MIAMI - Lost in the Fog will be the shortest priced favorite in Saturday's Summit of Speed program at Calder, and rightly so. But despite the obvious speed and class advantages Lost in the Fog holds over five seemingly overmatched rivals in the $300,000 Carry Back Stakes, his trainer, Greg Gilchrist, said he is not taking anything for granted.
"I don't ever look at any race being easy," said Gilchrist. "I never underestimate the opposition."
MIAMI - Trainer Frank Brothers could have made several excuses for Madcap Escapade's fifth-place finish as the 2-5 favorite in Churchill Downs' Humana Distaff Handicap on Kentucky Derby Day. For example, she had a near-disastrous final workout during which she had to abruptly alter course to avoid a horse who had strayed in her path near the finish line, and she just doesn't seem to handle the Churchill Downs surface very well.
ELMONT, N.Y. - All the focus regarding Nick Zito's 3-year-old crop this year has been on his colts. The newly elected Hall of Fame trainer has a pretty nice 3-year-old filly in Burnish, who seeks Grade 1 glory in Saturday's $250,000 Prioress Stakes at Belmont Park.
, a daughter of Menifee, has won her last two starts, including the Grade 3 Miss Preakness Stakes. Both victories have come over sloppy tracks, a condition that may prevail Saturday if the New York area gets the two inches of rain forecast for Friday.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Two-time Canadian champion One for Rose makes a rare U.S. appearance Saturday as the highweight in the Grade 2, $300,000 Molly Pitcher Handicap for fillies and mares at Monmouth Park.
One for Rose has spent most of her career at Woodbine, having made 23 of her 24 career starts at the suburban Toronto track. Her only trip away from home came in the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes at Keeneland last October, when she ran fourth to Azeri, beaten 7 1/4 lengths.
MIAMI - No locally based 3-year-old filly has won the $300,000 Azalea Breeders' Cup Stakes in the five-year history of the Summit of Speed program. That could change Saturday, though, with four of the eight members of the Azalea lineup stabled on the grounds, including key contenders Hide and Chic and Flying Circle. They face Hot Storm, who may be the best of the four fillies who have shipped in for the race.
Ten of the 11 older horses entered in Saturday's $60,000 Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs are realistically running for second money.
That's because it's hard to imagine a rather undistinguished group that includes five horses who are either winless or unraced on grass coming close to Grade 1-caliber turf runner Mr O'Brien.
Now 6, will be making his first start since finishing ninth of 14 in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Lone Star Park.
A total of 93 horses have been pre-entered for the seventh annual Claiming Crown, the seven-race, $650,000 series that will be run next Saturday, July 16, at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn.
The most accomplished horse expected to compete in the Claiming Crown is Lord of the Game, who figures to be a solid favorite in the richest race, the $150,000 Jewel. Lord of the Game, based in Chicago with Tom Tomillo, won the Grade 2 Cornhusker last weekend at Prairie Meadows and has a career record of 7 for 8.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Rare Cure was 15-1 when he upset the $50,000 Premiere Stakes on opening night of the Lone Star Park meet in April, but he figures to be a shorter price Saturday in the $125,000 Assault Stakes. He has worked consecutive bullets for the race, which is one of six restricted stakes on the Stars of Texas Day program at Lone Star. All told, the races are worth $575,000.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - It is not a surprise that trainer Bret Calhoun has four starters in the $125,000 fillies division of the Texas Stallion Stakes at Lone Star Park on Saturday.
He has won eight races for 2-year-olds during the meet, with six of those victories coming with fillies. That success gives Calhoun a strong hand in the Texas Stallion, one of five undercard stakes on the $575,000 Stars of Texas Day program at Lone Star.
