BOSSIER CITY, La. - Friday's optional-claiming feature at Louisiana Downs has a stakes flavor as half of the field of eight ran in a stakes in their previous start.
First, there is Midnight Judge, who won the Pierre LeBlanc Memorial Stakes at Evangeline Downs on July 30. Trained by Joey Tamburello, she has been busy in 2005, winning 4 of her 10 starts. She was last seen here in the Hallowed Dreams on July 17, running fifth. Gerard Melancon, up for the LeBlanc, once again will ride her.
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan - When nominations closed for Friday's $6,000 Graceful Klinchit Handicap at Marquis Downs, race manager Rick Fior had to be surprised and delighted with the eight fillies and mares on the list for the 1 1/16-mile affair.
Four locals were nominated, plus a pair from Northlands and one apiece from Hastings and Assiniboia Downs. When the field was drawn on Tuesday morning, both mares from Alberta had opted out, leaving a competitive field of six headlined by Tamorons Blade from Manitoba.
It's two down and one to go for Voodoo Gold after his convincing 10-length romp in last Saturday's John Franks Memorial Sales Stakes at Evangeline Downs. Along with his victory in the D. S. "Shine" Young Futurity last month, Voodoo Gold is in position to be the first 2-year-old in recent history to capture the Evangeline triple crown for Juveniles if he can also win the Lafayette Stakes on Labor Day, Sept. 5.
Its His Time bided his time before making his winning move in Tuesday's 34th running of the $50,000 Dowling Stakes at Great Lakes Downs. Under Freddie Mata, Its His Time, a Gilded Time gelding, scored by 3 1/4 lengths over Meadow Vespers and favored Demagoguery, running the mile in 1:44.52.
Naevus, the prominent Texas stallion who was euthanized because of laminitis complications earlier this month at the age of 25, is represented by nine yearlings in the Fasig-Tipton Texas sale at Lone Star Park on Monday and Tuesday.
In all, 545 yearlings have been consigned to the auction, which will begin each morning at 10 a.m. Central.
Remington Park will open up its 50-cent minimum pick-six wager to simulcast outlets on Friday night. The bet had been restricted to ontrack patrons since the meet began on Aug. 5.
The wager encompasses the final six races of each card, and there are no consolation payoffs. If there is no perfect 6-for-6 ticket, the pool will be carried over to the next race day at Remington.
The "Remington 6" is the only 50-cent minimum pick-six wager in the country, according to officials with Remington.
Perfect Drift, the 6-year-old who ran second in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic last Sunday, is just a baby in the Stonecrest Farm stable of William Reed. The owner also races the Retama Park-based Proven Cure, who has registered two of his three career stakes wins this year - at the age of 11.
Proven Cure picked up his fifth straight win on Aug. 6 in the $40,000 Brother Brown at Remington Park. Also during his streak, which began in February, Proven Cure captured the $50,000 Sam Houston Turf Sprint Cup.
With just over a week to go before River Downs runs its leading 2-year-old stakes, the $200,000 Cradle and the $100,000 Bassinet, the makeup of each race remains very fluid.
The Cradle, to be run at 1 1/16 miles on Labor Day, has at least five possible starters, according to the track's stakes coordinator, Randy Wehrman. The top three finishers from the Aug. 13 Cradle Prep are all expected to return for the Cradle: Dawn of War, Acts Like a King, and Warrior Within.
Lillians Choice heads a field of 10 2-year-old Ohio-bred fillies in Friday's $40,000 Miss Ohio Stakes at six furlongs.
Trained by Bret Calhoun for owners Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch, Lillians Choice is undefeated in two lifetime starts and returns off a 2 1/2-length hand-ridden victory in the $40,000 Tah Dah stakes at River Downs on July 31. She won a maiden race at Lone Star on July 4 after battling for the lead for three furlongs, giving up some ground, and then coming on again late to prove best by a half-length. Cliff Berry will be in to ride at high weight of 119 pounds.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Bruces Quest will run on Lasix for the first time in Friday's featured eighth race, a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds at six furlongs.
A son of Coronado's Quest, Bruces Quest defeated a weak maiden special weight group at first asking July 8. He followed that race with a 24-point Beyer Speed Figure improvement when finishing third at this level July 24.
Trainer Chad Torevell has named Carlos Marquez to ride Bruces Quest for the first time. Tim Gardiner, who was aboard in Bruces Quest's first two starts, rides Illalwaysbethere.