BOSSIER CITY, La. - Trainer Pat Mouton has won six stakes halfway into the meet at Louisiana Downs, success that has helped push his stable earnings to a career-best $2,220,087 already this year with five more months to go. Further enhancing Mouton's numbers is his 3-for-4 record with stakes starters at the meet at Evangeline Downs.
"It's been fun," he said.
A proud family legacy is being carried on at Ellis Park, where 16-year-old Dylan Williams has become the leading apprentice at the current meet while his father, 49-year-old R.D. "Rob" Williams, has joined him in the jockey colony.
Through Thursday, Dylan Williams had won 12 races at Ellis, good for a tie for fourth in the standings. Meanwhile, his dad arrived in time to ride Saturday at the Henderson, Ky., track, and plans to be here through the end of the meet on Sept. 3.
AUBURN, Wash. - For local horses hoping to make it to this year's Grade 3, $400,000 Longacres Mile on Aug. 19, the road forks Sunday.
Some of the hopefuls will prep in the $45,000 Governor's Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs, while others will go in the $70,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap at 1 1/8 miles. The choices for at least a couple went contrary to expectations.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainers Scott Fairlie, Reade Baker, and Julian Canet all have won stakes races with Judiths Wild Rush, a 6-year-old horse who has earned $992,940 in his 42-race career.
Now Gerry Seymour, who took over as Judiths Wild Rush's trainer for owner Harvey Tenenbaum here in mid-April, will be looking to add his name to that list in Sunday's Gradeo3, $150,000 Seagram Cup.
DEL MAR, Calif. - For a moment early Thursday afternoon, jockey Richard Migliore was lost in the world of Del Mar. He was on the beach next to the racetrack with his children when his wife reminded him that first post time was nearing.
Fortunately for Migliore, he was not needed to ride the first few races, but he still needed to scramble over to the jockeys' room to check in for the day. "I got on the phone and said, 'I'm on my way over,' " he said.
The purse for the Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby will double to $1 million if Street Sense, Curlin, or Rags to Riches run in the Sept. 22 race, Louisiana Downs officials announced on Thursday. Street Sense won this year's Kentucky Derby, Curlin the Preakness, and Rags to Riches the Belmont Stakes.
"We are actively pursing all three horses," said Doug Bredar, racing secretary at Louisiana Downs.
Carl Nafzger, who trains Street Sense, finished second in the 1990 Super Derby with Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled. One start later, Unbridled captured the Breeders' Cup Classic.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - There is an old saying among clockers: "It's not how fast a horse works, it's how he works fast" that really matters. Or, in the case of Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense here Thursday morning, how he works "not so fast."
Gulfstream Park has named Bill Couch, the racing secretary and director of racing at Thistledown, as racing secretary for the 2008 meeting. Both tracks are owned by Magna Entertainment Corp.
Couch replaces Dave Bailey, who resigned the position at Gulfstream earlier this year. He will work under Bernie Hettel, a longtime steward who was recently named director of racing at Gulfstream.
Couch, 56, is a former trainer, jockey agent, and chart-caller for Daily Racing Form and has been a racing official since 1988.
SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Minnesota bred 3-year olds are the focus of the $60,000 Minnesota Oaks and the $60,000 Minnesota Derby on Saturday at Canterbury Park.
Run With Joy should prove a prohibitive favorite in the Oaks. The winner of a one-mile allowance last month, Run With Joy looked even more impressive when shortening up to take the Frances Genter Stakes at six furlongs three weeks ago.
Take Sea Chanter out of the field for Saturday's $60,000 Tippett Stakes at Colonial Downs and you would be left with 13 2-year-old fillies, any one of which could win the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint. But Sea Chanter has indeed been entered, and that means those same 13 fillies are running for second.