Wed, 10/25/2006 - 00:00

Prescott reaches 2,000-win mark

Rodney Prescott notched the 2,000th victory of his riding career in last Wednesday's third race at Hoosier aboard Sefayoself. Prescott had the second-most wins in the nation in 2005 and earned riding titles at Indiana Downs, River Downs, and Hoosier Park. Prescott was leading rider again at River Downs this year, and through last weekend was second in the Hoosier standings, eight wins behind Tom Pompell.

Wed, 10/25/2006 - 00:00

Del-Rob Farm to hold dispersal sale

The Del-Rob Farm dispersal sale will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. in Clarkston, Mich. Owner Delphine Miller, widow of trainer Robert Miller, has 61 horses of all ages up on the block. Delphine Miller and Robert Miller, who died in August, operated the breeding and training site for 30 years.

Wed, 10/25/2006 - 00:00

One of Thistledown's best home again

Julio Felix, one of the top jockeys at Thistledown the last decade, is back here after a short hiatus and is just two victories shy of riding his 2,000th career winner.

Felix said he needed a change of scenery after his close friend and fellow rider Michael Rowland died in 2004 from injuries sustained in a spill at Turfway Park.

"After Michael died I lost something," Felix said. "Last year was tough, and I just wanted to get away."

Wed, 10/25/2006 - 00:00

Gold Medal Jess out to end drought

Champion of Champions invitee Gold Medal Jess looks for his first win since the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Championship on Feb. 25 in Friday's $30,000 First Down Dash Handicap at Los Alamitos.

The half-length win in the Winter Championship earned Gold Medal Jess an invitation to the Grade 1, $600,000 Champion of Champions on Dec. 9. Since that win he has run fourth in both the Grade 1 Go Man Go Handicap and the MBNA America California Challenge Championship from five starts.

Wed, 10/25/2006 - 00:00

Marcavelly could flatter BC contender

The Breeders' Cup preps are finished, the pre-entries are out, and the Breeders' Cup fields are mostly set, aside from a few defections between now and next Saturday's races.

Wed, 10/25/2006 - 00:00

Areyoutalkintome relegated to a lesser Sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. - Areyoutalkintome was entered for Saturday's $150,000 California Cup Sprint at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting after failing to gain an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4.

Areyoutalkintome was scheduled to be sent from Kentucky to California on Wednesday, according to trainer Doug O'Neill. Areyoutalkintome had stayed at Keeneland following a second in the Grade 3 Phoenix BC Stakes there on Oct. 7.

Wed, 10/25/2006 - 00:00

Record crowd a Breeders' Cup goal

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The four highest attendance marks in the 22 previous runnings of the Breeders' Cup have all come at Churchill Downs, but apparently that's not good enough for Breeders' Cup officials.

"We have set a goal to try to break the all-time attendance mark this year," said Damon Thayer, the vice president of event management for Breeders' Cup Ltd.

Wed, 10/25/2006 - 00:00

Karens Kwik Wager capable vs. older

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Steve Sherman is glad that Karens Kwik Wager is a racehorse and not a show horse.

"She's not the prettiest thing, but she has a lot of heart," said Sherman, who is handling his father Art's northern California operation while the elder Sherman prepares Siren Lure for the Breeders' Cup. "I'd rather have the heart. This isn't a beauty pageant."

Karens Kwik Wager drew the outside post against six rivals in Friday night's Bay Meadows feature, a $40,000 starter allowance at six furlongs.

Wed, 10/25/2006 - 00:00

Record crowd a Breeders' Cup goal

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The four highest attendance marks in the 22 previous runnings of the Breeders' Cup have all come at Churchill Downs, but apparently that's not good enough for Breeders' Cup officials.

"We have set a goal to try to break the all-time attendance mark this year," said Damon Thayer, the vice president of event management for Breeders' Cup Ltd.

Tue, 10/24/2006 - 00:00

Babcock Lake capable if willing

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Babcock Lake, a talented 2-year-old colt, has trainer Jeff Bonde scratching his head.

In Thursday's Bay Meadows feature, Babcock Lake makes his first start since a disappointing effort in the $131,000 Barretts Juvenile on Sept. 17. He has four rivals in Thursday's six-furlong allowance race, including recent maiden winners Are You Positive, who graduated by seven lengths, and Candy's Bro, the runner-up to Babcock Lake in his debut.