EAST BOSTON, Mass. - Requesting racing dates in New England used to be a cutthroat political exercise. With only one track left running Thoroughbred dates, this year's request is an exercise in survival.
Suffolk Downs officials want to reduce the number of races they run to maximize their limited purse funds, but the responsibility of supporting the region's horsemen means there won't be much change in the schedule in 2005.
In the first six starts of his career, Killenaule has been favored five times and gone off at 3-2 odds in his other race.
As the only 2-year-old in a field of six with proven dirt form around two turns beyond the maiden ranks, Killenaule figures to be a short price again Saturday in the $100,000 Dover Stakes at Delaware Park.
Dynamite Flyer, ambitiously placed against Grade 3 stakes company at Saratoga after winning the first three starts of his career, meets far easier company in the $50,000 Yankee Affair, a 1 1/16-mile turf race restricted to Pennsylvania-breds at Philadelphia Park.
A son of Dynaformer trained by Sanna Hendriks, Dynamite Flyer steadily improved his Beyers from 83 to 93 while winning twice at Delaware and once at Saratoga. He was competitive in the 1 3/16-mile Saranac Handicap until fading in the final eighth.
Trainer Al Stall Jr. might have a second horse to start on the Breeders' Cup card if Akanti runs well in the featured ninth race Saturday at Lone Star Park. The one-mile allowance could be the Akanti's springboard to the $100,000 Metroplex Mile on the Breeders' Cup undercard at Lone Star on Oct. 30.
Stall is already pointing Enduring Will for the $1 million Juvenile Fillies.
Here's something that isn't seen regularly in a $40,000 stakes in this region: a pair of shippers from Kentucky and a horse whose last start came at Belmont Park. They are some of the players in the $40,000 Cornucopia, a 1 1/16-mile turf handicap for fillies and mares to be run Saturday at Louisiana Downs.
Fuse It should get a nice pace to close into Saturday night in the $40,000 Zydeco for fillies and mares at Delta Downs in Vinton, La. The bigger question is, can she get up at five furlongs?
History says yes. Fuse It rallied from four lengths off the pace to win a five-furlong allowance at Evangeline Downs on April 24, and for that race she was turning back in distance from one-mile. She will be a fresher horse when she runs Saturday, because she has not started since finishing fifth in the $100,000 Valid Expectations at Lone Star Park on May 31.
The purse of the $20,000 Atchison, Topeka, Santa Fe Handicap at the Woodlands in Kansas City, Kan., on Saturday belies the strength of the field. A competitive group of seven horses will line up for the six-furlong race, and together they have combined to win 71 races and earn more than $1.8 million.
MUSKGEGON, Mich. - On Saturday night, Great Lakes Downs will host the 20th running of the Michigan Sire Stakes, the richest card of the year on the Michigan racing calendar. The Sire Stakes, run in six divisions, are for the progeny of Michigan stallions and offers estimated purses of $120,000 per race.
Five of the races drew full 10-horse fields. The series starts with the third race on the card, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.