INGLEWOOD, Calif. - County was razor-sharp heading into the summer meet at Del Mar, but the 3-year-old's options were limited - either run on turf, or run against older.
Trainer Neil Drysdale chose to keep , a Menifee gelding bred for dirt, in his own division, and entered him in the one-mile Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds on turf opening day of the meet. County pressed a fast pace, backed up, and finished seventh.
BOSSIER CITY, La. - Friday is supposed to be delegated to leftovers, but don't tell that to the cast of the day's featured ninth race at Fair Grounds at Louisiana Downs. While not quite as glamorous as the group in Thursday's Thanksgiving Day Handicap, Friday's field of 11 packs some solid stakes credentials.
MIAMI - The conditions of the $40,000 Mia's Hope Stakes, carded for fillies and mares who have not won a stakes race of $15,000 twice at a mile or over since Sept. 15, have eliminated most of the leading members of the division from Friday's main event. The race will also give hard-knocking fillies like Appealing Pond and Wicklow Vamp an opportunity to earn another good payday before the influx of tougher Northern invaders over the next several months.
ALBANY, Calif. - Jerry Hollendorfer didn't become the winningest trainer in northern California history simply by sending out talented, fit horses. In addition to his horsemanship, Hollendorfer knows the importance of spotting horses properly. Just as important, he's a master tactician, and it's that quality that he must rely on Friday when he sends out Ace Blue and Trickey Trevor to meet six rivals in the $100,000 Forty Niner Handicap at Golden Gate Fields.
Six of the eight runners, including both Hollendorfer entrants, either want the lead or to be laying right off the pace.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Seeking Shelter, a solid second behind the multiple stakes winner Edenwold in the seven-furlong Muskoka here Sept. 4, appears to have found a favorable spot in an entry-level allowance Friday at Woodbine.
The 6 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-olds offers a purse of $62,800 and attracted a field of six, four of whom also were nominated to Saturday's 1 1/16-mile Display.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Though she won't be racing this week, Society Selection may run again next year, her owner, Irv Cowan, said Wednesday.
Society Selection, who finished second to Pleasant Home in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, was nominated to Friday's Top Flight Handicap and Saturday's Cigar Mile, but will not run in either race. However, pending a veterinarian's examination, Cowan is strongly considering bringing the multiple Grade 1-winning mare back for a 5-year-old campaign.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Owner-trainer Dave Cotey has been enjoying a productive fall campaign here at Woodbine, but he hasn't won a stakes since early September.
Cotey will be looking to rectify that situation this weekend when he sends out Ports N Porsches in Saturday's Display and Moonshine Justice in Sunday's Sir Barton.
Ports N Porsches, a Florida-bred gelding, will be making his stakes debut in the $139,750 Display, a 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds.
Vals Fortune, who has thoroughly dominated Louisiana-bred competition, will make his long-awaited debut against open Grade 1 company in the $100,000 Refrigerator Handicap on Friday night at Lone Star Park.
The winner of the Refrigerator Handicap will receive the final invitation to the Grade 1, $500,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos on Dec. 10.
Premier Dance, a 2-year-old who has won four stakes in his last four starts, will make his first start around two turns on Friday in the $75,000 Eddy County at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M.
The one-mile Eddy County drew a field of seven horses, including Value Fund and Storm Treasure, separate betting interests who each won maiden races in Kentucky last out for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Trainer Troy Bainum apparently made himself a nice claim, and a timely one. On Nov. 11 he claimed Raging Wind out of a dirt sprint. He brought him back in last Saturday's $40,000 Paradise Valley Handicap, at 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf, right into the teeth of huge 2-5 favorite, Chinese Dragon, who was shipping in from Southern California riding a four-race win streak since coming to the U.S. from Ireland.
