ELMONT, N.Y. - A drop in class, turn-back in distance, and the likelihood of a firm turf course should help Quite a Bride rediscover the winner's circle in Monday's $100,000 Pebbles Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
The Pebbles is the featured event on a 10-race Columbus Day card to be conducted at Belmont Park. The $65,000 North Broadway Stakes at 1 3/8 miles on the turf is also on the bill.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Henny Hughes, the only 3-year-old in the field, showed no respect for his elders Saturday, roaring to a 2 3/4-length victory in the Grade 1, $400,000 at Belmont Park, and confirming his status as the favorite for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint on Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Honey Ryder outgamed Film Maker by a nose in the thrilling finish to win the Grade 1, $600,000 on Saturday at Belmont Park.
Both mares will likely meet again in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
They squared off last time out in the Beverly D., where Film Maker was a rallying second while Honey Ryder finished fourth under John Velazquez, a defeat trainer Todd Pletcher placed squarely on his own shoulders.
India was unable to beat Miraculous Miss twice in graded stakes run at sprint distances. Given more ground to cover and an extra turn to negotiate, the Todd Pletcher-trained India easily turned the tables in Saturday's $500,000 .
After dueling for the early lead with eventual third-place finisher Baby Bird, jockey Joe Bravo asked India ($7) to move to the lead with a half-mile remaining and she remained strong to the finish en route to a 1 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Cotillion.
ELMONT, N.Y. - By doing something she had not shown she could do before, Fleet Indian enabled Todd Pletcher to do something no trainer had ever done before.
Accustomed to racing on the lead, Fleet Indian demonstrated she could be equally effective from off the pace, rallying from fourth position to win Saturday's Grade 1, $600,000 at Belmont Park by a head over late-running Balletto. It was seven lengths back to Round Pond in third.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Aragorn's position at the top of the American turf mile division is secure. Saturday at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting, Aragorn won his fourth consecutive major stakes in the $250,000 .
The race was a prep to the Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4, where Aragorn will be one of the leading choices.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Letter Perfect looked primed for a fine summer after facing horses in Florida who went on to win turf stakes. Unfortunately, illness cost him the summer campaign.
The 3-year-old colt returns Tuesday afternoon at the Meadowlands Racetrack in a $36,000 first-level allowance race. First post is 1:10 p.m. for the nine-race card.
The 1 1/16-mile turf race drew a field of 10, including an entry of Assert N Advantage and Duke of London from trainer Dennis Manning.
EDMONTON, Alberta - A divisional championship is on the line Monday with the $75,000 Canadian Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles, matching the three 2-year-olds who have accounted for the four juvenile stakes at this Northlands Park meeting.
A victory by Freetoleave, hero of the Edmonton Juvenile and Birdcatcher, would clinch the title, while Sales Stakes winner Howsitgoinghotshot and Alberta Premier's Futurity victor C R Jag look to sway some voters with a second stakes tally.
PORTLAND, Ore. - The outcome of Monday's Portland Meadows feature should be decided early, as the four most likely win candidates in the six-furlong dash for $8,000 fillies and mares all appear to need the lead to succeed.
Chancy Chancy, trained by David Runyon, has posted all 11 of her wins on the front end. Chancy Chancy is primarily a router, however, and she has just one win from 12 tries at the six-furlong distance. Though she is fresh, having been off since April, Chancy Chancy may not have enough speed to get to the front when sprinting.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The 1 1/16-mile Grey Breeders' Cup Stakes was Macho Uno's final tuneup before his victory in the 2000 BC Juvenile.
This year's renewal of the $250,000 Grey, to be run Monday at Woodbine, probably doesn't have any world-beaters in it. Three of the maidens in the field - Bilbo, Catch the Fever, and Angel of the House - look as good as the winners.
Bilbo was second to the unbeaten Barilko in both the Silver Deputy Stakes on the inner dirt track and the Swynford Stakes on the Polytrack.