Tue, 08/16/2005 - 00:00

It's time for 'Ruidoso Roulette'

Leading Spirit, undefeated and already a three-time Grade 1 futurity winner, seeks to qualify for the $1.9 million All American Futurity when he runs in the 13th of 16 440-yard trials on Thursday at Ruidoso Downs.

If can win the Grade 1 All American and collect the $1 million winner's share of the purse, he would also earn a $4 million bonus for sweeping the Ruidoso, Rainbow, and All American futurities, the triple crown for Quarter Horses. In winning his first seven starts, Leading Spirit has earned $694,616.

Tue, 08/16/2005 - 00:00

River Nore tough to back off latest starts

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Questions abound regarding Thursday's Woodbine feature, a nonwinners-of-three allowance for Ontario-sired fillies and mares.

Will Fury Stakes winner River Nore snap out of her slump? Can On Silent Wings stretch her blazing speed out to 6 1/2 furlongs? Is the race too short for Bold Little Lass? Will Versionofthetruth be able to take her game to the next level?

Tue, 08/16/2005 - 00:00

'Buckshot' goes after six-pack

AUBURN, Wash. - Do's Buckshot will be heavily favored to notch his sixth win from seven starts at the Emerald Downs meeting on Thursday when he heads a field of seven in the 1 1/8-mile feature, which will be run under $3,500 starter handicap conditions.

Tue, 08/16/2005 - 00:00

Kissed by a Prince tries turf for second time in Victoriana

Michael Burns Photo Ltd.
Kissed by a Prince, a cash cow on the dirt, will take a shot at Sunday's $125,000 Victoriana Stakes on the grass.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Kissed by a Prince has forged a lucrative career on the main track, winning 7 of 17 races and $374,578.

But Mike DePaulo, who trains Kissed by a Prince for Heather Landymore, has never been convinced the filly won't handle turf.

"She hasn't jumped up on it or anything," said DePaulo. "But, we'll hope that changes on the weekend."

On Sunday, Kissed by a Prince will be trying turf for only the second time here - in the $125,000 Victoriana , a 1 1/16-mile stakes for Ontario-sired fillies and mares.

Tue, 08/16/2005 - 00:00

Sabertooth relaxes in strong gate work for Longacres Mile

AUBURN, Wash. - Several candidates for Sunday's Grade 3, $250,000 Longacres Mile logged their final serious preps last weekend, but no work was more crucial than the six-furlong drill registered by Sabertooth at Emerald Downs on Saturday.

Sabertooth, who won the 2002 Mile, missed a scheduled start in the July 31 Governor's Handicap because he acted up in the gate and was scratched. He also missed several days of training while healing from his self-inflicted scrapes and bruises. As a consequence, he absolutely needed a strong workout justify another crack at the Mile.

Mon, 08/15/2005 - 00:00

Million Day gets Cup plans going

Horsephotos
Powerscourt might start in the Irish Champion before the Breeders' Cup.

CHICAGO - The featured race Wednesday at Arlington is an entry-level allowance for older horses. In attendance will be a fraction of the 28,321 fans who jammed the park Saturday. The Grade 1 horseflesh that dazzled over the weekend has flown the coop, the last two ship-ins, the French-based Million runners Touch of Land and Alost, having headed home Tuesday.

Mon, 08/15/2005 - 00:00

Opportunity knocks for Spun Sugar

Horsephotos
Leroidesanimaux, galloping with Edgar Prado last week, will make his next start in the Grade 2 Fourstardave Handicap on Aug. 27.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - With Smuggler and Summerly out of Saturday's $750,000 Alabama, Spun Sugar has a sweet opportunity to win her first Grade 1 stakes.

Spun Sugar finished between Smuggler and Summerly in the Grade 1 Mother Goose. One month later, Spun Sugar finished behind both Smuggler and Summerly in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks. Saturday's Alabama was to have been another meeting of the trio, but an illness to Smuggler and an injury to Summerly will keep those two fillies out of the race.

Mon, 08/15/2005 - 00:00

A repeat of last year works for Sabellina

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - A victory in last year's Yaddo Handicap helped propel Sabellina to a championship in the New York-bred female turf division. Her connections hope a repeat performance in the Yaddo can spur her on to another division title.

meets five other stakes winners in the tougher of two divisions of the Yaddo Handicap, run at 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf. Each division is worth $75,000. This marks the fifth time in the last 16 years that the Yaddo has been split.

Mon, 08/15/2005 - 00:00

Classy horse still in search of first stakes

Horsephotos
What a Song gets his third win in three starts Sunday in the Best Pal. He will run next in either the Del Mar Futurity or Belmont Futurity.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Borrego has raced competitively with the best runners in the country for two seasons and has accumulated more than $850,000 in earnings. But even though he has finished second in races such as the Arkansas Derby, Louisiana Derby, and Hollywood Gold Cup, he has yet to win a stakes race, a record trainer Beau Greely hopes to change when Borrego competes in the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on Sunday at Del Mar.

Mon, 08/15/2005 - 00:00

Mighty Beau returns after failed experiment

DEL MAR, Calif. - Mighty Beau can be forgiven for losing twice in England in June.

In an ambitious experiment, Mighty Beau was sent to the Royal Ascot meeting at York racecourse, where he finished fifth and 11th in two of the toughest turf sprints in the world.

Wednesday, Mighty Beau returns to more familiar surroundings when he makes his first start since June in the $75,000 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar.