ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Hour of Justice, undefeated in three starts this year, all at Woodbine, shipped out early Wednesday morning for a date in Belmont's Grade 3 Noble Damsel Handicap on Saturday afternoon.
Todd Kabel, who has been Hour of Justice's rider this season, has the call for the $150,000 Noble Damsel, a one-mile turf race for fillies and mares.
CHICAGO - Less than 30 miles separate Arlington Park and Hawthorne Race Course, and only four days fall between the Arlington meet that ended Sunday and Hawthorne's racing season, which begins a 68-day run on Friday. Arlington, ringed by grapevines, sits on swank suburban property northwest of Chicago. Hawthorne could hardly be grittier. The bars here are called "Moose's" and "The Yellow House." A smelter rises to the east.
CHICAGO - What can Frank Kirby do for an encore after his surprising win in the race to be Arlington's leading trainer? Maybe some good at the Hawthorne meet, which begins Friday and runs into the dead of Chicago winter, with closing day slated for Jan. 2.
Kirby edged Steve Asmussen, 32-31, to take the Arlington title, and he did it by leading almost from start to finish. Kirby isn't a huge talker, especially concerning his own achievements, but he said the Arlington title, his first since 1974, gave him satisfaction.
The hurtful memory still lingers. Trainer Ken McPeek was waylaid by a stewards' call that took victory away from Art Variety in last year's $200,000 Kentucky Cup Turf. Since then, McPeel has been waiting for an opportunity for the horse to set things right.
MIAMI - Trainer David Fawkes wasn't exactly shocked by Twilight Road's recent victory in the Grade 3 Miami Breeders' Cup Handicap at Calder. Pleasantly surprised might be the more appropriate way to sum up his feelings about Twilight Road's victory over a field of more seasoned turf specialists in the Miami Mile.
The $150,000 Turf Paradise Breeders' Cup Handicap and the $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup are the top stakes on a roster of 44 events worth over $2 million at Turf Paradise, which opens its 2004-05 season Friday, Oct. 1. The meet runs through May 22, 2005.
The Turf Paradise Breeders' Cup Handicap, a one-mile turf race, routinely attracts not only the best middle-distance turf runners in the Southwest but some of the top Southern California runners, as well. The race is slated for Feb. 12. Also on that card are the $100,000 Turf Paradise Derby and $75,000 Arizona Oaks.
Tour the Hive survived a claim of foul to defeat 1-5 favorite Wiggins in Tuesday night's $75,000 Fall Handicap at Mountaineer.
A 7-year-old gelding who rarely races beyond six furlongs, Tour the Hive ($13) raced one-two with Wiggins for the entire 1 1/8 miles of the Fall. Wiggins led for much of the race, but Tour the Hive made his move at the quarter pole and took the lead at the top of the stretch.
A new restricted stakes for 2-year-olds will be added to Philadelphia Park's stakes schedule in 2005.
The $40,000-added South Carolina Residency, at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track, will be run for the first time on Nov. 5, 2005.
To be eligible, a 2-year-old must have spent at least 90 days in South Carolina and his owner must have paid a nomination fee to the South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.
Purses here will get a $1,000 boost across the board effective with Thursday's racing. The increase brings the bottom purse to $8,000. The purse for an Indiana-bred maiden special weight goes up to $14,500 and the top level of nonwinners-of-three will be run for $16,500.
Azoom, winner of eight races including the $283,422 TQHA Sale Futurity, faces the most challenging test of his career in the Grade 1, $350,000 Sam Houston Futurity on Friday night at Sam Houston Race Park.
Azoom won his first four starts in Mexico City, then shipped to Sam Houston Race Park and became the fastest qualifier to the $134,748 TQHA Sires Cup Futurity, the TQHA Sale Futurity, and the Sam Houston Futurity. He finished second in the Sires Cup Futurity, one of only two defeats in his 10-race career.
