In an apparent move to consolidate the workload within the Churchill Downs Inc. family, John G. Dooley will replace Michael Wrona as the track announcer at Fair Grounds when the New Orleans track begins its upcoming season on Nov. 25.
Fair Grounds is in the process of being purchased by Churchill Downs from Bryan Krantz. Dooley is the announcer at Arlington Park, which is also owned by Churchill Downs.
Gold Storm has made his case. A sharp second in the $250,000 Phoenix at Keeneland last Friday, he is now being pointed for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Sprint at his home track of Lone Star Park on Oct. 30.
His connections are hopeful he will get into the race. Gold Storm, who has come to hand over the past few months, might need help from the Breeders' Cup selection committee to get into the Sprint if it is oversubscribed, because he is not among the leading point earners for the race.
Trey Agilar, Coby Bourque, and Kevin Deaville all escaped serious injury after being thrown from their mounts in a three-horse spill in the stretch run of the second race Saturday night at Delta. Agilar, an apprentice, suffered fractures in two fingers on his right hand and will be sidelined for three weeks, said his agent, Jerry Bourque.
Bourque also represents Marlon St. Julien, who was thrown from his mount one race later when the horse ducked into the rail. St. Julien plans to return Thursday night at Delta.
D'Esprit, a close fourth against steeper last time, drops in class for the featured ninth race Thursday at Louisiana Downs. The 7 1/2-furlong turf allowance has a claiming option of $16,000. The chief threat to D'Esprit appears to be Savory.
* Jockey Eddie Martin Jr., who has not ridden since sustaining a hairline fracture to his collarbone in September at Arlington Park, has been named to ride Its My Pleasure in the third race Thursday night at Lone Star.
CHICAGO - Phase One of trainer Chris Block's 3-year-old turf horse plan came close to being a smash hit. Last weekend, Block sent the Illinois-bred Fort Prado to Keeneland for Sunday's $100,000 Storm Cat Stakes, and at odds of 14-1, Fort Prado made a strong late run to finish second to a nice colt named Good Reward.
Phase Two comes Saturday at Block's current home base, Hawthorne, where he will run another 3-year-old grass horse, named Hunting Hillbilly, in the Grade 3 Hawthorne Derby.
NEW ORLEANS - The aggrieved horsemen are satisfied. The bankrupt track owner is emerging from his deep hole. The neighbors are resigned and wish the track well. Optimism has trumped anxiety in New Orleans. Churchill Downs is coming to Fair Grounds, and so are slot machines, eventually.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - This could be the start of something big.
The sixth race on Bay Meadows's Thursday card, a six-furlong first-level allowance sprint, is the best 2-year-old race carded in northern California this year.
Four of the seven runners won their previous start, including Beat the Chalk, winner of the $100,000 Barretts Juvenile at Fairplex. Two ran second in their last race, including Danny Dingle, who was second in the San Mateo Stakes, and Magna Tice, second in the Captain Condo at Emerald Downs.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Gary Stevens was as surprised as anyone that Mea Domina pulled an upset at 6-1 in Monday's $100,000 Harold Ramser Handicap at Santa Anita.
"I hate to say this, but I gave myself no chance going into the gate," Stevens said. "She had me worried in the post parade. She was very nervous and a handful. She wore me out."
Once the race started, Mea Domina was more cooperative for Stevens. She stalked pacesetter Potion for the first half-mile, took the lead on the final turn and pulled clear to win by two lengths.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Royally bred Dance With Ravens ($4.80) won his maiden in style at Woodbine on Monday, taking the Grade 2 Grey Breeders' Cup Stakes for 2-year-olds with determination.
Dance With Ravens tracked the pace along the rail under Todd Kabel, as Accountforthegold set fractions of :23.77 and :48.51 seconds in the mile and a sixteenth event.
