MIAMI - Owners Philip and Marcia Cohen are hoping lightning will strike a second time at Calder when their undefeated 2-year-old Closing Argument competes in the $400,000 In Reality Stakes on Oct. 23.
Three years ago, the Cohens sent Booklet here with trainer Steve Klesaris and the colt won the 1 1/16-mile In Reality, the final leg of the open division of the Florida Stallion Stakes. Booklet was ultimately sold privately to owner John Oxley and went on to become a Grade 1 stakes winner.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - A maiden may be the one to beat in Sunday's $55,000-added Courtship Stakes at Bay Meadows.
Six 2-year-old fillies signed up for the race.
Berstein's Babe, a $125,000 Barretts purchase this year, has run second in both her starts.
She flashed speed in her debut at Del Mar, finishing second to She's a Jewel. In her second start, at Fairplex, she stalked the pace, grabbed the lead into the lane, and was beaten by Lunar Flight in the $118,000 Barretts Debutante at 6 1/2 furlongs.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Heyahohowdy ran surprisingly well in her last start, the Grade 2 Canadian Handicap here, finishing third as a 35-1 outsider behind the E.P. Taylor Stakes-bound Classic Stamp and Inish Glora.
Heyahohowdy is nominated to the Oct. 24 Taylor, too, but her first order of business is Sunday's Belle Geste Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for Canadian-bred fillies and mares.
A field of seven will contest the Belle Geste, which offers a purse of $104,000.
ELMONT, N.Y. - In what will likely be the last race of a glorious career, Sightseek will defend her title in Saturday's Grade 1 Beldame at Belmont Park.
The $750,000 Beldame is one of four stakes that serve as Breeders' Cup preps on the card. The others are the Grade 1 Champagne, Grade 1 Frizette, and Grade 2 Kelso Breeders' Cup Handicap. The Champagne will be televised on ESPN2 beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern. The New York Racing Association will offer a $400,000 guaranteed pick four that covers the Champagne, Kelso, Beldame, and final race of the day.
ELMONT, N.Y. - As dominant as he was in the Sanford, and as brave as he was in the Hopeful, Afleet Alex will have to be even better if he is to remain undefeated following Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 at Belmont Park.
In addition to proving he can go a distance of ground, Afleet Alex will face some strong competition in the Champagne, perhaps the best 2-year-old race this year.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Balletto got closer to Sense of Style than anyone has yet. With Sense of Style racing out of town, Balletto figures the one to beat in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Frizette at Belmont Park.
Balletto will be a slight favorite in the Frizette, a 1 1/16-mile race that drew a field of eight and should produce a few runners for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Lone Star Park on Oct. 30.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The West has Roman Ruler and Declan's Moon. The East has Afleet Alex and Proud Accolade. And from the vast region between the two coasts, another leading contender or two in North America's 2-year-old division almost surely will emerge Saturday at Keeneland when the Grade 1 is run for the 91st time.
Owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey already have two Breeders' Cup starters in Classic contender Roses in May and likely Turf favorite Kitten's Joy. Saturday at Keeneland they seek to add another starter - this one to the Breeders' Cup Mile - when Nothing to Lose races in the Grade 1, $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Every good team has a bench, which is how trainer Julio Canani can justify starting Tsigane in Saturday's $250,000 Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita and leaving top turf horse Special Ring in the barn.
From Canani's perspective, Special Ring is best being trained up to the Breeders' Cup Mile at Lone Star Park on Oct. 30. Tsigane is attempting to earn a lucrative prize in the Oak Tree Mile.
