MIAMI - Despite a disappointing performance by B. B. Best in his previous start, neither trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. nor the betting public lost any confidence in him. B. B. Best ($2.60) rebounded with a convincing three-length victory over his uncoupled stablemate Favre in Saturday's $75,000 Dr. Fager Stakes at Calder.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Two longshots, El Elogiado and Outta Here, are being considered for Sunday's $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar.
If the two run, the expected field for the Pacific Classic would grow to at least nine, headed by Pleasantly Perfect. Others expected to run are Choctaw Nation, Colonial Colony, During, Night Patrol, Perfect Drift, and Total Impact. The race is run over 1 1/4 miles.
DEL MAR, Calif. - There are 77 horses entered on Monday's eight-race program at Del Mar and they all are for sale. It wasn't supposed to be that way.
The list of races offered for Monday included an allowance race for fillies and mares over 1 1/8 miles on turf, but the race failed to draw sufficient entries.
Instead, bettors are treated to a program that includes four races for maiden claimers and four races for winners, ranging in claiming prices from $10,500 to $50,000.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - , coming off a rough trip in the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes Breeders' Cup Handi-cap at Arlington Park, looks like he has landed in a sweet spot in Monday's $65,000-added John's Call at Saratoga.
Named for the 2000 Sword Dancer winner, the 1 5/8-mile John's Call drew a field of 12 and is scheduled for the Mellon turf course. Four others were entered for the main track only. If the race is run on the main track, the distance will be 1 3/16 miles.
With rain in the forecast, the John's Call is unlikely to be run over a firm course.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Jockey Dennis Carr has been making up for lost time at the Bay Meadows fair meet.
The hottest jockey in the first three days of the meet, Carr won on each of his three mounts on opening day, Wednesday, and two of his three mounts Thursday. Through Friday, he had seven wins in 12 starts with a pair of seconds and a third.
Carr's hot start came in his first mounts since the end of the Bay Meadows meet on June 20, and after Carr spent a tumultuous summer in New York.
PHOENIX - Royal Groove had showed some ability racing in Texas and at Turf Paradise, but the 5-year-old gelding has blossomed since moving to Yavapai Downs, rattling off three straight wins. On Monday at Yavapai, Royal Groove steps up in class and takes on six others in the featured fourth race, an $8,200 allowance race at 1 1/16 miles.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Krz Ruckus ($7) vaulted over the $1 million mark in career earnings with a game victory in Saturday's $133,000 Shepperton Stakes at Woodbine.
Krz Ruckus led through moderate fractions, while being pressed by Battlements, in the 6 1/2-furlong dash for Ontario-sired runners. Dillinger made a three-wide bid into contention on the turn, and hit the front at the eighth pole, but Krz Ruckus fought back in the final 70 yards to prevail by a nose. The final time was 1:16.37 seconds.
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."
