WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Something will have to give in Friday's first race at Assiniboia Downs, an optional $16,000 claimer for fillies and mares at six furlongs, as three of the five horse entered won their last start.
Stakes winner Sands Fury has been at this level for all five of her starts here this year, winning twice, including her most recent on Aug. 7.
Trained by Ardell Sayler, Sands Fury will break from post 3 with Jason Leacock.
ALTOONA, Iowa - The events that took place during Saturday's card at Prairie Meadows would have seemed more fitting had they occurred eight nights earlier on Friday the 13th.
The evening began with 1-5 shot Pitch and Toss failing to fire and finishing a dull fifth in a maiden special weight event for 2-year-olds, which was won by 10-1 first-time starter Classic Play.
COLUMBUS, Neb. - Last weekend was a rough one for both horses and riders, with a total of 18 scratches from the 27 races offered.
Eleven riders were named to ride on the Friday card, but only seven were left standing by the end of the program. A lack of riders caused three of the 10 horses in the ninth race to scratch. Riders were missing because of a number of reasons, including illness and bangs and bruises.
On Friday, seven horses were scratched because of a lack of riders. Two horses were scratched Saturday for the same reason.
MUSKEGON, Mich. - Six Michigan-bred 2-year-old fillies will line up Friday evening at Great Lakes Downs to contest the first 2-year-old stakes of the meet, the $45,000 Temptress Stakes.
Foolininthemeadow will be favored in the six-furlong Temptress after easily winning her debut July 25. Left in her wake that day were Musical Factor and Laura's Holiday, each of whom came back to win her next start.
Trainer Karl Waters has named Mary Doser to ride Foolininthe-meadow.
Late Expectations's third-place finish in the $40,000 Chick Lang Jr. Memorial last Saturday was notable, but not because he held his own against older horses. Instead, the Lang was a testament to his staying power.
A 3-year-old Texas-bred gelding, Late Expectations has raced 14 times since April 17, when he was claimed for $10,000. During the past four months, Late Expectations has won four times and placed second or third on six other occasions. In addition, he earned the best Beyer Speed Figure of his career, a 91, in the Lang.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Patrick Biancone says the Lion Heart who will try to get 1 1/4 miles in Saturday's is not the same Lion Heart who failed to get the same distance in the Kentucky Derby 17 weeks ago.
If he's right, then Lion Heart could very well win the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - As the trainer of a public stable whose emphasis is on 3-year-olds, Nick Zito believes it's his job to get as many horses as possible to races like Saturday's $1 million Travers.
Since he will saddle three of the seven runners expected to start in the 135th Travers, it would appear that Zito has done his job quite well this year.
But in getting Birdstone, Sir Shackleton, and The Cliff's Edge to this meet's premier event, Zito has had to juggle the egos, emotions, and expectations of three different owners.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Mike Mitchell's summer at Del Mar already has reached the pinnacle, what with the trainer capturing his first Grade 1 race and sweeping the track's sprint stakes with Kela. Mitchell has 11 victories, which places him fourth in the standings. Mitchell always has thrived at Del Mar. He has been the leading trainer at this track six times, first in 1981.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Five furlongs was too abrupt for Belleski last time. Coupled with an eight-month layoff, the distance conspired to get her beat. She will have a much better chance in Thursday's featured seventh race at Del Mar, in which she will stretch out to one mile on turf, and with the benefit of that recent prep.
The feature race, an optional claimer, carries a $70,000 purse. Of the eight horses in the race, only Magnificent Val is entered for the optional $100,000 claiming price, and she is not certain to run.
