ALTOONA, Iowa - Defending champion Sharky's Review heads a field of five Iowa-bred fillies and mares in Saturday's $70,000 Hawkeyes Handicap at Prairie Meadows.
Sharky's Review, the 2003 Iowa-bred horse of the year, enters the 1 1/16-mile Hawkeyes following a seven-week layoff for trainer Mark Bader. In her most recent start here on May 8, Sharky's Review's rally fell three-quarters of a length short in the six-furlong Mamie Eisenhower when she finished second as the 4-5 favorite.
SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Canterbury Park bettors get a tough handicapping challenge when 10 3-year old colts contest the $50,000 Come Summer Stakes, formerly known as the Canterbury Derby.
It's Lucky brings the strongest credentials to the one-mile turf contest after finishing second in the OBS Championship in March. It's Lucky didn't menace in two subsequent sprint contests but demonstrated an affinity for two turns when he finished second by a head in the Prairie Mile Stakes last month at Prairie Meadows.
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. - An entry from owner William Stiritz will be favored in the $30,000 Roman Colonel Stakes, a six-furlong race for 3-year-old colts and geldings at Fairmount Park.
Stiritz, the former CEO of Ralston-Purina, has entered both Chipotle and Wildwood Graduate. Chipotle showed ability by winning his career debut May 1, but finished sixth and last when he stretched out to a mile in his second start.
LINCOLN, Neb. - The $12,500 State Fair Derby turned into an evenly matched field of six going one mile, missing the horse who would likely have made it a scramble for second. That horse, Thundering Verzy, was shipped up to Canterbury Park a few days ago and will instead be testing the turf course in the Come Summer Stakes.
CHICAGO - The trainer Richie Scherer has a horse to run in the Cardinal Handicap. A few months ago, he had the horse.
During winters, Scherer trains . Out of the blue three years ago, fellow horseman Chris Block asked Scherer to take Mystery Giver to New Orleans while Block stayed home in Chicago. This year, Scherer hit pay dirt. Mystery Giver won the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz, which, at $500,000, is one of the richest races at Fair Grounds.
CHICAGO - They are talking about syndicating Smarty Jones for a zillion dollars. But how much was Buckbean first worth as a stallion prospect?
Buckbean? Yes, Buckbean, son of Buckfinder, and sire of Silver Bid, one of the fastest, gamest sprinters in the Midwest.
Yes, a good horse can come from anywhere.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - While the majority of the 14 Queen's Plate candidates galloped over Woodbine's main track Thursday, Niigon and Alleged Ruler both took their exercise at nearby Chiefswood Farm.
Niigon, runner-up in the 1 1/8-mile Plate Trial here June 6, is the probable second choice to Trial winner A Bit O'Gold in Sunday's $1 million Queen's Plate.
The 1 1/4-mile Queen's Plate is the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.
Jockeys who are subject to five-day suspensions for riding infractions on the Kentucky circuit are now being permitted to take their penalty in calendar days, as opposed to racing days, if they agree not to appeal the suspension.
The change was implemented this week by the three-man board of stewards at Churchill Downs, where John McKee became the first jockey to choose the new option, serving Monday through Friday for a riding infraction last Saturday, June 19.
Leaders of the Pennsylvania Legislature said Wednesday that they had reached an agreement on a proposal to legalize slot machines at 14 sites in the state, including up to eight racetracks.
The proposal will need to be drafted into a law and then approved by both houses of the legislature and by Gov. Ed Rendell, a supporter of legalized slots. The Pennsylvania legislature is scheduled to recess on June 30.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - There are a handful of first-time Queen's Plate participants among the owners of this year's hopefuls.
But it's safe to say that none has paid his dues more than Larry Regan, whose son, trainer Tim Regan, will saddle the homebred Will He Crow on Sunday in Canada's most venerable horse race.
"I've had some great horses," said the 72-year-old Regan, "but I've never had one for the Queen's Plate.
"It's every Canadian's ambition, as an owner and breeder."
