ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Financingavailable returns from a long layoff Wednesday night at Woodbine in the $125,000 Ballade Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired fillies and mares.
The versatile Financingavailable is unbeaten in five starts over Woodbine's main track, and is also stakes-placed on the grass. She won three consecutive races in the fall of 2004, including the seven-furlong Jammed Lovely Stakes.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Northern California's two top sprinters could be headed to a showdown - in Florida.
Eclipse champion Lost in the Fog returned to winning ways, capturing the Grade 3, $131,450 at Churchill Downs on Saturday. The 1 1/4-length victory over Churchill track-record holder Kelly's Landing snapped a two-race losing streak.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The three horses who won stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday all came out of their races in good order, according to their respective trainers.
Lost in the Fog, who earned a 111 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the Aristides Breeders' Cup, was scheduled to return to Golden Gate Fields on Tuesday and begin pointing toward the July 15 Smile Sprint Handicap at Calder, said trainer Greg Gilchrist.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Sunday's $500,000 Woodbine Oaks lost a significant player here Monday when Gumboots, trained by Josie Carroll, was injured while working five furlongs on the main track under jockey David Clark.
"David said she wasn't right pulling up," said Carroll, who had been training Gumboots up to the Oaks after the filly won the seven-furlong Fury here May 7. "She took a couple of bad steps coming off the track. Going around the shed row, she was getting more and more lame.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Pipers Thunder came into Sunday's 1 1/8-mile here at Woodbine with much to prove.
Pipers Thunder did not debut until March, when he finished a well-beaten sixth at one mile at Gulfstream, and then won his maiden here at 1 1/16 miles in his next and only subsequent start here, on May 13.
But now Pipers Thunder has become a colt who will command a serious following on the road to the June 25 Queen's Plate after dispatching seven more seasoned opponents under rider Ray Sabourin.
Mama Nadine set the pace and drew off to a 6 1/2-length victory in the $60,000 Little Silver Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Monmouth Park.
Mama Nadine ($6.20) ran the one mile and 70 yards in 1:40.21 on the fast track with Chris DeCarlo aboard for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Miss Shop, the even-money favorite, rallied for second, with A Bit of Pleasure third.
Up 'n Blumin ($3.80) wore down Missy Can Do through the stretch in the $15,900 Bluegrass Handicap at the Lincoln, Neb., State Fair, then inched away to a length victory in a track record of 1:09.80 for the six furlongs.
Trained by Kelly Von Hemel, Up 'n Blumin won her third stakes of the year as the 4-5 favorite in a field of six older fillies and mares. Her winning time lowered the track mark of 1:10.20, set in 2002 held by Genuine Lass and equaled last year by Grand Kat.
Missy Can Do was second, 2 3/4 lengths in front of Butter Crunch.
In a memorable effort, Katy Smiles prevailed over seven fillies and mares in the $40,000 Hoist Her Flag Stakes at Canterbury Park.
The 1-2 favorite in the six-furlong race, Katy Smiles dueled with Galactic Cat most of the way. In midstretch, Galactic Cat drifted in and bumped Katy Smiles, but Katy Smiles, under Juan Rivera, pulled away to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Galactic Cat held well to finish second by 3 1/4 lengths over third-place Aroarable.
Katy Smiles, trained by David Van Winkle, finished in 1:08.17, missing the track record by .13 of a second.
