LEXINGTON, Ky. - When last they met in the Martha Washington Stakes three weeks ago at Laurel Park, Precious Kitten defeated Meribel by a neck.
That result was reversed Friday at Keeneland when Meribel, ridden by Garrett Gomez, was along in the final strides to capture the Grade 3, $125,000 Valley View Stakes by a half-length over Precious Kitten in a race switched from the turf to Polytrack.
CHICAGO - The National Weather Service has issued a reminder that the book has nearly closed on Chicago's 2006 grass-racing season: There's snow in the forecast for Saturday night, though Hawthorne, off the turf already twice this racing week, will try to stage a Sunday feature on its grass course.
In fact, Hawthorne plans to card turf racing through Thanksgiving. Last year the course made it two weeks into November, and the grass at this moment doesn't have the totally chewed-up appearance of a late-fall turf course.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The Tin Man, the winner of the Arlington Million in August and three other stakes this year, will pass up the $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4 after failing to rebound from his last start, trainer Richard Mandella said on Friday.
The Tin Man, an 8-year-old gelding, won the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Turf Championship at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting on Sept. 30, his fifth start this year. He won that 1 1/4-mile turf race by a head, holding off a late bid by BC Turf hopeful T.H. Approval.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - When opportunity knocks, Patrick Biancone answers. Turf marathons with $150,000 purses just don't come around that often, so when Biancone realized he could run Louve Royale in two of them at the Keeneland fall meet, he was only too happy to comply.
Louve Royale, who a little more than two weeks ago finished sixth against males in the Sycamore Breeders' Cup Stakes on opening day, is wheeling back 16 days later in the Dowager Stakes, a 1 1/2-mile turf race for fillies and mares Sunday.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Fillies and mares from England, Germany, and the eastern and western United States are among the 11 entrants in Sunday's Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes.
But Woodbine's A-team, Arravale and Ambitious Cat, will be looking to keep the lion's share of the $1 million purse right here in Canada.
Arravale, trained by Mac Benson, is one of two 3-year-olds in the E.P. Taylor, a 1 1/4-mile turf race for fillies and mares. She drew post 3.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Frank Alexander has one wish for Pickapocket in the $75,000 Pilgrim Stakes: a clean trip.
The colt with the knack for finding trouble faces 11 rivals Sunday in the featured race on closing day at Belmont Park, which also includes the $75,000 Miss Grillo Stakes. The New York Racing Association circuit shifts to Aqueduct on Wednesday.
Pickapocket makes his fifth start in the Pilgrim, which is for 2-year-olds on the turf going 1 1/8 miles. Pickapocket has run exclusively on grass, making his first three starts at Saratoga.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Ookashada, who set fast fractions before drawing off to win the Jack Diamond Futurity by six lengths, will need to harness some of his speed if he's going to be able to stretch out to 1 1/16 miles in the $100,000 Ascot Graduation next Sunday.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Sharp American shipper Go Deputy will try to hold off a quality European contingent and the local hotshot Sky Conqueror on Sunday at Woodbine in Canada's richest horse race, the Grade 1, $2 million .
The 69th running of the 1 1/2-mile International heads a stellar 11-race card, which includes two other lucrative turf stakes, the Grade 1, $1 million E.P. Taylor and the Grade 2, $500,000 Nearctic.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The improving 2-year-old colt Dilemma has all the tools to develop into something special. So if he is defeated by circumstances Sunday in the $65,000 Sunny Slopes Stakes at Santa Anita, trainer Paddy Gallagher will not lose any sleep.
"It's only three-quarters and he drew the 1 hole, so he has some stuff to overcome," Gallagher said "This will give him some experience."
The clear message is that Dilemma has higher objectives than a six-furlong sprint.
Trainer Todd Pletcher sends out three horses Sunday in a bid for a second straight victory in the $75,000 Miss Grillo Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on the turf.
Pletcher will hope one of the three develops as nicely as last year's Miss Grillo winner, Wait a While, who is a leading contender for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4.
This time Pletcher has Storm Dixie, Brushed Gold, and Tremendous One, who will be uncoupled in the wagering.
