OCEANPORT, N.J. - The years have not taken a toll on Better Talk Now.
"I know I've been quoted saying it before, and people are probably getting tired of hearing it, but I feel he is probably as good now, if not a little better, than he's ever been," trainer H. Graham Motion said. "I feel that applies going into his next race."
That next assignment is the Grade 1, $750,000 United Nations Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park, a race the 8-year-old gelding won in 2005.
Princess Composer rolled to her North American-leading eighth win this season in Monday's $45,000 Florence Henderson Stakes for Indiana-bred fillies and mares at Indiana Downs, taking the about one mile turf feature by three lengths over Easy Tee. Amature's Prize finished another 2 3/4 lengths behind in third.
ALTOONA, Iowa - Amazing Tale ($6.40) led virtually every step of the way in capturing the Prairie Gold Lassie by a comfortable 3 1/2 lengths Monday afternoon on the final day of the Iowa Festival of Racing at Prairie Meadows. Amazing Tale is trained by Anne Mitchell and was ridden by Alex Birzer. She covered the five furlongs in 57.71 seconds.
A.J. Bakes made a run at the winner entering the stretch, but could do no better than second. Rasierra finished third.
Amazing Tale is undefeated in two starts.
Candid Glen, who pulled an 84-1 upset in the Grade 2 Explosive Bid Handicap in 2003, has been retired, said his owner, Glen Warren. He last raced on March 25, and was a neck winner over Mystery Giver in a $50,000 claiming race at Fair Grounds. Candid Glen won 12 of 49 starts and $1,285,075.
"He was in training at Louisiana Downs," said Warren. "We just decided he's 10 years old and he doesn't have the enthusiasm for going out and working that he had before. He's been good to us. It's time to turn him out and let him be a horse."
Revenge was sweet for Senor St. Pat when he beat Disco Fox in his return to Suffolk Downs last month for the Rise Jim Stakes. But he will again have to face Disco Fox in the $45,000 African Prince Stakes for Massachusetts-breds on the Julyo4 holiday card.
The Rise Jim, with its smattering of older horses taking on the leading 3-year-olds, was a cakewalk for Senor St. Pat despite the presence of Disco Fox, who beat him in the Norman Hall Stakes last fall, and Disco Fox's entrymate Fifty Seven G, who finished third for trainer Karl Grusmark.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Mystery Classic is one of the best sprinters in the region. He won six consecutive races last year, and appears poised to turn in a big effort Wednesday night in the $50,000 Lone Star Park Turf Sprint. He has turned in some strong works for the five-furlong turf race, which will be his second start of the year.
"I feel good about the race," said Bob Schultz, who trains Mystery Classic.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The top two 3-year-old colts in North America were both out for work Monday morning at Churchill Downs, as Curlin and Street Sense had easy five-furlong breezes.
Curlin was out first, going in 1:03.20 shortly after dawn. Street Sense followed a little more than two hours later, after the harrow break, when going in 1:02.40 over a fast track.
Curlin was ridden by regular exercise rider Carmen Rosas.
"I thought he went well," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "He's an awesome horse."
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Eccentric ($11.60) prevailed after a stirring stretch battle with Grade 1 winners Sky Conqueror and Jambalaya in Monday's Grade 2, $240,800 King Edward Breeders' Cup Stakes at Woodbine.
Sky Conqueror, the even-money favorite in the seven-horse field, rallied very wide from eight lengths off a moderate pace in the nine-furlong grass event. He joined Eccentric and Jambalaya on the lead at the three-sixteenths pole.
PLEASANTON, Calif. - Trainer Jeff Bonde was not a happy camper at the Alameda County Fair on Saturday.
He entered first-timer Tiz Madison in the Juan Gonzalez Memorial Stakes, and Tiz Madison chased Sassy Blend through quick early fractions before fading to fifth. Bonde was disappointed by the effort of the 2-year-old filly, who had trained superbly for her debut.
Things turned around Sunday when Run Brother Ron, running for the same connections as Tiz Madison, gave Bonde his second straight victory in the Everett Nevin Alameda Futurity for 2-year-olds.