NEW ORLEANS - Last year Mr. Sulu became only the second horse to win three Champions Day races when he won his third Champions Day Turf. Dixie Poker Ace won the first three runnings of that 1 1/16-mile race.
On Saturday Mr. Sulu goes for the four-peat. The task will be extra difficult because trainer Josie Carroll couldn't find a prep race for Mr. Sulu, an 8-year-old who will be making his first start since July.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The dream of success in the major races of the spring begins on days such as Saturday at Hollywood Park. In some cases, the hype will also begin.
The 10-race program at Hollywood Park includes three races for maiden 2-year-olds, all in the pick six. Each race is full of well-bred first-time starters who could develop into candidates for the Santa Anita Oaks or Santa Anita Derby - and beyond.
"This is a fun time of year, with a lot of good babies coming out," said trainer John Sadler, who has starters in each race.
Street Sense, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, is among the 149 early bird nominees to the 2007 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. The 55th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby will be held on March 31.
All early nominees become eligible for not only the Florida Derby but also for several other important preps leading up to the race this winter at Gulfstream Park, including the Swale and Holy Bull Stakes on Feb. 3 and the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on March 3.
NEW ORLEANS - Badtotheboneandrew, winner of last year's Louisiana Champions Day Classic when it was held at Louisiana Downs, will attempt to capture that $150,000 event again Saturday when he faces 10 rivals in the featured race on Champions Day at Fair Grounds.
The day's 11 stakes races offer a combined $1.1 million in purses, the most Fair Grounds has ever offered on a single program.
The inaugural running of the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint at six furlongs augments this 16th edition of Champions Day.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer was taken aback when weight assignments for Saturday's $100,000 California Distaff Turf Handicap were assigned.
Somethinaboutlaura was assigned 128 pounds, a huge impost in racing today, but Hollendorfer nonetheless plans to run his star in the one-mile turf race for California-bred fillies and mares. Seven entered the race, with Eclipse Winner coupled in the wagering with Somethinaboutlaura.
"Maybe we got a couple runners because she was carrying 128," Bay Meadows racing secretary Tom Doutrich said.
In one sense, Apollitical Time's preparation for Saturday's $600,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos has been flawless. She has won her last five starts, including the prestigious Los Alamitos Championship in October.
In another way, the buildup has been a mess. Trainer Juan Aleman cannot keep a jockey for the brilliant 4-year-old filly.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - While Sunday's $125,000 Valedictory Handicap is shaping up as a confrontation between True Metropolitan and Last Answer, there will be an interesting invader to add spice to the mix in the closing-day feature here at Woodbine.
Marsh Side, trained in Maryland by Michael Dickinson, checked into Woodbine on Wednesday and took up temporary residence in the barn of trainer Roger Attfield.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - When the ex-claimer Symphony Sid led by as many as 10 lengths midway through the Grade 3 Carleton Burke Handicap at Santa Anita in October, it seemed impossible that the runaway strategy would lead to a win over 1 1/2 miles on turf.
But his six rivals were unable to make a dent, giving Symphony Sid his first stakes win in a race he won by 5 1/2 lengths.
In Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup at Hollywood Park, Symphony Sid will try the same tactics, but this time a better field will be chasing him over 1 1/2 miles on turf.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - An improving Strathclyde could find the mark in Saturday's competitive fifth race, a $62,500 allowance and optional claimer going 1 1/4 miles.
Saturday's 10-race card, on the penultimate day of the Woodbine meeting, attracted a whopping 137 entries, including 10 also-eligibles.
