ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The $283,500 Summer, a one-mile grass stakes for 2-year-olds on Sunday at Woodbine, is an intriguing handicapping puzzle. There are six shippers in the nine-horse field, the best of whom might be English invader Santiago Star.
Santiago Star is trained by Andrew Balding, who captured two Woodbine turf stakes earlier this summer, the Grade 2 Play the King with Atto Mile contestant Vanderlin, and the Wonder Where with Silver Highlight.
AUBURN, Wash. - Itstufftobegood has just about run out of competition in the Harley H. Hoppe and Associates Marathon Series, so it may be just as well that the popular series will conclude with Sunday's 1 3/4-mile finale at Emerald Downs.
Only three intrepid rivals will challenge Itstufftobegood, who will be shooting for his sixth straight win, all under regular rider Kevin Krigger, at a steadying 128 pounds.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Trainer Steve Henson is winning races at the meet at a very good 31 percent. Henson also tends to move a horse up when he takes over their training.
A case in point is He's So Regal. When He's So Regal was purchased privately and moved to Henson's barn in early summer, he improved dramatically and he came very close to winning a stakes.
Apprehension about the future of the state's tracks, added to the lure of richer pots in neighboring states, have many Maryland breeders considering options other than staying home. But if there is one silver lining for the future of Maryland's breeding industry, it is the strength of the state's stallion base.
EDMONTON, Alberta - Nessarose looks like she has found a soft spot in Sunday's featured optional $32,000 claimer, which has attracted a field of six 3-year-old fillies.
Trained by Greg Tracy and owned by Donver Stable, Nessarose will be in action for the first time since winning the Northlands Oaks in mid-July at Sunday's one-mile distance. Stephan Heiler has the return mount.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Those wanting to get an early line on the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies should pay close attention to Saturday's Grade 1 Matron Stakes at Belmont Park.
Among the seven juvenile fillies entered in the $300,000 Matron are two winners of early-season stakes in New York; the third- and fourth-place finishers from the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante in California; and two of the more impressive babies seen during the Saratoga meet.
ELMONT, N.Y. - He was dominant in the spring and disappointing in the summer. As fall arrives, handicappers wonder what to make of Master of Disaster, who returns to action in Saturday's $300,000 at Belmont Park.
Master of Disaster, a son of Dance Master trained by Steve Klesaris, caught people's attention with a 13 1/4-length maiden victory at Delaware Park in which he equaled the track record for 4 1/2 furlongs (51.86 seconds) while earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 97.
ELMONT, N.Y. - After a disappointing start to the year, Smokey Glacken returned to form last month with an allowance win at Saratoga. With that confidence-builder under her, Smokey Glacken returns to stakes company Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Floral Park Handicap at Belmont Park.
FLORENCE, Ky. - The Kentucky Cup has seen more than its share of superstar horses prevailing in short fields, so Turfway Park president Bob Elliston doesn't exactly know what to make of the way the five-race series shapes up for its 12th running Saturday.
"As a racetrack operator, you love to have the big names," said Elliston. "But when they're in a six-horse field, is that what the public really wants? At the end of the day, you might be better off with big, competitive fields."
