Despite his gaudy 8-for-10 lifetime record, Forest Park has yet to face the East Coast's top sprinters. Assuming he runs well in Saturday's $100,000 Vincent A. Moscarelli Memorial at Delaware Park, Forest Park will dive into much deeper waters.
Trainer Mike Pino, who admits he has pampered so far by picking his spots, has Nov. 19 circled on his calendar. That's the date of the Grade 1 Frank De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park.
The Meadowlands Racetrack will try to salvage one full program this week with a Saturday night card that features the $55,000 Miss Liberty Stakes.
The Meadowlands ran only three races Tuesday afternoon and lost the Wednesday through Friday night cards because of persistent rainfall in the New York metropolitan area.
The race office advised horsemen at the time of entry Thursday morning that the Miss Liberty Stakes, a mile and 70-yard race for 3-year-old fillies, was shifting to the main track.
MUSKEGON, Mich. - The Michigan Sire Stakes will be run for the 21st time on Saturday evening at Great Lakes Downs. The Sire Stakes are the highlight of the state's racing calendar and offer more than $750,000 in purse money.
The six divisions of the series, which is for the progeny of Michigan stallions, begins with the fourth race on the 10-race card, which starts at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
New Mexico's handicap division just got deeper. Perfect Moon has been imported to the state from Southern California after being claimed out of his last start, and on Saturday he will take on Mr. Trieste, who has won his last five races, in the $60,000 Kachina Handicap at Zia Park in Hobbs.
The one-mile race drew a field of 10.
Perfect Moon last raced at Del Mar on Sept. 2, finishing fourth in a six-furlong race that went in a quick 1:09.40. He was claimed for $50,000 out of the race by Henderson Stables and is now in training at Zia with Chris Hartman.
One race may provide affirmation. The other, clarification. Turf Paradise's two divisions of the $35,000 Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders Association Fall Sales Stakes over six furlongs brought out large fields of 2-year-olds who had been consigned to the breeders association's 2004 fall sales. The filly division (race 7), brings out 11, headed by Queen Razyana, smashing winner of an allowance race here Oct. 1, while the colt-and-gelding division (race 8) features a full field of 12 still sorting themselves out.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has been looking forward to Saturday for some time.
It's the day that his talented 2-year-old Cause to Believe, a $30,000 bargain purchase at an Ocala, Fla., sale in March, tries two turns for the first time, when he takes on six rivals in the $65,000-added Bay Meadows Juvenile at a mile.
As Hollendorfer said, "We've waited to stretch him out."
Charming Socialite made his mark sprinting on dirt, but his turf route form is imposing these days. Saturday night, he looks like the one to catch and beat in the $40,000 No Le Hace, which will close out the meet at Retama Park.
The No Le Hace will be run over 7 1/2 furlongs on turf, and the conditions suit Charming Socialite. In one of his two starts at the distance, he won an overnight stakes at Lone Star Park in June, defeating stakes winners Agrivating General and Goosey Moose.
Jazzy Okie will be making her first start at Remington Park in the $40,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial for 2-year-old fillies, but she is working like she owns the Oklahoma City track. In the last two weeks, Jazzy Okie has worked consecutive bullets, both four-furlong moves in 46.80 seconds at Remington.
Manovan, who won his debut by 6 1/2 lengths last month, is the one to beat in the $10,000 colts and geldings division of the KTA Futurity at The Woodlands in Kansas City, Kan. The 5 1/2-furlong race is restricted to the offspring of eligible stallions.
Manovan won his maiden against Kansas-breds at The Woodlands on Sept. 27, when he raced close to the pace throughout. Trainer Joe Thomas has given the mount to Armando Martinez.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Frank Passero has three for the money here in Saturday's $125,000 Bull Page Stakes.
The Bull Page, a six-furlong race for Ontario-sired 2-year-old colts and geldings, attracted a field of 10, including the Passero-trained trio of Believer's War, Trail Fox, and Foxy Money. They will race as separate betting interests.
All three are homebred geldings owned by the Colebrook Farm of John Brnjas, for whom Passero is private trainer.