DEL MAR, Calif. - Dover Dere's stakes drought stretches back to Dec. 18, a span of eight races at four tracks in three states. Along the way, he has earned $205,357, but has only two seconds and four thirds to show for his efforts.
The losing streak can end in Saturday's $100,000 El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar. The competition in the El Cajon is weaker than it was in Dover Dere's recent races, so the colt is expected to deliver a big performance.
DEL MAR, Calif. - It is possible that half of the starters in Wednesday's Grade 2, $250,000 Del Mar Futurity will be maidens.
As of Thursday, there were eight probable starters in the Futurity - for 2-year-olds over seven furlongs - and four are looking for their first victory. None of the probable starters is a stakes winner.
The field is led by Bashert, who has placed in two stakes this summer, and the maiden race winners A.P. Warrior, One Union, and Stevie Wonderboy. The maidens are Dinner Magic, El Senor Halo, Jealous Profit, and Plug Me In.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Trainer Grant Forster has been training horses for only three years, but with three straight wins in the Washington Breeders' Cup Oaks, he already is one up on his father, Dave Forster.
Grant has a long way to go to match his father's record with females at Hastings, though.
The elder Forster is in the local Hall of Fame, and his work with fillies and mares has a lot to do with him being a member. Grant Forster will try to emulate his dad when he saddles A Classic Life in the Grade 3 $150,000 B.C. Breeders' Cup Oaks on Sunday.
Judy Soda took the lead halfway down the stretch and held off So Sweet a Cat to win the second running of the for New York-bred fillies and mares at Saratoga Thursday.
Ridden by Edgar Prado, the favored Judy Soda ($4.50) covered nine furlongs on a fast track in 1:52.02. The win was Prado's third on the day and 41st of the meet, extending his lead over John Velazquez in the jockey standings to six victories.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - The trip may have made the difference when Penny Ante defeated 2-5 shot Pickle in their last meeting.
The trip could matter again Saturday after Pickle drew the rail and Penny Ante the outside post 9 in the $60,000 Hillsborough Handicap at one mile on turf at Bay Meadows.
arguably had the more difficult journey in the 1 1/16-mile Luther Burbank on July 30, the first stakes race on the new Santa Rosa turf course.
Last fall, Mr O'Brien and Greek Sun were two of the better male turf horses in the country. Since then, however, both have spent far more time resting and recuperating than racing.
, who has run only once since the Breeders' Cup Mile, and Greek Sun, sidelined since winning the Grade 2 Oak Tree Derby 10 1/2 months ago, will try to get their careers back on track in Saturday's Caesar Rodney Handicap at Delaware Park. The $200,000 race will be contested at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.
Because Steve Asmussen has stables of horses at five different racetracks, the trainer expends a considerable amount of time and thought on who belongs where.
Considering the dozens and dozens of 2-year-olds that Asmussen oversees, the reasoning behind those placements comes after a high degree of experimentation and observation, and a lesser degree of guesswork. The obvious goal is to place a horse where she can maximize her abilities and earnings potential without overmatching, or being overmatched by, the opposition.
The typical conviviality at River Downs in Cincinnati over the Labor Day weekend will be even greater this year than usual. On Sunday, the entire day will be dedicated to Gary Birzer, the former jockey who suffered severe neck and spinal cord injuries on July 20, 2004, during a race at Mountaineer Race Track in West Virginia.
The focus will be on major fund-raising efforts to help offset the expenses that Birzer, 28, and his family have incurred during his lengthy recuperation period.
ANDERSON, Ind. - The outlook for Hoosier Park's 11th season of Thoroughbred racing appears bright as the track begins a 60-day meet Saturday evening with full fields in all 10 Thoroughbred races and four Quarter Horse trials.
The meet is anchored by the Grade 2, $500,000 Indiana Derby on Oct. 1 and the Grade 3, $400,000 Indiana Oaks on Sept. 30. Recent winners of the Indiana Derby - which is in its second year as a Grade 2 race - include Brass Hat, Orientate, and Perfect Drift.
Gary Capuano is noted for running a high-percentage stable in Maryland, but rarely bothers to run his horses at the short meet on Timonium's bullring. When he does, watch out.
Over the past five years, Capuano is 9 for 20 at Timonium. In sprint races, he is an even more impressive 7 for 11 with a sterling $6.44 return on investment. Those statistics include victories in the last three runnings of the Alma North Stakes.
