ELMONT, N.Y. - The unbeaten Shakespeare faces his biggest challenge Sunday in the Grade 2, $200,000 Belmont Breeders' Cup Handicap.
Win or lose, the comeback by the 4-year-old Shakespeare has been a gratifying experience for trainer Bill Mott.
suffered a knee injury last year that threatened to cut short his career after only two races.
"He was one of those we thought would be retired, but he's made it back," Mott said. "He's been a pleasant surprise."
ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Bobby Frankel toyed with the idea of simply training Leroidesanimaux up to the Breeders' Cup Mile. But as often is the case with Frankel, he has changed his mind.
Leroidesanimaux, a winner of seven consecutive races, will make his next start in the $1 million Atto Mile next Sunday at Woodbine. Leroides-animaux comes off a victory in the Four-stardave Handicap at Saratoga in which he set an inner turf course record by running 1 1/16 miles in 1:39.92.
All Neil Howard asks Sunday is a fair shot for Private Gift in the $60,000 Without Feathers Stakes at Monmouth Park, which is more than she got in the Pennsylvania Oaks on Sept. 5 at Philadelphia Park.
A feeling of dread filled Howard when the field broke from the gate in the Pennsylvania Oaks without Private Gift.
"My first reaction was the gut reaction of any trainer," Howard said. "I thought the filly got hurt, that something bad had happened."
POMONA, Calif. - Guidebook was made for the Los Angeles County Fair, and trainer Steve Knapp was one of six with the foresight to put in a claim for the front-running mare when she entered a $40,000 claiming race Aug. 21 at Del Mar.
"It looked like she was pretty sharp, and we decided if we got her, [Fairplex Park] is where we were headed," Knapp explained.
Knapp and co-owner Howard Roberts Farm won the shake, Guidebook won the race, and Sunday she will try to win her third straight by racing gate to wire in the $60,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes.
CHICAGO - For much of the just-ended Saratoga meet, the turf course was especially firm, and at times helpful to front-runners. It was fairly common knowledge that, especially in one-mile turf races, speed and an inside post could lead to victory, even if you didn't have the best horse. But these trends can go too far. When everyone goes to the front, the perceived bias goes out the window, and the closers come running.
An eventful first week of the Turfway Park fall meet will go into the books after a 10-race Sunday card is completed. With 81 horses entered for Sunday, it is becoming increasingly clear that Louisville-based trainers who staged an unofficial boycott are willing to run their horses, although some stables still are holding out.
AUBURN, Wash. - Tusko T., the likely favorite for Sunday's $50,000 WTBA Lads Stakes for 2-year-olds at Emerald Downs, is a nervous type, and that has been a concern for trainer Howard Belvoir.
Belvoir fretted when Tusko T., a talented son of You and I, washed out badly before each of his starts, both impressive wins, and he has had to take pains to replace the weight the gelding has lost in his races. Lately, however, the trainer has been able to turn Tusko T.'s temperament into an asset.
AUBURN, Wash. - Trainer Bud Klokstad, jockey Basil James, breeders Guy and Barbara Roberts, and the exceptional filly Smogy Dew will be inducted into the Washington Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame in ceremonies at Emerald Downs on Oct. 1.
EDMONTON, Alberta - After unsuccessful efforts in the Canadian Derby, Cinderchance and Bear Picasso are facing easier in Sunday's $50,000 Sales Stakes for 3-year-olds at Northlands Park. A field of eight has been entered for the one-mile feature.
Cinderchance earned a derby check by finishing fifth behind Vancouver invader Alabama Rain. Quincy Welch retains the mount after guiding Cinderchance to consecutive victories in a $17,500 maiden claiming race and an allowance prior to the derby.
Portland Meadows will offer 28 stakes worth $363,000 at its 2005-06 meeting, which will run 80 days from Oct. 22 through May 7.
Highlighting the schedule are the $40,000 Os West Oregon Futurity on Oregon-bred Day, Dec. 17, and the $25,000-added Portland Meadows Mile on April 8.
