CALGARY, Alberta - Saturday's 75th running of the Alberta Derby carries a $125,000 purse, the richest in Calgary Thoroughbred racing history. A solid field of seven will contest the 1 1/16-mile highlight of the Stampede Park meet.
Prime Time T. V. drew the outside post and arrives from Assiniboia Downs off two impressive sprint victories. A Kentucky-bred colt, he won both races by open lengths and earned Beyer Speed Figures of 96 and 101.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Undefeated Avenging Kat makes her 2005 debut in Saturday's $40,000 CTHS Sales Stakes,
fillies division, at Hastings. The 6 1/2-furlong feature also drew Backseat Becka, last year's local 2-year-filly champ. Backseat Becka comes into the race off a second-place finish in the Emerald Downs Handicap at Hastings on May 29. After the Knight and All Round Cowgirl will also attract some attention in the eight-horse field.
AUBURN, Wash. - Sariano and Karis Makaw will lock horns in Saturday's feature at Emerald Downs, a mile race for older fillies and mares to be run under $32,000 optional claiming conditions.
Sariano may be favored in the field of eight off a pair of strong efforts against stakes company. Sariano, a 4-year-old daughter of Rubiano trained by Steve Bullock, finished with a rush to just miss catching Marva Jean in the six-furlong Hastings Park Handicap on May 8.
ELMONT, N.Y. - It appears Afleet Alex will be calling New York home this summer.
Afleet Alex, whose smashing Belmont Stakes victory a week ago followed his acrobatic Preakness score, is one of 12 horses trainer Tim Ritchey is expected to stable at Belmont for the remainder of this meet. Belmont's meet runs through July 24.
The New York Racing Association is working on getting Barn 18 ready for Ritchey's horses. Provided Ritchey is happy with the setup, he said he would send "a mixture of young and old horses" to Belmont for the remainder of the meet.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The Quicken Tree Stakes arrived at an ideal time for Continental Red in 2003, providing him with a comfortable spot against statebreds to end a three-race losing streak.
Saturday's $75,000 Quicken Tree Stakes at Hollywood Park can serve the same purpose for Continental Red.
A 9-year-old gelding, Continental Red, is winless in 20 starts since the 2003 Quicken Tree Stakes, a span that includes appearances in 19 stakes, 13 of them graded.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - A well-rested Twist and Pop and the mud-loving Capeside Lady headline the $70,000 Monmouth Beach Stakes Saturday at Monmouth Park. The card also includes the $55,000 Crank It Up Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Twist and Pop was a very shrewd claim for $22,500 by trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. in March of last year at Aqueduct.
The mare stepped up her game for the new barn, winning four races, including Monmouth's Lighthouse Stakes. She thrived on the Jersey Shore with a record of 3-2-0 in six starts at Monmouth last summer.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Stronach Stable invaded Fort Erie with seven runners last weekend and left with five wins, a second, and a third, plus two track records.
The stable has no stalls at the track, yet heads the owner standings, comfortably, with nine scores.
Six of last weekend's starters, in the hands of trainer Sean Smullen, shipped in from Adena Springs North in Aurora, Ontario, while trainer Justin Nixon brought one of his stars, High Blitz, from Woodbine.
The New York Racing Association and MGM Mirage have signed a management agreement for a slot-machine facility at NYRA's Aqueduct racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., the two companies announced Thursday.
Charlie Hayward, NYRA's chief executive officer, said Thursday that the agreement will allow NYRA to use MGM's line of credit to secure funding to build a $170 million casino to house 4,500 slot machines. MGM will then consult with NYRA on the layout of the casino, Hayward said, and take over management of the casino when it is completed.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - From mid-May through early June, Churchill Downs lost potential starters as a result of a quarantine caused by multiple discoveries of the equine herpes virus. Saturday in the Grade 3, $200,000 Northern Dancer Stakes, the track actually stands to pick up a runner as a result of quarantine.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Having trained racehorses for 18 years, Tom Amoss has been on both the winning and losing ends of hundreds of photo finishes. Unfortunately for Amoss, one of his more memorable losses came some six weeks ago in front of 100,000-plus fans, when Rush Bay lost a heartbreaker to Rey de Cafe in the May 6 Crown Royal American Turf at Churchill Downs.
, said Amoss, "was unlucky to lose - just as the winner would've been unlucky to lose. They both ran great races that day."
