VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Steady Smiler has earned $257,843 for his owner and trainer Robert Maybin - the hard way. A lot of his earnings have come from picking up minor awards in stakes races. But when he drops into races that do not include the best horses at Hastings, he's one tough customer.
Steady Smiler figures to be favored over four others in Sunday's feature race, a $50,000 optional race at 1 1/16 miles that goes as the ninth race.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Bright N Golden will try to extend his unbeaten streak to three races Sunday at Woodbine in the $132,750 Swynford Stakes. The seven-furlong event has lured just three other 2-year-olds, including Ballado Dancer, who should be the speed of the race.
Trainer Frank Passero Jr. was taking an edge when he ran Bright N Golden for $40,000 first-time out Aug. 18. Bright N Golden won that five-furlong sprint by a half-length over Vicar's Song, who came back to win his maiden easily.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Career Oriented tries to complete a perfect season at Monmouth Park on Sunday in the $60,000 Mongo Queen Stakes, a six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies that goes as the co-feature on closing day of the meet.
The New Jersey Thoroughbred circuit shifts to The Meadowlands Racetrack on Sept. 30.
Returning to the main track after two unsuccessful experiments on turf, Summer Rainbow scored a two-length victory in a high-priced optional claimer at Delaware Park last Sunday.
Given that Summer Rainbow is now 6 for 15 on dirt - including a 4-for-5 record on Delaware's main track - and 0 for 2 on turf, it seems obvious where she will next race.
MIAMI - Nightmare Affair assumed undisputed leadership of the local sprint division this summer by following his third-place finish in the Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap with a pair of stakes victories. Fortunately for the seven horses entered in Sunday's $40,000 Whippleton Stakes, Nightmare Affair is sitting this one out, leaving the six-furlong overnight dash up for grabs.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Noble Stella looks like a class standout in the $109,000 Flaming Page, if she indeed participates in the supporting feature on Sunday's program at Woodbine.
The Flaming Page, a 1 1/2-mile turf race for fillies and mares, is an overnight stakes, and Noble Stella finished a solid fourth here just last Sunday in the Grade 2 Canadian Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the grass.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - There are still no signs that trainer John Wilson, at 85, is slowing down.
Wilson, known to the racing fraternity as Jack, scampered to the winner's circle when Cielavia won the eighth race on Tuesday. It was his 12th visit of the year, getting him to No. 10 in the trainer standings.
A more noteworthy fact is that Cielavia was the fourth winner Wilson had in five starts, beginning on Sept. 11. On that day, Jet Engine was in a dead heat for win in the first race and barnmate Sweet Lil Punky scored in the sixth.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Deputy Country will try to defend his title in Sunday's Gold Breeders' Cup, the closing-day feature at Assiniboia Downs.
The Gold Breeders' Cup, for 3-year-olds and upward at 1 1/8 miles, carries a guaranteed purse of $40,000, with an additional $25,000 from the Breeders' Cup fund available to all entrants except I'm a Gem, Toubeeb, and Lord Shogun.
Louisiana Downs announced Friday that live racing would be canceled Saturday and Sunday with Hurricane Rita moving closer to the coastlines of Louisiana and Texas. Elsewhere in the state, Evangeline Downs on Friday called off its two remaining live cards of the Thoroughbred meet that was to end Saturday.
Delta Downs, another Louisiana track less than an hour from the coast, had previously announced plans to close simulcasting from Friday through Sunday.
CHICAGO - A curious racing fan looking back to, say, mid-May, would find in Daily Racing Form's Watchmaker Watch, a weekly listing of divisional leaders, 10 names in the older-male category. Ghostzapper is retired. Roses in May is retired. Rock Hard Ten hasn't raced in months. Southern Image - retired. Badge of Silver - hasn't raced in months. Funny Cide - done for the year. Second of June - on the shelf. Eddington - retired. And Pollard's Vision is retired.
If the Breeders' Cup Classic turns into a game of Last Horse Standing, we can always turn to Perfect Drift.
