The Road Boss will try to repeat his winning trial performance when he starts in the Grade 2, $90,833 Sunland Fall Derby at Sunland Park on Sunday.
The Road Boss won his trial with the fastest qualifying time, 19.997 seconds for 400 yards, over the horses with the next three fastest qualifying times. He won two allowance races at Ruidoso Downs this summer, his two other victories from six 2004 starts.
It's not often that a $1,700 purchase wins a berth into a $500,000 race, but that's what Sandias Peppermint accomplished Sunday when he won the $130,000 Red Hedeman Mile at Sunland Park. With the win, he earned a berth into the WinStar Derby on April 2.
Rocky Gulch, the winner of last year's Red Hedeman, went on to finish third in the WinStar.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Ever since 1990 Canadian Triple Crown winner Izvestia disappointed at 5-1 in the 1990 Breeders' Cup Classic, many American handicappers have been skeptical of the merits of Canadian runners when they compete in stakes south of the border, and justifiably so.
This month alone, two Woodbine shippers ran in grass stakes at Churchill Downs, and both came up flat while being well backed in the wagering in their first start away from Woodbine.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The clock is running out for Sovereign Award hopefuls.
The Sovereign Award ballots go out Tuesday, and horses who have not made three starts in Canada this year as of Nov. 29 will not be eligible for the divisional categories.
There is a bit of a wrinkle to this year's procedure, however. The voting deadline is 5 p.m. Eastern on Monday, Dec. 6. In previous years, the deadline had been on the Friday following the dispatch of ballots.
NEW ORLEANS - The finish line and starting gate at Fair Grounds will sport a new logo when America's third oldest racetrack opens for its 133rd season Thursday. The green and white twin spires brand identifies Fair Grounds as part of the Churchill Downs empire along with Hollywood, Hoosier, Arlington, Ellis, and Calder.
NEW ORLEANS - Gold Storm would have been one of the favorites in Thursday's Thanksgiving Handicap at Fair Grounds, but trainer Bubba Cascio made a last-minute decision not to enter the horse in the race.
"I worked him last week, and he bled just a little bit," said Cascio. "Not too much, just two or three little trickles. I just wanted to give him a break. I would have entered him if they didn't have enough horses and asked me to run, but they ended up with seven in there."
Robby Albarado has done down time before. Twice during races he has fallen off his horse and onto his head, once in bad way, and a few years ago Albarado smashed his pelvis. When he made his comebacks, people rooted for him, especially in New Orleans, where Albarado has become the main man. "Robby!" the fans call out at Fair Grounds, and Albarado flashes his smile, boyishly charming.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - There might be many reasons to give thanks Thursday at Churchill Downs, but for the folks with horses in the Falls City Handicap, there will be none bigger than what was announced Tuesday at Barn 44.
That's where D. Wayne Lukas said Azeri will remain in her stall when the $300,000 Falls City is run, a development that instantly gave the other seven fillies and mares vastly improved chances in the Grade 2 race.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Nobody likes to show off a good horse to the racing public more than D. Wayne Lukas does. So the fact that Lukas, in consultation with owner Michael Paulson, chose not to run Azeri in the Falls City Handicap before a festive Thanksgiving crowd at Churchill Downs seems to underscore what was at risk if they had decided to run her.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - There may be only one item on the menu for your Thanksgiving Day meal, but there is variety aplenty when it comes to Thursday's Grade 3, $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct.
Connoisseurs of speed may opt for Medallist, Primary Suspect, or the pace-pressing Friendly Island. Those who prefer a strong late kick will lean toward Bwana Charlie or possibly the longshot Dubai Sheikh. If none of those whet your appetite, there are six other flavors from which to choose in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight at six furlongs.
