More than a dozen of the 43 stakes on Laurel Park's fall schedule received purse increases and two new events for 2-year-old Maryland-breds have been added on the schedule released Thursday by the Maryland Jockey Club.
The biggest boosts - $50,000 apiece - went to the Grade 3 Safely Kept, the John Schapiro Breeders' Cup, and the Martha Washington BC. Each will now be worth $200,000.
There is no shortage of stakes winners to choose from Saturday in the inaugural running of the $50,000 Seven Stars, a 1 1/16-mile race for Louisiana-bred fillies and mares at Louisiana Downs. One of the most interesting entrants in the field, though, is a recent claim, Nicks Night.
Sur Sandpit, a former claimer turned stakes winner, heads a field of nine older Iowa-breds in Saturday's $70,000 Cyclones Handicap at Prairie Meadows.
Sur Sandpit was claimed for $15,000 here in May 2005 by the American Thoroughbred Stable and trainer Suzie Evans. A 6-year-old gelded son of Sandpit, he has won 5 of his 9 starts since the claim, including last August's $81,000 Ralph Hayes Stakes at Prairie Meadows, and has earned more than $133,000 for his current connections.
Too Much Bling may be the most recognizable Ohio-bred sprinter in the country, but Catlaunch, who has stayed closer to home throughout his 37-race career, is pretty good, too. Catlaunch has earned Beyer Speed Figures ranging from 89 to 98 in winning all four of his starts this year, including two sprint stakes. Still, he will be severely tested to continue that streak in the $50,000 Sydney Gendelman Memorial at River Downs.
Deb's Favoite Gift will be the favorite in the $50,000 Larkspur Handicap at Great Lakes Downs. A six-furlong event for Michigan-bred fillies and mares, the Larkspur is the sixth of eight races on the evening card.
Deb's Favoite Gift will carry top weight of 119 pounds in the Larkspur, a race in which she was third last year. She is part of a three-horse entry trained by Gerald Bennett. Bucky's Prayer, one member of the entry, has already been entered back in a Monday overnight race. The other Bennett horse, Gold Ginny, is expected to start in the Larkspur.
Father Art ships over from Indiana Downs to head a field of nine 3-year-olds in the $35,000 Black Gold Handicap at Thistledown.
Father Art, an Indiana-bred son of Dance Brightly, lost for the first time in his five-race career in his last start at Indiana Downs, when he finished third in the statebred Governors Handicap going 7 1/2 furlongs on the grass. In his previous start, Father Art won a mile and 70-yard statebred allowance there by 13 lengths.
Up 'n Blumin returns from her track-record performance in the Bluegrass Handicap to defend her title in the $20,000-added Matchmaker Handicap for Nebraska-bred fillies and mares at Lincoln.
A 5-year-old mare by Blumin Affair, Up 'n Blumin already has a trio of stakes wins to her credit this year from four starts, and she should be strongly favored to triumph again over her six rivals in the one-mile Matchmaker. R.D. Williams has the ride for trainer Kelly Von Hemel, who sends her over from his Prairie Meadows base.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Essential Edge couldn't get ready in time for last Sunday's Woodbine Oaks, but judging by her performance here in Wednesday night's first race, Essential Edge should be set to take on the best in her division in the $250,000 Bison City at Fort Erie on July 2.
The Bison City, run at 1 1/16 miles, follows the Woodbine Oaks as the second leg of the Canadian filly triple crown series. The final leg, the $250,000 Wonder Where, will be run over 1 1/4 miles on turf here July 29.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Mississippi-born Melissa Polkey was 18 when she started riding as an apprentice in 1989. It took her four years to lose her weight allowance.
Until last year at the Fort, when she scored 28 times, Polkey had never completed a full season anywhere. Along the way she had ridden in Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia.