ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The field for Sunday's $1 million Queen's Plate may be lacking in the accustomed quantity, with only nine horses expected to participate as of Monday.
But contention runs deep in the $1 million Queen's Plate, with the majority of the candidates capable of capturing the 1 1/4-mile race for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.
There also is an unusual amount of intrigue surrounding this year's Queen's Plate.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The temptation to compare Indian Ocean, the winner of Saturday's Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap at Hollywood Park, with Tiznow, who won the same race in 2000, has yet to strike trainer Jay Robbins.
Robbins oversaw the career of Tiznow, who blossomed in the second half of 2000, winning the Breeders' Cup Classic en route to being named Horse of the Year. Although Indian Ocean is definitely a horse to follow in the 3-year-old division, Robbins says he is reluctant to put him in the same league as Tiznow.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The rally that Charm the Giant unleashed to go from fourth to first in a maiden race for turf sprinters at Hollywood Park on May 8 resulted in one of the most dazzling wins of the meeting.
In a sense, it was not a surprise. The filly is by top sire Giant's Causeway out of four-time stakes winner Olympic Charmer. Charm the Giant is supposed to develop into a stakes winner herself.
Wednesday, will make her first start against winners in a $51,000 optional claimer over a mile on turf that has drawn a strong field of nine 3-year-old fillies.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - There is no easy explanation for the turnaround by Morning Sky, a 5-year-old mare who suddenly found herself this season. All five of her starts have been quality efforts, including a hard-fought allowance victory last time out.
Morning Sky tries for her second straight victory Wednesday in the $41,000 allowance feature for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Monmouth Park.
"She just turned around to where she's really trying," said trainer Joe Pierce. "I don't know what else to tell you. Miracles do happen."
Delaware Park canceled its live card Monday in order to give a new track superintendent time to work over the dirt course, which had been the subject of complaints for several weeks, the track's general manager said Monday.
Delaware stewards canceled the last four races of the track's 10-race card Sunday after jockeys complained that the dirt surface was unsafe.
Fair Grounds Race Course and its owner, Churchill Downs Inc., cleared another hurdle in their effort to bring slot machines to the track when the New Orleans City Council last week unanimously approved a Churchill Downs plan to build a 33,000-square-foot slots parlor on track property.
Bowing to concerns from residents in surrounding neighborhoods, the City Council ruled that the slots parlor must shut down at midnight.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - It's been a long time since apprentice riders ranked first and second in the Woodbine jockey standings, but that's the case heading into Wednesday's eight-race card.
Emma Wilson leads the standings with 33 victories, which is one win better than Corey Fraser, who was voted the Sovereign Award as Canada's top apprentice in 2004. Both riders have a mount in Wednesday's headliner, a seven-furlong allowance for fillies and mares.
CALGARY, Alberta - Knight's Covenant posted a $52.80 upset in the $125,000 Alberta Derby at Stampede Park on Saturday, leading every step of the way under Desmond Bryan.
"He's a little crazy, but he dug in when they came to us at the quarter pole," Bryan said of Knight's Covenant, who had just won his maiden on June 1 after becoming fractious in the gate.
Trainer Monica Russell schooled Knight's Covenant at the gate prior to the Alberta Derby, and she and owner Robert Vargo were rewarded with a $78,750 payday.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Trainer Joe Petalino has been something of a giant killer this meet at Lone Star Park.
On Saturday, he sent out Sea Dub to win the $200,000 Dallas Turf Cup at 53-1, and in defeating 9-5 favorite Fullbridled by a head, the horse broke an 8-year-old record for a stakes payoff at Lone Star, returning $109.40.
