DEL MAR, Calif. - The Grade 2 Pat O'Brien Handicap started out as a demanding weekend sprint that would test the mettle of the country's leading sprinter, Pico Central. Then the race began to crumble.
, who drew the rail, may skip the O'Brien and run next Sunday in the Longacres Mile.
From eight entrants, the seven-furlong race Sunday at Del Mar is down to five probable starters and only one front-runner. Without , Domestic Dispute, Taste of Paradise, and Amerindio.
DEL MAR, Calif. - David Flores's first impression of Pico Central occurred shortly after the start of the San Carlos Handicap at Santa Anita back in March. At 42-1, Pico Central was the second-longest shot in a field of 10. A few strides away from the gate, Flores felt as if he was on the favorite.
"I got him out of the gate, and he was cruising," Flores said. "I had him on a long hold, and right away I knew I had a horse. He didn't give up. He just kept running."
DEL MAR, Calif. - No one beat Tyler Baze at Del Mar on Thursday.
With four mounts on the eight-race program, Baze was perfect, winning with Power Tripper ($4.60) in the third, Bertha Jo ($3.40) in the fifth, Stage Player ($6.60) in the seventh, and Daddysangbass ($7.40) in the eighth.
Baze equaled an accomplishment by David Flores for most wins in a day at this meeting and now has a five-race lead over Corey Nakatani in the jockeys' standings, 26-21.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Trainer Bob Baffert insists that Sunday's $150,000 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar is not the summer goal for , both of whom he expects will play important roles in the top 2-year-old races in the fall.
"They're both doing fantastic," Baffert said. "But this isn't their career race."
Regardless, Roman Ruler, expected to be favored, and Actxecutive can enhance their growing reputations in the Grade 2 Best Pal, run over 6 1/2 furlongs. The race drew five entrants, none of whom are stakes winners.
AUBURN, Wash. - Flamethrow-intexan, the impressive winner of the 1 1/16-mile Seattle Slew Breeders' Cup Handicap in his last out on July 31, will tune up on Saturday for the Sept. 6 Emerald Breeders' Cup Derby.
Flamethrowintexan, a son of Way West from the barn of trainer Jim Penney, will meet five other 3-year-olds in a $32,000 optional claiming event going 1 1/16 miles in the day's sixth race.
EDMONTON, Alberta - a one-mile allowance at Northlands Park Sunday features a battle between a pair of former Alberta horses of the year. Sixthirtyjoe and Fancy As meet in a field of nine, and both will try to end a losing streak.
Sixthirtyjoe, the circuit's defending sprint champion, was beaten seven lengths by Deputy Country in the Sun Sprint Championship in his latest outing. His only victory in seven starts this year was in an allowance.
Fancy As is still attempting to overcome injuries that have sidelined him during the past two seasons.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Trainer Terry Jordan appears to have two live horses in the feature race at Hastings Sunday, a $25,000 claiming sprint for fillies and mares.
Jordan will saddle Hunting for Action and Regal Heir and they will run as separate betting entities.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The usual names can be found atop the trainer standings at Saratoga. Todd Pletcher. Bobby Frankel. Steve Asmussen. Bill Mott. Dominick Schettino.
Dominick Schettino?
Yes, the same Dominick Schettino who had gone 3 for 48 the last three Saratoga meets has saddled four winners from 10 starters through the first 15 days of this meet. Fueled by the backing of owners Joseph Parisi and Robert Rosenthal, Schettino has been extremely active at the claim box since the spring and has been shrewd in his decisions.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - On Friday, the chances that Sunday's $100,000 West Point Handicap for New York-breds at Saratoga will be run on grass looked dim.
Heavy rain caused most of Thursday's grass races to be run on dirt, and there was no turf racing Friday. A weather system associated with Hurricane Charley could possibly dump several more inches of rain Saturday evening into Sunday.
The West Point, scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on the Mellon turf, drew a field of 12, plus three also-eligibles. If moved to the dirt, the distance will remain the same.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - The combination of trainer Patrick Biancone and jockey Joe Bravo looks to continue its hot streak at Monmouth Park on Sunday, when Rings and Things runs in the Grade 2, $200,000 Monmouth Breeders' Cup Oaks.
Rings and Things faces five rivals in the 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Biancone and Bravo have been on a roll, with six wins and a third in eight starts at the meet. They reached the Monmouth pinnacle last weekend, when they won the $1 million Haskell Invitational with Lion Heart.
