OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Richard Migliore said he wouldn't have minded taking one week off following the Breeders' Cup. He wasn't planning on taking seven.
A gate mishap two days before the Breeders' Cup ultimately resulted in Migliore having a broken right wrist and a fractured rib, knocking him out of action for seven weeks. That unscheduled vacation ends Wednesday, when Migliore returns to race riding, two weeks ahead of his projected return.
MIAMI - Owner Mark Hopkins and trainer Michael Dickinson nominated their 8-year-old gelding A Huevo to both Saturday's 1 1/8-mile Fred Hooper Handicap and seven-furlong Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap. But despite being considered a sprint specialist throughout his career, A Huevo will make his local debut around two turns in the Grade 3 Hooper.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - For months, trainer Neil Drysdale thought he had a top prospect in Fusaichi Samurai. On Saturday, everyone else got the news.
In a dazzling debut, Fusaichi Samurai cruised to victory in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race while being geared down in the final yards by jockey Victor Espinoza. Fusaichi Samurai ran the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.54 and got a Beyer Speed Figure of 92, but the 2-year-old colt gave every indication he could have done more if needed.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - With the three top contenders for Saturday's Grade 1 Hollywood Futurity completing their final serious workouts on Sunday and Monday mornings at Hollywood Park, interest began to ramp up for a race that figures to decide the 2-year-old championship.
Two races were transferred from turf to dirt during the pick six at Hollywood Park on Saturday after riders expressed concern about the safety of the course.
The decision to switch surfaces was made after the fourth race was official. The fourth race was the first leg of a pick six that featured a two-day carryover of $300,358. Bettors added $1,269,925 to the pool on Saturday.
When the announcement was made that the fifth and ninth races had been taken off the turf, the ontrack crowd reacted with a chorus of boos.
Apprentice rider Liz Morris broke her collarbone at Hawthorne on Sunday when a runaway horse threw her at the start of the sixth-race post parade.
Morris's mount, an unraced 2-year-old named Sub Futz Jr., broke away from the accompanying pony and outrider as the field moved from Hawthorne's underground paddock out onto the racetrack. Morris had her feet out of the irons as the horse ran off, and she was thrown hard to the racetrack.
CHICAGO - Humor at Last had his last workout on Monday for the last stakes of the Chicago racing season, Saturday's $100,000-added Jim Edgar Futurity for Illinois-bred 2-year-olds.
And while Humor at Last is an Illinois-bred, there has not been a more impressive 2-year-old at Hawthorne this meet. Humor at Last cruised to a blowout debut win here Oct. 17, and was equally impressive winning the Nov. 13 Sun Power Stakes by more than two lengths over a nice colt named Stormy Afternoon.
ALBANY, Calif. - No northern California trainer had a better weekend than Jeff Bonde.
On Saturday, he won the Oakland Handicap with Green Team. On Sunday, he unveiled an exciting prospect, California Choice, who may be the best 2-year-old on the grounds.
He even won a race Friday with veteran claimer Military Academy.
Bonde will try to keep the daily win streak going with Lyin Goddess in Wednesday's Golden Gate Fields feature, a $50,000 optional claimer for fillies and mares at one mile.
LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. - An upset victory by Cash for Kas in Saturday's $500,000 Champion of Champions for Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos will have a major impact on the balloting for the Horse of the Year title.
Cash for Kas ($44.60) finished a nose in front of Horse of the Year hopeful Be a Bono.
Mongoose Jet Eye, who led early, finished third in the field of 10, with Catchmeinyourdreams, the 5-2 favorite, finishing fourth. Catchmeinyourdreams would have clinched the Horse of the Year title with a win.
On a day when Aqueduct's inner track was favoring front-runners, Naughty New Yorker put in a long, sustained bid from the back of the pack to roll to an 8 1/2-length victory in the $85,725 for New York-bred juveniles.
Longshot Sort It Out was second, 2 3/4 lengths ahead of pacesetting Summerland. Up Like Thunder, the 3-2 favorite, finished seventh.
