DEL MAR, Calif. - At 6, may be in the midst of a career change. He made his first start on turf in more than two years in the Wickerr Handicap at Del Mar on July 29 and ran a game third.
Trainer David Bernstein is keeping Unfurl the Flag on turf for the rest of the summer and is hopeful that Unfurl the Flag can win for the first time on the surface in an optional claimer at a mile Wednesday at Del Mar. The optional claimer carries a purse of $75,000 and has drawn a full field of 10.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Exiting a quality key race, Seeking Shelter will face older opponents Wednesday at Woodbine in the second race, a 6 1/2-furlong grass allowance worth $62,800.
The second race launches the pick seven, which has a carryover of $8,841, and Seeking Shelter should be on many tickets.
Seeking Shelter won his maiden at 6 1/2 furlongs on the grass in his second start at 2. He subsequently finished second to eventual Canadian champion 2-year-old Edenwold in the Simcoe Stakes and 11th in the Cup and Saucer on Oct. 16 to end the year.
Jockey Quincy Welch capped a triumphant return to action with a victory aboard True Metropolitan in the $50,000 Westerner at Northlands Park on Sunday.
Facing just three rivals in the 1 1/16-mile Westerner, True Metropolitan was clocked in a fast 1:42.80 and scored by 4 1/4 lengths after tracking the pacesetter, Beau Brass, and assuming command on the top of the turn for home.
Trick of the North closed for second, a half-length before Beau Brass, with Fuhr Ore completing the order of finish.
Star-crossed sprint champion Lost in the Fog returned from California's leading veterinary facility to his stall at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday so that he could be in familiar surroundings for his final days.
Lost in the Fog, 4, had been sent to the University of California at Davis the previous Sunday with what was thought to be a mild case of colic. Instead, a cancerous tumor was discovered on his spleen. Further testing revealed a smaller tumor on connecting tissue from his spleen and a larger, inoperable tumor under his spine.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer David Fawkes opted to leave Take D' Tour at Saratoga following her disappointing fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Go for Wand, not to run back in Friday's 1 1/4-mile Personal Ensign, but to prepare her for the 1 1/16-mile Ruffian Stakes at Belmont on Sept. 9.
But after Take D' Tour worked a half-mile in 47.09 seconds under regular rider Cornelio Velasquez here Monday, Fawkes said he is not counting her out of the Personal Ensign just yet.
DEL MAR, Calif. - The versatility Lava Man has displayed in winning Grade 1 races on both turf and dirt this year could come into play again for trainer Doug O'Neill in deciding how best to prepare Lava Man for the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs, his year-end goal.
Until Sunday, the occurrence of breakdowns that had dogged Arlington Park since the track began its race meet on May 5 had slowed remarkably. Since July 2, only two horses had suffered catastrophic breakdowns at the Arlington Heights, Ill., track, a rate well below the national average.
But all it took was one race - and two breakdowns - for the subject to become relevant again. Big Attlet and Our Memento both were euthanized after breaking down during the second race Sunday, a $4,000 claiming race at 6 1/2 furlongs.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Trainer Jim Ryerson said Monday that Park Avenue Ball came out of his victory in the Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park in good order and will most likely make his next start in the Grade 2, $500,000 Meadowlands Breeders' Cup Stakes on Oct. 13.
"He came back great," Ryerson said. "We're very pleased. He ran hard and got a little tired. We'll probably give him a couple additional weeks' rest."
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Although Russell Baze came into the weekend in perfect form, things didn't quite end that way for him
Baze could do nothing wrong Friday at the Bay Meadows Fair, winning the first five races of the day and then the final two as he went 7 for 7. Coupled with victories with his final two mounts Thursday, it gave him nine straight victories, tying the U.S. record for consecutive wins with Albert Adams, who accomplished the feat in 1930, and Tony Black, who won nine straight in 1992.
I'mtoogoodtobetrue shook off several early challengers before pulling away to a 5 1/2-length victory in the $70,000 Girl Powder Handicap for New Jersey-bred fillies and mares at Monmouth Park.
I'mtoogoodtobetrue ($4.80) ran the one mile in 1:38.75 with Joe Bravo aboard for trainer Ned Allard. Jenny Bean Girl was second with Cigno d'Oro third.
* In the $65,000 Junior Champion Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on the turf, Audacious Chloe posted a four-length win over Beautiful Venue.