OCEANPORT, N.J. - Local fans probably won't get a chance to see star sprinter Valid Video at Monmouth Park.
That's a shame, because he is one of the most accomplished runners stabled at the track.
A 4-year-old gelding, Valid Video had an excellent 2003, winning 4 of 7 races, including the Grade 1 King's Bishop at Saratoga and the Grade 3 Carry Back Stakes at Calder. He closed out the year in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint, where he finished last and suffered a stifle injury.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Chance Rollins, currently tied for fifth in the Bay Meadows jockey standings, is expected to miss two or three days after spraining his right wrist in a fall when Reds Pal propped badly in the first turn of a $40,000 claiming race Wednesday. X-rays on the wrist were negative.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Last Saturday, Meteor Storm gave trainer Wally Dollase a mild upset win in the Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park.
This Saturday, Dollase will attempt to win one of the top turf races of the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting when Irish Warrior starts in the $350,000 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap.
A victory by Irish Warrior, a two-time stakes winner, would give Dollase two horses for the top turf stakes in coming months.
Irish Warrior will carry 115 pounds in the Whittingham, which is expected to draw a field of about 10.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer James Cassidy said he liked Kurlicue's looks when he purchased her at the Tatter-salls sale in her native Ireland last October.
He likes her even more as she prepares for her U.S. stakes debut in Saturday's $75,000 Bay Meadows Oaks. Six 3-year-old fillies appear set for the 1 1/16-mile turf race, with Kurlicue the 118-pound highweight.
Kurlicue set a slow pace and held on to win her U.S. debut by a head May 6 at Hollywood Park.
LINCOLN, Neb. - Dennis Collins has been a force in the local jockey colony for years, but last Friday he picked up his biggest career win without realizing it.
Collins completed a three-win night last Friday with a win aboard Peanutbutter Blitz to collect his 1,000th career victory. Because of an oversight, the feat was not realized until Sunday afternoon. His 1,001st win came Saturday afternoon, when he guided Missy Can Do to victory in the $10,000 Bluegrass Handicap.
SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Canterbury Park hosted its first turf races of the meet this week, and Sunday's card saw the return of a seasoned veteran in Turk Flyer. From the David Van Winkle barn, Turk Flyer had been laid up for two seasons after finishing second in the John Bullit Handicap at Canterbury in July 2001. Following an unsuccessful comeback on the Nebraska-Iowa circuit last season, Turk Flyer was returned to the Van Winkle shed row this year.
MUSKEGON, Mich. - Past Great Lakes Downs champion Sweetwater Promise makes her 2004 Great Lakes Downs debut in Friday's Larkspur Handicap, a $40,000 event for Michigan-bred fillies and mares. The Larkspur, run at six furlongs, is the sixth race on the card.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - It was about a month ago that Chris Block plotted a summer schedule for his stable star, Mystery Giver, but his plans crumbled Tuesday night. Mystery Giver, who was to have shipped to Churchill Downs early Wednesday morning, was found to have a swollen right hind ankle, and though the injury does not now appear to be serious, it will keep Mystery Giver out of Saturday's Opening Verse Handicap.
See How She Runs, whose career highlight reel includes wins in the Grade 1 Selene at Woodbine in Canada and the Grade 2 Fantasy at Oaklawn, has been retired, said her trainer, Donnie Von Hemel.
See How She Runs arrived at Pin Oak Stud in Versailles, Ky., on Monday. During her career she won 8 of 19 starts and $586,990. A 5-year-old, See How She Runs last raced May 15 and finished fifth in the $50,000 Honeymoon Stakes in her turf debut at Louisiana Downs.
"It's getting late in the season, so we won't breed her this year," said Clifford Barry, farm manager of Pin Oak.
MIAMI - Calder has long been known as a breeding ground for talented 2-year-olds during its summer meeting. But if the opening six weeks of this meet is any indication, 2004 may be the best year yet.
It's hard to remember another season that has produced as many dominating performances by 2-year-olds.