VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Crystal Gala looks like the one to beat in the eighth race at Hastings, a $50,000 optional claimer for 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs. It's a competitive race with a full field, though, and it would be hard to single Crystal Gala in the pick six, which carries a guaranteed pool of $50,000.
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DRF Past Performances
CALGARY, Alberta - Fly Esteem, winner of the major prep for Saturday's President's at Stampede Park, will be the 119-pound highweight and probable favorite in a field of six for the six-furlong handicap for 3-year-old colts and geldings.
The $40,000 President's is the first stakes race for local runners on the trail to the 74th Alberta Derby on June 19.
Fly Esteem, a front-running winner of the restricted Alberta Premier's Futurity last September, opened his 3-year-old season by employing similar tactics in his prep score May 2.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Forever Grand and Mulligan the Great are the two big names in Saturday's $134,750 New Providence Stakes at Woodbine, but longshots Norfolk Knight and Sophia's Prince should not be overlooked in the six-furlong dash for Ontario-sired runners.
Norfolk Knight, a huge 17-hands-high gelding, earned nearly $250,000 last year and finished first or second in eight of 14 starts. He capped his 2003 campaign with back-to-back allowance scores at seven furlongs under apprentice Jill Scharfstein.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Rare Friends, the Canadian champion 2-year-old of 2001, will make his second start of the year at Fort Erie on Saturday.
Just 13 days ago, Rare Friends scored in his opener at his Woodbine base. The $78,500 allowance race was his 10th win from 19 starts, and it rang up his earnings to $704,014.
Pat Husbands was aboard for the triumph. Apprentice Corey Fraser takes over the reins at the Fort.
BALTIMORE - As much talent as Southern Image has shown winning five of his first six career starts, trainer Michael Machowsky thought the horse could be even better if he just acted more professionally.
Machowsky believes that time has come. If he's right, Southern Image could to rise to the upper echelon of the handicap division in Friday's Grade 1, $500,000 Pimlico Special when he goes in a field that includes Funny Cide, Dynever, Midway Road, and three other stakes winners. The Pimlico Special is one of five stakes on a 12-race card that begins at 12:45 p.m.
BOSSIER CITY, La. - The home of the Super Derby is now the home of a super casino. Louisiana Downs will open for a 102-date Thoroughbred meet on Friday, and patrons returning to the track for the first time this year will be struck by a new 156,000-square-foot slots casino and dining area that now serves as the main entrance to the track.
"Anyone who comes to the property can't leave without saying, 'Wow, what a place,' " said Ray Tromba, vice president of racing operations for Harrah's Louisiana Downs.
BOSSIER CITY, La. - There will be lots of John Franks stories traded on Friday at Louisiana Downs.
The track will honor the late Eclipse Award-winning owner and breeder by renaming its turf course for him and a new stakes, the $50,000 John Franks Memorial, which drew 13 horses for its inaugural running Friday.
Also, a commissioned sculptured bust of Franks will be placed on the first floor of the track.
CALGARY, Alberta - A first-level allowance for 3-year-olds drew a strong field of nine as Friday's featured eighth race.
Three-year-olds hold the spotlight here the entire weekend with the 36th running of the President's for colts and geldings on Saturday followed by the 31st running of the Mount Royal for fillies the next day.
BALTIMORE - Wando will be on the outside looking in when he breaks from post 12 in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Argent Dixie Handicap at Pimlico.
The Dixie, run at nine furlongs on the turf, is one of seven undercard stakes on Saturday's 13-race Preakness card at Pimlico. First post is 10:45 a.m. Eastern.
, last year's Canadian Triple Crown winner, is coming off a solid allowance victory on turf at Keeneland on April 18. Overall, Wando is 2 for 4 on turf, including a victory in the Breeders' Stakes - the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown - at 12 furlongs.