ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The typical good horse climbs through her allowance conditions before breaking into the realm of stakes racing. Allspice is going the other direction.
The last time she raced, Allspice won the Grade 3 Sixty Sails Handicap on April 24 at Hawthorne. But the Sixty Sails win was just the third victory of Allspice's career, making her eligible for a third-level allowance Saturday at Arlington.
"That's a beautiful thing, isn't it?" trainer Greg Geier said.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Considering that she is Canada's reigning 2-year-old filly champion, My Vintage Port isn't getting much respect heading into Sunday's 1 1/8-mile Labatt Woodbine Oaks.
She figures to be no better than fifth choice in a prospective field of six, but her trainer, Ken Parsley, is far from discouraged.
"She's improved this year; there's no question," said Parsley, who also is a co-owner in partnership with Rick Pettifer.
ALTOONA, Iowa - It's hard to separate the 11 fillies and mares in Saturday's $50,000 Wild Rose Stakes at Prairie Meadows. But with several speed horses in the 1 1/16-mile race, Miss Fortunate's tracking ability should play well.
A 4-year-old daughter of Deputy Minister, Miss Fortunate enters the Wild Rose off a rallying 3 3/4-length score against three-other- than allowance company at Churchill on May 5, a race that was run at Saturday's 1 1/16-mile distance.
Miss Fortunate has a record of 4-2-1 from 11 starts and has $146,535 in earnings for trainer Bill Mott.
SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Twelve colts and geldings with combined earnings of over $2 million make for an attractive betting contest in the $40,000 Brooks Fields Stakes.
A 7 1/2-furlong turf race named for Canterbury's founder, the Brooks Fields features a rematch between Al's Dearly Bred and Native Hawk, the first two finishers in last season's John Bullit Stakes.
PHOENIX - Swain's Gold puts her perfect record on the line against five other 3-year-old fillies in the $9,000 Silk Stockings. The feature, which goes off as the seventh race on a nine-race card, is contested over six furlongs.
Swain's Gold is 3 for 3. Trained by Cesario Olivas, Swain's Gold won her maiden at Turf Paradise on Feb. 3, which was followed by a wire-to-wire allowance win there May 4. She then prevailed by a neck in the Left Latch at Turf Paradise on May 15 after a start-to-finish pace duel. Swain's Gold will again be ridden by Akifumi Kato.
MUSKEGON, Mich. - The Wolverine Stakes offers a rematch between the old pro Secret Romeo and Rockem Sockem, the top 3-year-old at the track. The $40,000 Wolverine, run at six furlongs, is for Michigan-bred colts and geldings, 3-year-olds and up. It is the eighth race on the 6:30 p.m. card.
LINCOLN, Neb. - Thundering Verzy should once again be an overwhelming favorite in a field of six in the State Fair Breeders' Special for Nebraska-bred 3-year-olds going one mile.
Thundering Verzy comes off a 1 1/4-length win in the Journal Star Stakes here May 23, when he was a 1-5 favorite. Trained by Phil Storms, Thundering Verzy gave his backers some anxious moments early when he dropped well off the pace of the six-furlong Journal Star. He rallied through the rest of the field with ease on the far turn, but then lugged in late while moving clear.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Unsure of the local customs, Mike Machowsky was wondering aloud whether it would be inappropriate for him to wear shorts to Churchill Downs when kicking back on an otherwise forgettable weekday program of racing.
Having spent the vast majority of his racetrack time at Hollywood, Santa Anita, and Del Mar, Machowsky did not know how California casual translated to the rest of American racing. Duly informed that shorts were quite acceptable, Machowsky had one fewer concern heading into one of the biggest weekends of his 12-year training career.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It has become a destination for the very best in recent years, from Silver Charm and Awesome Again to Street Cry and Mineshaft. This year holds fast to that pattern: the Grade 1 got another stellar field for its 23rd running Saturday, with four of the top older horses in training in a field of six.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Churchill Downs lost a key starter for Saturday's $100,000 Opening Verse Handicap when millionaire Mystery Giver was not entered due to a hind ankle injury, but the track picked up a prominent entrant in the Grade 2, $400,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap with Mayo on the Side.
Carl Nafzger, trainer of Mayo on the Side, had been undecided about running her earlier in the week, but entered her on Wednesday.
"It's a lot of money and we're right at home," Nafzger said.
