ETOBICOKE, Canada - Count to Three and Maria Clarissa, the one-two finishers in last year's Zadracarta, will meet again in the 2007 renewal of the race here at Woodbine on Sunday.
The $75,000 Zadracarta is a six-furlong turf race for Ontario-foaled fillies and mares. It seemed destined for the scrap heap late Thursday morning, but several last-minute entries, including Siwa, a speedy 3-year-old filly who was supplemented at a cost of $1,500, saved the day.
MIAMI - Sunday's $50,000 Valid Video Stakes may be considered a prep for the Grade 2 Carry Back Stakes on July 7. But on its own merit, the six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds must be considered one of the best races of the 2007 Calder meet.
The Valid Video drew a strong field of nine that includes the Gradeo3 stakes-placed trio of Izzie's Halo, Frosty Secret, and Drums of Thunder as well as Yesbyjimminy, Double Colico, Finallymadeit, Indian Ashton, and Pop Goes the Tiger.
ELMONT, N.Y. - After a two-week hiatus, Wood Memorial winner Nobiz Like Shobiz returned to the work tab on Friday morning, breezing an easy five furlongs in 1:02.02 over Belmont Park's main track.
Nobiz Like Shobiz, who finished 10th in the Kentucky Derby, is being pointed to the Grade 2, $150,000 Dwyer Stakes at 1 1/16 miles here on July 4.
Nobiz Like Shobiz showed three works from May 18 to Mayo31. Fearing his horse would come to hand too quickly, trainer Barclay Tagg skipped one workout, electing to gallop the colt strongly instead.
Galiano, who last week became the first winner for champion Vindication with an impressive debut win in Texas, could be headed for stakes company at Louisiana Downs, said his trainer, Steve Asmussen.
Galiano beat a promising field of 2-year-olds by four lengths in a maiden race at Lone Star Park on June 10. He broke on top in the 5 1/2-furlong race and set a pressured pace before easily drawing clear of his rivals. The field he defeated included offspring of Northern Afleet, Mt. Livermore, and Wekiva Springs.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A last-minute decision led trainer Doug O'Neill to enter Harvard Avenue for Sunday's $60,000 Flame Thrower Stakes at Hollywood Park. The restricted stakes is not the sort of race that O'Neill hoped that Harvard Avenue would be eligible for at this time of year.
The six-furlong Flame Thrower is restricted to horses who have not won a first-place purse of $60,000 or more since March 1. Harvard Avenue has started once since March 1, finishing fourth in the most lucrative sprint of the spring, the $2omillion Golden Shaheen in Dubai on March 31.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - When Minister's Bid makes his return to Saratoga this summer, horseplayers surely will take a close look at how he fares Sunday at Churchill Downs before deciding whether the colt has progressed from last year, when he raced in both the Jim Dandy and Travers.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Trainer Austin Hinds has entered four runners for Sunday's card here at Fort Erie.
For 35 years, Hinds was in the car business in his hometown of Toronto. He had a car lot and also sold vehicles wholesale.
Hinds, 62, a racegoer throughout his life, had always a strong desire to become a horse trainer. But with a growing family, he wouldn't take the risk.
Five years ago, Hinds became a trainer. He had become an owner in 1985 and competed at Woodbine.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Rahys' Appeal embarked on an ambitious program this year that included a trip to California, where she placed in a pair of graded stakes.
The 5-year-old New York-bred mare looks for her first victory in four starts this season Saturday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Eatontown Stakes for fillies and mares on the turf at Monmouth Park.
This could be her time to shine after a pair of Grade 1 races and two Grade 2 stakes.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Bear Now and Seductively, the last two winners of the Grade 3 Selene Stakes, will lock horns Saturday at Woodbine in the $100,000 Hill 'n' Dale Stakes.
The owners of the first three finishers in the 1 1/16-mile stakes will receive a 2008 season to one of three Hill 'n' Dale Kentucky stallions - El Corredor, Roman Ruler, and Grand Reward.
After launching her career with a pair of dominant performances in ultra-short sprints, Ghost Canyon will attempt to stretch her speed to seven furlongs in the $50,000 Lady Charles Town for 3-year-old fillies.
Ghost Canyon, owned and trained by John McKee, easily defeated maidens and first-level allowance runners, but has yet to prove she can run farther than 4 1/2 furlongs.
Snow Way also stretches out from 4 1/2 furlongs following a win in the Country Road nearly a month ago, but she won going seven furlongs two starts back.