Three jockeys were fortunate to escape serious injury despite their involvement in an ugly-looking spill Friday at Aqueduct.
Apprentice jockey Channing Hill was being examined for a possible concussion, fellow apprentice Pablo Morales suffered facial lacerations, and journeyman rider Chuck Lopez was just body-sore after the three were unseated from their mounts at the quarter pole of Friday's third race.
STICKNEY, Ill. - Church's Out was on the way out. In nine races between the spring of 2004 and this autumn, Church's Out made nine starts, and in none of them did she finish better than sixth. Once a promising Illinois-bred racehorse, Church's Out was sending out signals that she no longer wanted to be a racehorse at all.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer John Charalambous is the first to admit that Soul Rebel is ambitiously spotted in Sunday's Sir Barton Stakes here at Woodbine.
Soul Rebel, a 3-year-old gelding, will be making just his second career start in the $125,000 Sir Barton, a 1 1/16-mile Ontario-sired stakes for 3-year-olds and upward.
"It's a pretty tough task, to ask a horse to run against older stakes winners," said Charalambous. "To be honest, I wish he had one more race. Then I'd have no problem with it."
MIAMI - Trainer Marty Wolfson lost the best mare in his barn when Pampered Princess was retired to stud following Thursday's second-place finish behind Indian Vale in the Grade 2 Falls City Handicap at Churchill Downs. But he may have another one to replace her next season the way Menifeeque performed winning the $40,000 Mia's Hope Stakes here Friday.
Jungle Prince drops from Grade 3 company for the $75,000 Zia Park Express at the Hobbs, N.M., track on Sunday.
invades from Southern California, where in his last start he was third by a head in the Grade 3 Morvich Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 29. The Zia Park Express is also at 6 1/2 furlongs, but on dirt.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - One need look no further than the Churchill Downs fall meet for proof that all good things must end. Easily the finest racing in North America during the last four weeks has taken place right here, and the exclamation point on that declaration will come Saturday with a terrific closing-day card centered on the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - As much talent as Bluegrass Cat has shown in a pair of victories around one turn, trainer Todd Pletcher believes the 2-year-old colt could be even better when he runs around two turns.
will get that opportunity Saturday, heading an eight-horse field entered in the Grade 2, $200,000 Remsen at Aqueduct. The Remsen is run at 1 1/8 miles around two turns on the main track.
