LOUISVILLE, Ky. - So much for the marquee horses. Bedanken and Honor in War, both bet down to odds-on favoritism when dipping into the allowance ranks, were nowhere to be found in their respective races Friday at Churchill Downs, where longshots dominated throughout the afternoon.
Bedanken, a three-time stakes winner this year, finished fifth of seven fillies and mares in the fourth race, a $68,300 turf allowance won by Mymich, a 34-1 shot.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Quiet Honor, who was pre-entered for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Lone Star Park last month but was not entered, was purchased privately recently by prominent owners Bob and Beverly Lewis.
Quiet Honor was previously owned by Bearing Point Ventures and Andy and Paula Capestro. In her lone career start, Quiet Honor scored an eye-catching five-length win in a maiden race over 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita Oct. 10. She was always near the front and was timed in 1:17.86.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Two new shooters from Europe enliven the $60,000 Audrey Skirball-Kenis Stakes on Sunday at Hollywood Park, where a solid cast entered the nine-furlong turf race for 3-year-old fillies.
arrived from France one month ago with a 4-for-14 record and several close finishes in listed stakes, an indication she is well spotted in her U.S. debut. But her trainer, Leonard Powell, said, "The race looks very tough for a $60,000 stake."
Or is it?
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - It's been a long drought for Ma Femme, who hasn't visited the winner's circle since the 2003 Perfect Arc at Aqueduct.
Ma Femme's trainer, John Hertler, is hoping the mare can snap her losing streak in Sunday's $100,000 Perfect Arc. Ten fillies and mares, all sired by New York stallions, drew into the main body of the mile turf race.
Last year, won the Perfect Arc by 2 1/4 lengths over Board Elligible, who is entered to run in the Perfect Arc if it is run on the dirt.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - A year ago at Aqueduct, Pa Pa Da finished third as the favorite in the Great White Way, a division of the New York Stallion Stakes. On Sunday, Pa Pa Da will be among the favorites in the Cormorant division of the New York Stallion Stakes.
The $100,000 Cormorant, a mile race on the turf, is one of four stakes restricted to the progeny of New York stallions on Sunday's card. The other races are the $125,000 Great White Way for 2-year-olds, the $125,000 Fifth Avenue for 2-year-old fillies, and the $100,000 Perfect Arc for female turf runners.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The $125,000 Fifth Avenue, a division of the New York Stallion Stakes, has a history of producing fillies that have had successful careers, including Dat You Miz Blue, Beautiful America, and So Sweet a Cat.
At this stage in their careers, it doesn't look like there are any budding stars among the nine 2-year-olds entered in Sunday's Fifth Avenue at Aqueduct.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Richard Violette Jr. has fond memories of Laken, a filly he trained to win the 2000 Fifth Avenue, a division of the New York Stallion Stakes.
On Sunday at Aqueduct, Laken's son Summerland is the likely favorite to win the $125,000 Great White Way, the male counterpart to the Fifth Avenue. Laken's sire, Scarlet Ibis, won the 1988 Great White Way for Michael T. Martin, Summerland's owner and breeder.
The six-furlong Great White Way drew 10 runners.
STICKNEY, Ill. - Finally, Wiggins won't have to hit the road to run in a horse race.
An Illinois-bred based in Chicago with trainer Tony Granitz, Wiggins has ferried back and forth to Mountaineer Park in West Virginia for his last three starts, but he is primed now to defend his title in the High Alexander Stakes next Saturday at Hawthorne.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - What a Blurr surprised a lot of people when she galloped to a 5 3/4-length win over the 3 1/2-furlong Nursery Course in her debut Oct. 3. Her trainer, Lance Giesbrecht, certainly wasn't expecting that type of performance, but he's hoping the speedy daughter of Real West is good enough to carry her speed 6 1/2 furlongs when she takes on eight other 2-year-olds in an optional starter race at Hastings Sunday.
Giesbrecht wasn't worried about losing What a Blurr via the claim box when he entered her for $25,000.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Simply Lovely will try to avenge her recent loss in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes in Sunday's $165,900 Fanfreluche Stakes, a six-furlong dash for Canadian-bred 2-year-old fillies.
Simply Lovely, a contender for this year's Sovereign Award as the champion of her division, graduated second-time out in the seven-furlong Muskoka Stakes in September. She went on to win another restricted stakes, the six-furlong Victorian Queen, by 7 1/2 lengths, with a 74 Beyer Speed Figure.
