OCEANPORT, N.J. - Trainer Scott Volk considers himself fortunate that he didn't have any horses entered during the Thursday and Friday shutdown at Monmouth Park.
"What happened was a shame," said Volk. "I was lucky."
Volk hopes that his luck holds through Sunday and the $60,000 Lamplighter Stakes for 3-year-olds at one mile on the turf. He sends out Extra Bend, a very productive claim who bids for a second straight stakes victory.
Even though Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands lost their Friday cards to the state government budget crisis, the tracks remained hopeful that racing would resume on Saturday, as both have major events scheduled.
Monmouth was to run the Grade 1, $750,000 , while the Meadowlands planned the eliminations for the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on July 15.
Woodbine's parimutuel workers, who have been on strike since June 21, were scheduled to be back on the job as of noon Saturday after an undisclosed majority voted in favor of a new contract Thursday night.
Woodbine and representatives of the Canadian Racetrack Workers Union, which is aligned with Teamsters Local 419, resumed negotiations on Wednesday night.
"We're delighted to have a settlement," said Nick Eaves, senior vice president of Woodbine.
CHICAGO - Rene Douglas, leading rider at Arlington Park for four straight seasons from 2001 to 2004, will ride the rest of the season here beginning on July 14, Douglas said Friday.
"I'm on my way over there right now," said Douglas, en route from Kentucky to Chicago.
MIAMI - Trainer Eddie Kenneally had six weeks to find another 1 1/4 lengths for Kelly's Landing. That's how far Lost in the Fog beat Kelly's Landing when the pair met for the first time in the Grade 3 Aristides Handicap on June 3 at Churchhill Downs. The two speedsters will match strides again next Saturday in Calder's $500,000 Smile Sprint Handicap.
Not that the Smile is a two-horse race by any means. But Kenneally and just about everybody else consider reigning Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Lost in the Fog the horse to beat in the Grade 2 race.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Trainer Bubba Cascio made an equipment change with five-time stakes winner Gold Storm for his comeback race last month, and the horse turned in a powerhouse effort. Now, more than a month after the fact, the Lone Star Park-based sprinter remains on target for the Grade 2, $500,000 Smile Sprint Handicap during the Summit of Speed at Calder Race Course on July 15.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Seductively, one of the leading 3-year-old fillies at Woodbine, will try the turf for the first time Sunday in the $150,000 Ontario Damsel Stakes.
Seductively ran second in an allowance when she came off the sidelines this year, but she didn't get much out of her second start of the year in the Fury Stakes after her saddle slipped at the start.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Fortynine Express, Mountain Magician, and Sin Toro each got off to a slow start in his debut going 3 1/2 furlongs. They should appreciate stretching out to 6 1/2 furlongs in what appears to be a wide-open $50,000 Ladnesian Stakes at Hastings Sunday.
EDMONTON, Alberta - Torch of Freedom will shoot for his second victory of the year when he drops into a field of nine $17,500 claimers going a mile here at Northlands Park on Sunday.
A Florida-bred 4-year-old trained by Rod Haynes, Torch of Freedom defeated $15,000 opponents April 26, wiring that group by three lengths sprinting six furlongs. Since then he has finished second, sixth, and fifth at the $22,000 plateau.
Torch of Freedom will be ridden by Stephan Heiler.
