BOSSIER CITY, La. - Following two failed attempts at middle distances, Desert Sea returns to seven furlongs and rates a strong favorite in Sunday's $35,000 optional claiming feature at Louisiana Downs. Desert Sea is 2 for 2 at seven furlongs.
"This is what we have been waiting for," said trainer Pat Mouton on Friday morning.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Witch Woman looks to win her third straight race in her stakes debut Sunday in the $65,000 Without Feathers for 3-year-old fillies going a mile and 70 yards at Monmouth Park.
She is part of the successful contingent from Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel that arrived late in the meet from Kentucky. The Frankel horses, handled by assistant Chad Brown, are 5-2-1 in 12 races.
AUBURN, Wash. - Thatsthewayluvgoes will shoot for her fifth win at the stand when she takes on six older rivals in Sunday's top offering at Emerald Downs, a 5 1/2-furlong race for fillies and mares under $25,000 optional claiming conditions.
EDMONTON, Alberta - Teagues Fight is a solid local performer who holds the distinction of being the most talented member of the consignment of colts and geldings that went through the local 2004 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society yearling sale.
As such, Teagues Fight's owners know that his best chance to take home a big check this year will come Sunday in the $50,000 Sales Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings at Northlands Park.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Thesaratogaexpress could be tough to beat in the colts and geldings division of the 6 1/2-furlong CTHS Sales Stakes at Hastings on Sunday. The $60,000 Sales Stakes is restricted to horses that went through a Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society sale where the full commission was obtained.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Le Cinquieme Essai, a 7-year-old gelding who was looming as the top local candidate for next Sunday's Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile, is through for the season.
"He had a little bit of filling in a suspensory," said Paul Nielsen, who trains Le Cinquieme Essai for owner and breeder Bill Scott. "We scanned him, and there's a little tear. It's nothing serious, but if we kept going with him, it would be.
"He'll make a nice 8-year-old."
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Catch the Thrill has the potential to be any kind of runner. By a leading sire, A.P. Indy, she is out of Canadian Oaks winner Catch the Ring, Canada's champion 3-year-old filly in 2000.
Catch the Thrill will try to take her game to another level Sunday at Woodbine in the $150,000 Natalma Stakes, a one-mile grass event for 2-year-old fillies.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - In Sunday's Don Valliere Memorial Cup at Fort Erie, trainer John Simms will use the same one-two punch that was effective in the Mike Anderson Memorial Cup here Aug. 20. The Valliere will be contested at six furlongs.
New Kid in Town went to an early three-length lead in the 6 1/2-furlong Anderson and set the race up for entrymate Fleet Storm, who came charging from his stalking position along the rail to win by 1 1/4 lengths. New Kid in Town finished fifth, beaten three lengths. Fleet Storm finished the race in 1:16.79.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Trainers Robbie Anderson and Dino Condilenios think they have horses good enough to run in the Grade 3, $250,000 British Columbia Derby. The bad news for both trainers is that their horses are longshots just to get into the derby. Preference for the derby is determined by how much money horses have earned this year, and both Undersecretary and Scots Pine are probably not going to get in, with just over $32,000 banked so far.