POMONA, Calif. - A filly who lost her debut by more than 16 lengths while earning a 44 Beyer Speed Figure has no chance Wednesday in the $65,000 Black Swan Stakes at Fairplex Park.
So goes the primitive, one-dimensional analysis of longshot Bartok's Bling.
But in the overflow field of 2-year-old fillies who will race 1 1/16 miles on dirt in the Black Swan, there is no brighter prospect than Bartok's Bling, a second-time starter for whom her connections have high hopes.
Point Determined is now firm for Saturday's Grade 2 Super Derby, and Robby Albarado has picked up the mount on Strong Contender in the $500,000 signature race of the Louisiana Downs meet.
A field of seven is probable, led by Lawyer Ron. Entries for the 1 1/8-mile race will be drawn Wednesday. Smokeyjonessutton, who finished a close second to Lawyer Ron last month in the $250,000 St. Louis Derby, is "50-50" to join the lineup, his trainer, Dallas Stewart, said Monday.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Arch Hall is the horse to beat in Wednesday's $125,000 Overskate Stakes, but his readiness for this seven-furlong contest is somewhat questionable as he hasn't raced since July 1.
The late-running Arch Hall finished second in last year's Overskate, and had a successful winter stint at Oaklawn before taking the Grade 3 Eclipse Stakes at 1 1/16 miles here May 22. After finishing second in the Steady Growth at the same distance, he was a well-beaten fifth behind Funny Cide in the 1 1/4-mile Dominion Day Stakes last time out.
ALBANY, Calif. - Russell Baze rode two of the most interesting runners at Golden Gate Fields last week: Sabi Sand, who dropped from a $62,500 claimer to a $10,000 claimer Thursday, and Victorina, who ran second to Secret Scheme in Saturday's Noe Valley Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Victorina, who won the Grade 3 Azalea at Calder in her last start after finishing third in the one-mile Grade 3 Dogwood at Churchill Downs, was making her first start around two turns in the 1 1/16-mile Noe Valley. She ran a bang-up race - not that anyone noticed.
POMONA, Calif. - A 30-1 upset by Roman Commander in the $131,600 Barretts Juvenile on Sunday added to a string of upsets in the pick six at Fairplex Park, where a double carryover of $332,520 is up for grabs Monday.
The carryover is largely due to the weekend exploits of father-son trainers Mel and Gary Stute. Saturday, Mel Stute won the Barretts Debutante with the maiden filly Quick Little Miss ($60.40), which helped create a $75,091 carryover into Sunday.
AUBURN, Wash. - Norm's Nephew was a prompt favorite in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic at 1 1-16 miles for older horses, the centerpiece of Sunday's Washington Cup IV program, which included seven stakes for state-breds worth $300,000.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Becrux ($18.70) held off Rebel Rebel in the final strides for a neck victory under jockey Patrick Valenzuela in the 10th running of Grade 1, $1 million on Sunday.
It was the first ride in two months for Valenzuela, who inherited the mount from an injured Corey Nakatani. Valenzuela had Becrux in close proximity to the leaders on the backstretch, as Remarkable News and Sweet Return vied through quick fractions of :22.86 and :45.12 in the one-mile grass event.
Favorite Jazz became a stakes winner on Saturday night at Retama Park, when he drove to a half-length win over favorite James Ready Magic in the $40,000 Chick Lang Jr. Memorial. It was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Windy Lou.
Favorite Jazz ($8.60) stalked the pace set by Windy Lou, who led the field through six furlongs in 1:11.62 in the seven and a half furlong turf race for 3-year-olds. The eventual winner overtook that one and went on, covering the distance in 1:29.75.
Bossier City, La. - Odds-on favorite Our Love ($3.20) continued her love affair with the John Franks Turf Course at Louisiana Downs on Saturday afternoon as she cruised to victory in the $50,000 Majorette Handicap. Comalagold finished a length and a half back in second followed by Follow the Lite who challenged the winner in midstretch only to be turned back.
ALBANY, Calif. - Secret Scheme ($4.60) set a brisk but unpressured pace as she easily scored a three-length victory over odds-on Victorina in the $51,125 Noe Valley for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.
Third-place Logan Avenue Linda was 14 lengths behind Victorina in the 1 1/16-mile race. Secret Scheme's winning time was 1:41.82. Spellbinder, winner of the Grade 3 Berkeley on Labor Day, ran the same distance in 1:43.07.
