DEL MAR, Calif. - Were it not for about two minutes and three seconds of racing in May 2005, Giacomo would be a somewhat anonymous racehorse.
But winning a Kentucky Derby can change a colt's place in history, even if he has accomplished little else. Since the 2005 Kentucky Derby, Giacomo is winless in four starts, a string of losses that have greatly diminished his status in racing.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Memorette, Live Life, and Moscow Burning were the first three across the line in last month's Beverly Hills Handicap at Hollywood Park, and while they will have a rematch in the Grade 1, $400,000 on Saturday at Del Mar, the probable pace of this race, plus the shorter distance, could yield a different result.
DEL MAR, Calif. - New Joysey Jeff, who has run erratically in the stretch of two stakes this summer, has been placed on a stewards' list by the Del Mar stewards because of his misbehavior and may be gelded in coming days, trainer Mark Glatt said on Thursday.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - In an era of short fields, a handicapper can throw a dart and often stand a 1-in-6 chance of hitting a bull's-eye. It will take more luck - or more skill - to divine the winner of this year's American Derby, which mixes 14 3-year-olds in a 1 3/16-mile grass race, a prep for the Grade 1 Secretariat next month.
ELMONT, N.Y. - The ability to get 1 1/4 miles is the major hurdle facing most of the 3-year-old fillies entered in Saturday's $300,000 , the featured event on Belmont Park's closing day card. The lone exception may be Pine Island.
Pine Island was doing her best running at the end of the Grade 1 Mother Goose, a 1 1/8-mile race in which she finished second to Bushfire, the division leader with three Grade 1 victories.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Judiths Wild Rush, Canada's reigning champion sprinter, will try to solidify his hold atop the local sprint ranks in Saturday's $125,000 Bold Venture Stakes at Woodbine.
The Bold Venture is one of two $125,000 stakes on the 10-race card, joining the Colin Stakes for 2-year-olds, which goes as the eighth race.
AUBURN, Wash. - A full field of 12 juveniles will contest Saturday's $45,000 Emerald Express Stakes at six furlongs, the first stakes of the season for 2-year-old colts and geldings.
Favoritism is up for grabs, but maiden special weight winners Immigration and Wild Cycle seem certain to draw support. Immigration, a son of Delineator from the barn of trainer Howard Belvoir, led throughout to win by three-quarters of a length over a fast-finishing Pirates Deputy in his 5 1/2-furlong debut on June 25, which was run in 1:04.60.
EDMONTON, Alberta - Gabe's Prospect, winner of the Penny Ridge last month at Stampede Park, takes a three-race winning into the $100,000 Northlands Oaks for 3-year-old fillies here Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile Northlands Oaks also carries a $20,000 bonus for Alberta-breds finishing first, second, or third.
A Maryland-bred owned by Bar None Ranches, Gabe's Prospect also has a maiden victory and an optional claimer in her winning string. Gabe's Prospect is trained by Kelly Grieves and again will be ridden by Quincy Welch.
Owner Jerry Jamgotchian is taking a different route as he bids to win his second straight $40,000-added Fairfield Stakes on Saturday at the Solano County Fair.
Jamgotchian won last year's edition of the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies with Luck and Fame, whom he had just claimed for $32,000.
