ARCADIA, Calif. - Golden Silk will be neither outclassed nor out of shape when she drops into the $65,000 Hidden Light Stakes on Wednesday at Santa Anita. Nine 2-year-old fillies entered the mile turf race. This time, Golden Silk enters without an alibi.
It was not the case one month ago.
was turned out for two weeks after finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Aug. 27. But when it was time to return, there was nothing in the condition book for a maiden winner.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The number of questions surrounding California Cup XVI on Sunday at Santa Anita nearly matches the size of the purses.
A sum of $1.3 million is up for grabs when the Oak Tree Racing Association conducts its annual extravaganza for California-breds, and the complexion of the races will be in flux right up until entry time.
The question for horsemen is, which of the eight stakes to enter? Do you run on turf, or dirt? Run long, or run short? For some, it is a choice between the lesser of evils.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority on Monday approved an agreement between Churchill Downs and its horsemen calling for a 36-day meet at Churchill's Ellis Park in 2006.
Churchill had earlier proposed that Ellis's live race meet be pared to 29 days in 2006, down from 41 in 2005, because of dwindling field sizes and handle. Horsemen had rejected that plan, sending the two to the negotiating table as the authority's deadline of Oct. 31 to approve dates for 2006 approached.
Gary Stevens recorded his 5,000th career victory on Sunday, when he guided Joint Aspiration to a two-length victory in the $69,950 at Belmont Park.
Stevens's total includes 117 winners in Europe, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, and Hong Kong that are not officially recognized by Daily Racing Form or Equibase. DRF and Equibase count only North American wins and wins in the World Championship Series, which includes such races as the Dubai World Cup.
It will be business as usual at Calder beginning Thursday, when the track resumes its regular live racing schedule with a nine-race program starting at 12:25 p.m. Eastern.
Calder was devastated by Hurricane Wilma on Oct. 24, suffering extensive damage to the grounds while also losing electrical power for nearly five days. The track was able to re-open for simulcast wagering on last Saturday's Breeders' Cup card before resuming live racing with two abbreviated five-race, turf-only programs on Sunday and Monday.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Gumboots thrust herself into the Sovereign Award picture for Canadian champion 2-year-old filly honors with a decisive victory in Saturday's $167,250 Fanfreluche Stakes.
Gumboots put away two rivals on the front end, including heavily favored Devil's Pride, before drawing off for a 7 1/4-length victory in the six-furlong Fanfreluche. Her time of 1:10.09 translated into a solid 87 Beyer Speed Figure.
ALBANY, Calif. - Kevin Krigger, who made a strong impression as a young apprentice here in 2001 when he finished third in the jockey standings despite a string of suspensions, has returned to Golden Gate Fields.
Krigger just won the Emerald Downs riding championship for 2005 with 126 victories and earnings of $1,384,346, the highest total in the track's 10-year history.
MUSKEGON, Mich. - With an overflow of 14 entries, Great Lakes Downs was forced into a rare split of Wednesday's stakes race, the 49th running of the Michigan Futurity for statebred colts and geldings. The divisions of the seven-furlong futurity will be offered as the first two races on the card, which begins at 5 p.m.
Todd Pletcher entered eight horses in six Breeders' Cup races, but his only winner on the card came when Magna Graduate captured the Grade 3, $87,250 .
Pletcher took over Magna Graduate's training early this summer, and now has sent him out to win back-to-back graded stakes. He took the Pegasus Handicap on Sept. 30 at The Meadowlands, and was quite impressive winning the Discovery by three-quarters of a length over favored Scrappy T.
"He's really getting good right now," Pletcher said. "We're delighted with his last two races."
