The morning linemaker at Arlington Park apparently has difficulty interpreting European form, as he has affixed overly generous odds to many of the European invaders in Saturday's three International Festival of Racing stakes. If racegoers follow his example, the deep Euro group, with good chances in all three races, could put some surprising numbers on the tote board.
Arlington Million
As the defending champion in Saturday's $100,000 Ellis Park Breeders' Cup, Vicki Vallencourt would seemingly deserve to be the favorite. But with more puzzling races than victories in her past performances, she will start as somewhat of an outsider when she faces Golden Marlin, Tina Bull, and a strong cast of other female sprinters in the 6 1/2-furlong race.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Choreography will try to put an end to his string of seconds in the $133,000 Shepperton Stakes at Woodbine Saturday.
The 6 1/2-furlong dash is one of two Ontario sire stakes on Saturday's card, along with the $133,250 Victoriana, a 1 1/16-mile turf event for fillies and mares.
Choreography, a 4-year-old trained by Canadian Hall of Famer Jerry Meyer, has a win and seven seconds from 12 starts this year. That victory came for trainer Mike Miceli in an entry-level allowance at Aqueduct in March.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Sir Oscar takes an important step on the comeback trail in the $60,000 Rumson Stakes for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park on Saturday.
The track's leading jockey, Joe Bravo, will be aboard the colt trying to recapture the brilliance of his juvenile season.
"Right now, he looks fantastic, and he's 100 percent sound," said trainer Greg Sacco. "He still has potential to finish this year strong and go into his 4-year-old season as a handicap horse."
BENSALEM, Pa. - Local statebred stakes winner Prince Joseph moves into open company on Saturday in the $100,000 Larry R. Riviello Stakes, but his connections have their sights set on a larger goal: the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby on Labor Day.
Leebearski finished third as the beaten favorite in the All Brandy Stakes at Pimlico last year, and returns on Saturday for another try. The $75,000 All Brandy is run at 1 1/8 miles on turf and has drawn a field of seven Maryland-bred fillies and mares.
Leebearski, trained by Mary Welby McGill, should once again be the top betting choice. She faces a smaller field than last year's and one that is short on early speed, which should allow her to set a soft early pace. With rain in the forecast Saturday, a soft turf course would only improve Leebearski's chances.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - There's not much doubt that Celt will be the one they'll be chasing early in the eighth race at Hastings on Saturday, a $35,000 optional sprint for 3-year-olds and up that drew a field of eight.
The last time Celt didn't have the lead after the first two calls in any race was Aug. 31, 2002. Since then, he's won six times. Last year he came very close to becoming a stakes winner, finishing second in both the British Columbia Cup Sprint and the Hastings Speed Handicap.
EDMONTON, Alberta - A pair of invaders, both trained by David Forster, will test five Northlands-based 3-year-old fillies in Saturday's $100,000 Sonoma at 1 1/16 miles.
The Forster contingent comprises Socorro County, ridden by Robert Skelly, and Overact, with Quincy Welch up. The two are uncoupled in the betting.