Tue, 10/05/2004 - 00:00

Delta: Third straight for Father Confessor?

Father Confessor, who has won his last two starts by a combined total of 10 1/4 lengths, will attempt to extend his win streak Thursday night in the eighth race at Delta Downs in Vinton, La. The entry-level allowance will be run over five furlongs and has a purse of $16,500.

The richest race on the card, worth $28,500, is the seventh, a one-mile conditioned allowance for Louisiana-breds. Battle Prince will move back to the statebred ranks after finishing second last out in a non-restricted six-furlong race that went faster than par at Evangeline Downs.

Tue, 10/05/2004 - 00:00

Perfect Soul returns to favorite turf course

Michael Burns Photo Ltd.
Perfect Soul will try to defend his title in Sunday's Shadwell at Keeneland.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Perfect Soul, who will be looking to close out his career with a bang in Saturday's Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland and the Oct. 30 Breeders' Cup Mile at Lone Star Park, worked five furlongs on the training track turf course here at Woodbine on Tuesday morning.

Assistant trainer Rachel Halden was in the irons as Perfect Soul, who had the course all to himself, was clocked in 1:00.

The clockers caught Perfect Soul going his opening quarter in 23.60 seconds, three furlongs in 35.80, and half-mile in 48.40. The horse galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.

Mon, 10/04/2004 - 00:00

Funny Cide earns his way into the big one

Horsephotos
Riskaverse won Saturday's Flower Bowl at Belmont, but may skip the Filly and Mare Turf.

ELMONT, N.Y. - A year ago, confusion reigned in Camp Funny Cide when it came to plotting out a fall campaign. In one five-day span, the plan changed three times. Ultimately, Funny Cide wound up in the Breeders' Cup Classic, a race for which he was ill prepared and finished ninth.

Entering Saturday's at Belmont Park, the plan was a lot clearer for Funny Cide. Win and head to Lone Star Park for the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 30. Lose and it was Empire Classic here in October, followed by the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs in November.

Mon, 10/04/2004 - 00:00

NYRA, ABC sign Belmont Stakes deal

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The New York Racing Association has reached an agreement with ABC on exclusive television rights to the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown, beginning in 2006, the association and ABC announced on Monday.

The agreement will return the Belmont Stakes to ABC, which broadcast all three races of the Triple Crown from 1986 to 2000. ABC was outbid for the rights to the Triple Crown by NBC, which paid $51.5 million for a five-year deal through 2005.

Mon, 10/04/2004 - 00:00

Sweet Catomine gets hot as Roman Ruler cools off

ARCADIA, Calif. - Much of this past weekend's Breeders' Cup prep races at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting must be viewed through the prism of expectations, because the same performance can be viewed differently depending on what was expected.

Mon, 10/04/2004 - 00:00

Musical Chimes to face boys again

Horsephotos
Musical Chimes, winning the John Mabee Handicap in July, will start against males for the third time this year in Saturday's Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile.

ARCADIA, Calif. - A week later than planned, Musical Chimes will try to earn her way to the Breeders' Cup with a start against males in Saturday's $250,000 Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile.

Last week, trainer Neil Drysdale said he intended to supplement Musical Chimes to Sunday's $250,000 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap on the main track, a plan that was derailed when Musical Chimes filled up with mucus.

The Grade 2 Oak Tree BC Mile, run on turf, is the next option. It will cost $5,000 to supplement Musical Chimes to the race.

Mon, 10/04/2004 - 00:00

Logician still seeks win No. 2

ARCADIA, Calif. - Logician had the makings of a decent 3-year-old after he won a maiden race by 6 1/2 lengths in January 2003. When he failed to have an impact on the Triple Crown trail that year, owner Paul Reddam and trainer Craig Dollase looked toward the statebred division as a way to revitalize the colt's career.

That plan did not work out, either, resulting in a string of six losses.

Mon, 10/04/2004 - 00:00

Mogador favored in tough spot

ELMONT, N.Y. - Mogador could have been a live longshot in Saturday's $350,000 Kelso Breeders' Cup Handicap at Belmont Park. Instead, he will be the horse to beat in Wednesday's $60,000 Elusive Quality, an overnight stakes for horses that haven't won a turf stakes in 2003-04.

, a 4-year-old son of Danzig trained by Christophe Clement, heads a competitive 10-horse field entered in the Elusive Quality, which, like the Kelso, will be contested at one mile on Belmont's Widener Turf Course.

Mon, 10/04/2004 - 00:00

Sellers quits; cites insurance

Jockey Shane Sellers said Monday he has quit riding until further notice, citing the lack of availability of disability insurance for jockeys. The sudden announcement comes at a pivotal time of year for Sellers, since a lucrative 17-day meet starts Friday at Keeneland, where Sellers is an eight-time leading rider.

"I don't want to be the next Gary Birzer," said Sellers, referring to the jockey who was paralyzed in a July 20 spill at Mountaineer Race Track.

Sellers, 38, contends that affordable insurance is the latest crisis facing North American jockeys.

Mon, 10/04/2004 - 00:00

Lopez finds no place like home

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Jockey Adalberto Lopez is happy to be back home after breaking his usual routine this summer.

Lopez, a mainstay on the northern California circuit, ventured north to Seattle to ride at Emerald Downs last spring and spent the summer there instead of riding the fair circuit here.

He finished fourth in the jockey standings there with 70 victories from 489 mounts, adding 78 seconds and 70 thirds. His mounts earned $752,855.