Thu, 10/19/2006 - 00:00

Go Deputy pegged as International choice

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - A contentious field of 10 has been entered for Sunday's Grade 1, $2 million Canadian International, the 1 1/2-mile turf race that is the richest on the Woodbine stakes calendar.

Sunday's blockbuster card also will include the Grade 1, $1 million E.P. Taylor, a 1 1/4-mile turf race for fillies and mares, and the Grade 2, $500,000 Nearctic, a six-furlong turf race for 3-year-olds and upward.

But the Canadian International is the piece de resistance, as underlined by its special status at the ceremonial draw for post positions here Thursday.

Thu, 10/19/2006 - 00:00

Windy well-suited to reversed track bias

LEXINGTON, Ky. - In another year, Bobby Frankel might have thought twice about sending a filly such as Windy to Keeneland. With a from-the-clouds running style that might have had her flailing against the renowned speed bias on the old dirt track, Windy would have faced a rugged task.

But this is the Polytrack era at Keeneland, and Windy suddenly finds herself on the opposite end of the bias spectrum. "Her style fits in good," Frankel flatly stated when discussing the $300,000 , the Grade 2 race that anchors a 10-race Saturday card at Keeneland.

Thu, 10/19/2006 - 00:00

From big longshots to favorites

PHOENIX - Mego and Blueskycat both won big at Turf Paradise Oct. 6, and both were huge prices, Mego at 40-1 and Blueskycat at 20-1. They figure to be much shorter prices among a field of 12 in the filly division of the Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders Association Fall Sales Stakes, one of two stakes for 2-year-olds on Saturday at Turf Paradise. The male division, meanwhile, lured a field of 11 and, again, two big Oct. 6 winners lead the way: Half Famous and Quintons Shocker.

Thu, 10/19/2006 - 00:00

Senor Amigo's stock on the rise

Senor Amigo cemented his reputation as one of the top Texas-breds in training last Saturday night at Retama Park, when he won the $100,000 Texas Hall of Fame for statebreds by a widening six lengths. For his effort, he earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 95.

"He ran a great race," said Scott Blasi, who trains Senor Amigo.

Thu, 10/19/2006 - 00:00

A lot of firsts for Bobcat Greeley

Bobcat Greeley, making her first start since coming to trainer Michael Dickinson's barn and racing for the first time since July at Calder, registered her first stakes victory when she scored by three lengths in Tuesday night's $75,000 Autumn Leaves at Mountaineer Race Track.

Thu, 10/19/2006 - 00:00

Big night for Gorham, Houghton

Trainer Robert Gorham and jockey Terry Houghton were the big winners on Michigan Sire Stakes night last Saturday, each winning three times on Michigan racing's richest program. They teamed up for two wins, including one with Weatherstorm, the probable Michigan horse of the year for 2006. Weatherstom, a 3-year-old gelding, was winning his sixth consecutive race and the fifth stakes of his campaign.

Thu, 10/19/2006 - 00:00

Speed Whiz repeats in Breeders Classic

William Campbell may have wondered whether he had wasted $15,000 when he claimed a 4-year-old gelding in July 2005 who had just finished seventh, beaten 14 1/2 lengths, facing nonwinners-of-three competition.

Campbell, the trainer and owner of Speed Whiz, looks pretty smart now.

Speed Whiz has won 6 of 10 starts since he was acquired by Campbell, capped by a second consecutive victory in the $450,000 West Virginia Breeders Classic at Charles Town last Saturday night.

Thu, 10/19/2006 - 00:00

Four Finger Lakes finalists

Johnie Bye Night, a three-time stakes winner this season, heads the list of four finalists for 2006 horse of the year at Finger Lakes.

A 4-year-old gelding owned and trained by Charlton Baker, Johnie Bye Night won two sprint stakes for New York-breds and the Wadsworth Memorial against open company going 1 1/8 miles. He dominated all three races, winning by a combined 13 3/4 lengths with a pair of 100 Beyer Speed Figures and a 98.

Wed, 10/18/2006 - 00:00

Trainer and jockey races still tight

EDMONTON, Alberta - There are 26 races for the final three days of the Alberta Thoroughbred season here at Northlands Park, including 10 for getaway day Sunday.

The meet riding and training titles figure to go down to the wire, with Rickey Walcott and Quincy Welch battling for the jockey title and Stu Simon making a late bid to overtake defending champion Red Smith for the training title.

Wed, 10/18/2006 - 00:00

Pragmatico still strong at age 8

SAN MATEO, Calif. - When a horse has run as long and as well as Pragmatico, age becomes irrelevant.

That's what trainer Armando Lage thought when he claimed the 8-year-old gelding for $20,000 from a victory in his last start.

Pragmatico makes his first start for Lage in a $40,000 claimer at 5 1/2 furlongs at Bay Meadows Friday, the first of four Friday night racing cards. First post is at 7:20 p.m., and there is $1 grandstand admission and $1 beer, soda, hot dogs, and programs.