ARCADIA, Calif. - It did not worry trainer Wally Dollase that his best day of 2005 came on a rainy Friday that kept the crowd down at Santa Anita.
Dollase's stable won two allowance races - the third with the European import Stupendous Miss and the seventh with Two Trail Sioux.
"This is great," he said. "I've had so many seconds and thirds."
ARCADIA, Calif. - is well-suited for the ever-changing conditions this winter in Southern California racing. She is entered Monday for the $150,000 Buena Vista Handicap for fillies and mares at a mile on turf, which may be switched to the main track because of expected wet weather.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - In her last two starts, has had things her own way on the lead, winning a pair of stakes rather handily. In order to win Monday's $75,000 Dearly Precious Stakes, she'll likely have to show a new dimension.
That's because the speedy Slew Motion has arrived in New York, and she looms the fastest of the early speed types in the six-furlong Dearly Precious, the featured event on Aqueduct's Presidents Day card.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The 3-year-old division in trainer Bob Holthus's stable is not just limited to top colts like Grade 2 winner Greater Good. Holthus has an exciting filly in Kota, who will be making her seasonal debut Monday in the $50,000 Martha Washington at Oaklawn.
The one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies drew a field of six and will go as the 10th race on an 11-race holiday program. Kota should rule as the favorite on account of her second-place finish to Runway Model last out in the Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill Downs on Nov. 27.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Saint Liam and Roses in May, the first- and second-place finishers in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap here Feb. 5, are both on similar training schedules, although with different objectives in mind. Both breezed five furlongs Saturday, their first workouts since Saint Liam registered a 3 3/4-length victory over Roses in May in the Donn.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - How Distinctive Trick won Saturday's Fred "Cappy" Capossela Stakes was more surprising than the fact that he won it at all.
Out-breaking several who seemed naturally faster than him, Distinctive Trick led from start to finish under Stewart Elliott to win the $80,550 Capossela by a half-length over Pavo. It was 1 1/2 lengths back to Benjamin Baby, who finished one length ahead of even-money favorite Attila's Storm. Summerland and Hottothetouch completed the order of finish.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - A strong case can be made for three of the six hard-hitting veterans who meet in Monday's holiday feature at Bay Meadows, a $50,000 optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles.
Juniper Kris looks like the one to beat based on his last start, when he recorded a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure in a $40,000 turf claimer at Santa Anita. Sent north by trainer Richard Mandella, Juniper Kris has won two straight, but he went 0 for 4 here at this level last year, when he ran into some very tough horses, including stakes winners Yougottawanna and Adreamisborn.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Island Sand's presence in the $50,000 Pippin Stakes on Sunday is a boon for Oaklawn Park, but bad news for her six rivals. A Grade 1 winner, Island Sand hasn't raced this year, but has a strong series of works for the 1 1/16-mile race, which will serve as one of her stepping-stones to the Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap.
"Island Sand is going to be awfully hard to beat," said Steve Hobby, who will send out the razor-sharp Casual Attitude. "You hate to hook a horse like her for $50,000."
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - A decision on Saint Liam's status for the Dubai World Cup may not come until early next week, although it would appear his connections are leaning toward passing the race in lieu of the Santa Anita Handicap on March 5.
Mark Reid, who serves as racing manager for Saint Liam's owners, Mr. and Mrs. William Warren Jr., said he would confer with them after watching Saint Liam work at Palm Meadows on Saturday before rendering a final decision.
