LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Breeders' Cup will be run about 85 miles from Keeneland, but for nine fillies and mares running here Sunday, a starting berth in the BC Distaff is only 1 1/8 miles away.
That's the distance of the $500,000 Spinster Stakes, the traditional fall showcase that has attracted such strong Distaff contenders as , Spun Sugar, Summerly, and Lemons Forever.
MIAMI - The imposing presence of the undefeated Straight Faced, along with a very strong supporting cast of locally based 2-year-olds, has apparently scared off any potential shippers for next Saturday's $400,000 In Reality Stakes at Calder. But a less competitive filly division will likely get a visit from the Suffolk Downs-based shipper Saint Barbara, who is due down from Boston later this week for the $400,000 My Dear Girl Stakes.
ARCADIA, Calif. -The autumn coronation of as the top juvenile colt in California does not take place until after the Grade 2 Norfolk Stakes on Sunday.
And it will not happen unless Horse Greeley wins his first start around two turns against the deepest field of 2-year-olds assembled in California this year.
Traditionally, 3-year-old fillies have fared very well when they've taken on their elders in the Grade 3 Ballerina Breeders' Cup. The last three renewals of the Ballerina were won by 3-year-olds, and owner Jeannie Spence is hoping Real Candy continues that trend next Saturday. The Ballerina carries a $150,000 purse and is expected to have a 12-horse field.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario Trainer Bob Tiller will be holding a pair of aces in Sundays $75,000 Mt. Sassafras Stakes at Woodbine when he runs uncoupled stablemates Twisted Wit and Dave the Knave in the seven-furlong sprint for Ontario-foaled horses.
Twisted Wit defeated Dave the Knave by a neck when he won the restricted Kenora Stakes at six furlongs Sept. 4. His previous efforts this year werent anything special, although he managed to finish fourth twice behind Canadas best sprinter, Judiths Wild Rush, including in the Grade 3 Vigil Stakes.
Trainer Clyde Veltmann returned to training this spring after a 30-year hiatus, and in 11 starts he has already won one stakes. On Sunday, he sends out Dancing Squall against top contender Red Lifesaver in the $60,000 Zia Park Distaff. A six-furlong race, the Zia Park Distaff has a field of 10 fillies and mares.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Meadows will open its 60th anniversary season Sunday with enhanced purses, an improved tote board, a new timing system, a new tote provider, a new means of wagering, and a new racing schedule.
The new schedule might be the most dramatic change, as the track will race on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays through February, then switch to racing on Mondays and Tuesdays only until the first Saturday in May, which will close the 78-day meeting. Last year, the track raced on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays throughout the stand.
Handle from all sources was up nearly 24 percent at the 22-day Turfway Park fall meet that ended Thursday night, while ontrack handle was up nearly 5 percent at the Florence, Ky., track.
The gross all-sources handle was $58,560,856, averaging $2,661,857 per card, easily surpassing what was handled during an identical number of dates at the 2005 fall meet. Gross ontrack handle was just more than $3 million, for an average of $138,149. The track offers free admission and therefore no longer counts attendance.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Two newcomers, born a generation apart, have joined the local trainer and jockey colonies here at Woodbine following the conclusion of the Assiniboia Downs meeting two weeks ago.
But while one might naturally assume that the jockey would be the junior member of the twosome, the opposite is in fact true.
Alan Cuthbertson, at age 59, topped the jockey standings at the Winnipeg, Manitoba, racetrack with 81 victories this season, including six stakes.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Slewicide Cruise and Lethal Grande, two of the most accomplished horses to race at Portland Meadows in recent years, will help to launch the track's 60th anniversary season when they clash for the first time in Sunday's $20,000 Inaugural Handicap at six furlongs.
