Mike Pino doesn't need to do any head-scratching to jog his memory when asked to recall the first stakes winner he trained 18 years ago.
That's because Pino's experiment with Ten Keys turned out so well. Ten Keys, claimed for $14,500, tried the turf for the first time in the 1987 Nick Shuk Memorial at Delaware Park. Ten Keys not only won that $15,000 stakes, but went on to win 17 more added-money events and earned more than $1.1 million on grass.
At seven furlongs, the Zen Handicap might be too far for Silver Bid, and too short for Wiggins. But any horse can succeed at any distance, given the right competition, and one of these two top-shelf Illinois-breds should emerge from Sunday's $40,000 Zen at Arlington Park with a win.
In fact, the people closest to both horses believe the seven-furlong trip is no issue.
"I'm not concerned about the distance at all," said Joel Berndt, Silver Bid's trainer. "He won here last year at seven furlongs. He was second going a mile and 70 yards."
BOSSIER CITY, La. - J.D.'s Blue Bayou, an impressive winner of the Inaugural Handicap at Evangeline Downs in April, returns to the main track and a sprint distance on Sunday as he heads the field for the Arcadia Stakes at Louisiana Downs. The six-furlong sprint for Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds drew a field of 11 and carries a $50,000 purse.
After trying two turns on the grass in the Excalibur Stakes here on
A return to dirt and to sprinting could be key for Pleasant Gulch, who carries high weight of 123 pounds in Sunday's $15,000 Yavapai Classic Handicap. The six-furlong event for fillies and mares has lured a field of 10 and goes as the eighth race on a nine-race card.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Now this is the Churchill Downs that horseplayers have come to know and love.
Contrary to the somewhat humdrum racing that has taken place here in recent weeks, the sixth race on Sunday typifies what long has made Churchill a favorite among locals and simulcast players. A full field has been entered in the six-furlong race, a $52,000 second-level allowance that promises to attract a wagering battle as spirited as what may ensue on the racetrack.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Eddie King knew he was going fast aboard Procreate in the Yankee Affair Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
He had no idea, though, that a world record was unfolding.
"I didn't know he was going that fast," King said. "I knew he accelerated when I asked him. I'm still a little surprised. It was phenomenal."
Procreate, a 7-year-old gelding, ran the five furlongs on the turf in 53.79 seconds.
"I certainly wasn't expecting a world record," said trainer John Zimmerman.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - It's hard to imagine that a trainer who saddled a Kentucky Derby winner would be happy working as an assistant trainer at Hastings. Nevertheless, David C. Cross Jr., who saddled the 1983 Kentucky Derby winner, Sunny's Halo, seems to be perfectly content in his behind-the-scenes role in Terry Jordan's barn.
"It's going well," said Cross. "Terry became very busy with his business and personal life, and he asked me if I would come out and give him a hand this winter. I'm glad I came."
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Out From Africa and March With Me both came into their 3-year-old seasons with legitimate designs on the $1 million Queen's Plate. Both have made it to the post only once this season, however, and Sunday's Plate Trial, a 1 1/8-mile race for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds, will be a critical test of their worthiness for the 1 1/4-mile Queen's Plate here June 26.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Disbelief, a $7,500 claim by trainer John Simms in Tampa Bay this winter, will be a formidable force at Fort Erie when the track serves up its Cup races in August.
The four Cup races for male runners are the Don Valliere Memorial Cup, the Peace Bridge Cup, the Parnitha Cup, and the very popular Puss n Boots Cup. The purse for each is $30,000.
Last year, three previous starts at the meet were required for eligibility. The 2005 restrictions have not been finalized as yet.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Aly's Flyer goes for her third win in as many local starts in Sunday's $40,000 Chantilly Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs.
Trained by Jared Brown, Aly's Flyer defeated maiden special weight company opening day, May 1. A daughter of Alybro, Aly's Flyer followed that up by winning the prep for Sunday's race on May 23.
Aly's Flyer has gone to the lead in her two previous starts here and will likely show speed again Sunday. She breaks from post 9 with Felipe Valdez in the irons.