ARCADIA, Calif. - Already in the midst of a four-race winning streak over a span of nine months, Rock Hard Ten remains on course for the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Belmont Park on Oct. 29 after a flashy six-furlong workout on Wednesday at Santa Anita.
Rock Hard Ten worked in 1:12.80, leaving trainer Richard Mandella enthused about the 4-year-old's chances in the richest race in the United States later this month.
"Everything is going great so far," trainer Richard Mandella said.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The board of directors at the Keeneland Association took a major step Wednesday toward having the weather-resistant racing surface Polytrack installed on its main track, voting to proceed with the design and engineering stages of what eventually would be a multimillion-dollar project.
The Maryland Million, rescheduled for Saturday at Laurel Park, drew 109 entrants for 12 races when it was redrawn on Wednesday, just three fewer than for the original card.
The Million card was initially scheduled for last Saturday, but it was canceled that morning when 7 1/2 inches of rain fell at Laurel Park. At the time, 112 horses had been entered for the 12 races, which carry total purses of $1.5 million and are restricted to the offspring of Maryland sires.
The stable areas at Gulfstream Park and the Palm Meadows training center remain slated to open as scheduled next month. Palm Meadows, located 45 minutes north of Gulfstream in Boynton Beach, will begin accepting horses on Nov. 1, while the Gulfstream barn area will open its doors on Nov. 14.
Gulfstream is undergoing a major renovation project that began last year with the construction of a new main track and turf course as well as several state-of-the-art barns. The efforts will culminate with the unveiling of a new grandstand, scheduled for completion by opening day, Jan. 4.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Surely nothing worse can happen to the Perryville Stakes that hasn't already happened.
For months, the Perryville had been targeted as the long-awaited comeback spot for Declan's Moon, the unbeaten 2-year-old champion of 2004. But he did not progress as hoped when returning from knee surgery and was recently taken out of training again.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Bound for a stakes next month, Tempting Date will try the hillside turf course at Santa Anita for the first time on Friday in a $42,000 allowance race for fillies and mares.
If she runs well, trainer Jeff Mullins and owners Adam and Paul Lewis are hoping to start Tempting Date in the $150,000 California Cup Distaff for statebreds over the same about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course on Nov. 6.
"We thought we'd try it and see how she does," Mullins said.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The water-logged Meadowlands Racetrack hopes to resume racing Friday night with the $55,000 Queen Lib Handicap the featured event.
The track has not run a complete card since last Friday. Persistent rains hit the New York metropolitan area over the weekend and continued into Wednesday, creating uneven patches in the racing surface. The track ran only one race Saturday night and three Tuesday afternoon before canceling the Wednesday and Thursday night cards.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Stakes winners Touchnow, Roving Angel, and Higher World are all possibilities in Friday's Woodbine feature, an allowance for fillies and mares that has an $80,000 claiming option.
Touchnow competed in all three legs of the 2004 Canadian triple tiara, winning the Bison City Stakes at Fort Erie, running second in the Woodbine Oaks, and finishing seventh on the grass in the Wonder Where Stakes.
AUBURN, Wash. - With She's All Silk attacking from the front and Musical Wine coming from behind, trainer Pat Mullens figures to be live regardless of pace considerations in Friday's allowance feature at Emerald Downs. The six-furlong race has drawn a field of six 2-year-old fillies.
