup tops the eight-race Sunday card at Fort Erie. The six-furlong Valliere Memorial is a restricted race for 3-year-olds and up who have started at least twice at Fort Erie this year.
Eleven horses will go to post, including the entry of Charlie O and Abitquick from the Martin Hinckson barn. Regina Sealock was named on both at draw time.
The Grade 3, $1 million Delta Jackpot for 2-year-olds on Dec. 7 is the richest of 37 stakes worth $4 million scheduled for the Delta Downs meet that opens on Oct. 19. The Vinton, La., track, which is beginning its season about two weeks earlier than last year, will race 93 dates through March 29, 2008.
The Jackpot, at 1 1/16 miles, will be featured on a Friday night card of four stakes worth a cumulative $1.4 million. The second-richest offering on the program will be the $300,000 Delta Princess, a one-mile race for 2-year-old fillies.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Colorful Judgement won last year's With Approval in his first start for trainer Alec Fehr, and will be looking to repeat here Sunday in the $75,000 overnight stakes over 1 1/8 miles of turf.
The With Approval, for Ontario-foaled 3-year-olds and upward, attracted a field of six.
Colorful Judgement, a 7-year-old gelding, was claimed for $60,000 from his owner and breeder, Sam-Son Farm, here July 9, 2006, and provided a quick return on investment for Centennial Farms (Niagara) Inc. in the With Approval.
MIAMI - Had Yonagucci been eligible for the Florida Stallion Stakes, the undefeated and untested 2-year-old filly would have stayed right at home to run in Saturday's $100,000 Desert Vixen Stakes. Instead, Yonagucci boarded a plane on Friday morning for Saratoga, where she'll get a class check next weekend in the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - An injury to Better Talk Now's left front ankle not only knocked him out of Saturday's Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga, but also figures to alter the 8-year-old gelding's fall campaign leading up to the Breeders' Cup.
Trainer Graham Motion had hoped to run Better Talk Now in the Sword Dancer and then the Man o' War at Belmont on Sept. 8, leading up to the Breeders' Cup Turf on Oct. 27. But Better Talk Now will have to walk for as long as two weeks, which won't give him enough training time to make the Man o' War.
AUBURN, Wash. - When last seen, Margo's Gift and Courageous Son were battling head and head down the stretch in the July 21 running of the Premio Esmeralda Stakes at six furlongs. Margo's Gift and rider Ricky Frazier had kept Courageous Son pinned tight along the rail from the start, and things got even tighter when Courageous Son's stablemate Gallon joined the duo from the outside passing the sixteenth pole.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - If it wasn't so sad, it would be funny how quickly things can turn around in the racing game. Wayne Catalano was just cruising along with two wins in the bag on the Thursday card at Arlington Park when, boom, the bottom fell out.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Recent retirements have created opportunities for lesser-known horses in the handicap division. Trainer Grant Forster is hoping Brother Bobby can take advantage with a strong effort in next Saturday's Grade 3, $300,000 Philip H. Iselin Breeders' Cup Stakes at Monmouth Park.
"If they keep dropping off and we're alive and well and doing great, who knows what can happen?" Forster said.