Thu, 06/16/2005 - 00:00

Canterbury: Stormy Business tough

Ten 3-year old colts and geldings were entered in the $50,000 Come Summer Stakes, a one-mile race on the turf.

The favorite might be Stormy Business, who pulled a memorable upset when beating odds-on favorite Smoke Smoke Smoke in the St. Paul Stakes last month. A son of Storm Creek produced by the Colonial Affair mare Promising Affair, Stormy Business has yet to race on grass but has a pedigree that suggests he will handle the switch in surfaces at first asking. Derek Bell will ride Stormy Business for Double Bogey Stable and trainer Larry Donlin.

Thu, 06/16/2005 - 00:00

Great Lakes Downs: Entry favored

The entry of Born to Dance, the 2001 Michigan horse of the year, and past champion Sweetwater Promise was installed as the 7-5 morning-line favorite in the $45,000 Larkspur Handicap at Great Lakes Downs. The six-furlong Larkspur is for Michigan-bred females.

Thu, 06/16/2005 - 00:00

Indiana Downs: Ayla Bella on streak

Indiana Downs runs two $40,000 turf stakes Saturday, the Oliver for 3-year-old fillies at a mile and the A.J. Foyt for Indiana-breds at 1 1/16 miles.

Ayla Bella squares off against Flexible Princess in the Oliver. Ayla Bella began the year as a maiden for trainer Joan Scott but has since won 4 of 6 starts and comes into the Oliver on a three-race win streak.

Thu, 06/16/2005 - 00:00

Lincoln: Up 'N Blumin stretches out

Up 'N Blumin will stretch out to a mile for the first time when she carries high weight of 122 pounds in the $20,000-added Matchmaker Handicap at a mile for older Nebraska-bred mares.

Kelly Von Hemel claimed Up 'N Blumin out of a $40,000 optional claiming race at Prairie Meadows on May 17 after her strong season at Fonner Park. Up 'N Blumin won the Orphan Kist and Al Swihart Memorial handicaps there and was second in the Runza Handicap. The Swihart, at 6 1/2 furlongs, was her longest race to date, but the stretch-out to one mile here should be within her range.

Thu, 06/16/2005 - 00:00

Thistledown: Just Michel to be tested

Just Michel will attempt to stretch her stakes-winning streak to four when she faces nine other Ohio-breds in the $45,000 Merry Times stakes at Thistledown.

Owned by M.Y. Stables Inc., Just Michel will be facing her stiffest test of the season as the 1 1/16-mile Merry Times is loaded with talent, including five other stakes winners.

Just Michel, a 5-year-old Pacific Waves mare, has been highly consistent throughout her 25-race career, with a 12-5-2 record and earnings of $253,553.

Wed, 06/15/2005 - 00:00

Judgment Day for Saint Liam

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - His move into the upper echelon of the handicap ranks was swift and decisive. But since last seen by the racing public, Saint Liam has been the subject of speculation about whether he still deserves mention among the elite.

Wed, 06/15/2005 - 00:00

Frankel pair side by side in Foster

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Eight older horses, led by a pair of New York shippers who began their outstanding careers in Kentucky, have been entered for Saturday's $750,000 , the highlight of the post-Kentucky Derby segment of the Churchill Downs spring meet.

The New York invaders who figure as the top two favorites in the Grade 1 Foster 'Cap are 5-year-old horses who have wound up in Bobby Frankel's powerhouse stable: Saint Liam, who will start from post 3 as the 121-pound highweight, and Badge of Silver, who will start alongside in post 4 carrying 119 pounds.

Wed, 06/15/2005 - 00:00

Daydreaming carries family hopes in Phipps

Jim Linscott
Shug McGaughey says Daydreaming is coming into the Phipps in fine form.

ELMONT, N.Y. - From 1988 to 1995, trainer Shug McGaughey won the Hempstead Handicap three times for the Phipps family. In 2002, the Hempstead was renamed the Ogden Phipps Handicap, and McGaughey would love to honor the man who changed his life with a victory in Saturday's renewal of the Grade 1 race.

Wed, 06/15/2005 - 00:00

Giacomo to have series of tests

Horsephotos
Giacomo, here with groom Frank Leal, ran seventh in the Belmont.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo will undergo a precautionary battery of tests in coming days so that his seventh-place finish in the Belmont Stakes last weekend can be better understood, trainer John Shirreffs said.

After the Belmont Stakes, jockey Mike Smith said that Giacomo displaced his palate during the race. Giacomo stalked the pace and took the lead on the final turn, but faded through the stretch.

Shirreffs said that Giacomo did not suffer the same breathing problems during a postrace examination by a veterinarian.

Wed, 06/15/2005 - 00:00

Crowned King's options open

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Crowned King on Wednesday was entered in Saturday's $50,000 Ark-La-Tex Handicap at Louisiana Downs, but the horse remains on target to start as the highweight in Saturday's $200,000 Dallas Turf Cup at Lone Star Park, and was to be entered in the race on Thursday.