AUBURN, Wash. - The 2-year-old fillies at last year's Emerald Downs meeting never produced a definitive leader; four different fillies won the four stakes for the division.
All four - Sala de Oro, Crystal Mt. Stevie, Melba Jewel, and Americas Pride - have been entered in Sunday's $40,000 U.S. Bank Stakes at six furlongs, which now takes on the weight of a rubber match.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - The older handicap division at Hastings looks deeper than it has been in recent years. The 2003 crop of 3-year-olds was exceptional, so this season, local horse of the year Roscoe Pito, Illusive Force, and Stratoplan will be squaring off against Lord Nelson and company.
Of course, they all have to go through Lord Nelson. The 7-year-old gelding has been the top older horse in the province for the past three years, and his trainer, Dino Condilenios, is hoping for another strong campaign.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Last year, trainer Mike Keogh kept Wando and Mobil on separate paths to the $1 million Queen's Plate and the colts delivered on the big day with a knockout one-two punch.
And while trainer Catherine Day Phillips isn't about to project a similar scenario, she does have two solid prospects for the 2004 Queen's Plate in A Bit O'Gold and Winter Whiskey, who both checked back into Woodbine on Tuesday after spending the winter at Classic Mile Farm in Florida.
"They're doing great," said Day Phillips. "They seem to be very happy to be back home."
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Agrivating General returned from a five month layoff to defend his title in the $50,000 Premiere Stakes on Thursday night at Lone Star Park. Desert Darby finished a neck back in second, while it was another two and three-quarter lengths to third-place finisher Lights On Broadway.
The Premiere, a one-mile race for Texas-breds, was run as the first race and it opened the meet at Lone Star.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, whose conditional license was terminated by Santa Anita stewards on April 2 after he missed a mandatory drug test in January, has asked the California Horse Racing Board for a stay that would allow him to resume riding while he appeals the termination of his license.
Board chairman John Harris said a decision on Valenzuela's request could be made soon.
Water Cannon goes for his fifth straight win - all accomplished since trainer Linda Albert added blinkers - and a berth in next month's Preakness Stakes in Saturday's $100,000 at Pimlico.
Despite his accomplishments, Water Cannon probably won't be favored and isn't even close to the horse with the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Erratic behavior in the stretch cost Megahertz dearly in the Santa Ana Handicap last month. As she swooped to the lead, Megahertz drifted in and bothered several members of the field. She was promptly disqualified from first and placed last.
When returns in Saturday's $200,000 Santa Barbara Handicap at Santa Anita, trainer Bobby Frankel expects her to display better manners. Alex Solis has regained the mount from Victor Espinoza after missing the Santa Ana to ride Pleasantly Perfect to victory in the $6 million Dubai World Cup.
CHICAGO - Few come to gritty Cicero, Ill., looking to heal.
The 4-year-old colt Ten Most Wanted arrived Wednesday, in from glamorous Hollywood Park. There's a race for him Saturday at the National Jockey Club at Hawthorne meet, the Grade 3, $250,000 National Jockey Club Handicap. Besides Ten Most Wanted, five horses were entered; Ten Most Wanted is supposed to beat them handily, and he will be heavily favored to do so.
More is at stake.
"I still think he'll be one of the best horses in the country," said Ten Most Wanted's trainer, Wally Dollase.
But when?
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Three Grade 1 winners and a millionaire make for an interesting edition of the Grade 3 Bed o' Roses Breeders' Cup Handicap at Aqueduct on Saturday.
In the $150,000-added Bed o' Roses, Buy the Sport, who won the Grade 1 Gazelle at Belmont Park in September, and Passing Shot, the winner of the Grade 1 Personal Ensign last year at Saratoga, meet Smok'n Frolic, a winner of more than $1.4 million. In addition to those three, Grade 1 winner Nonsuch Bay, Victory Encounter, Princess Dixie, and Chirimoya were entered in the one-mile Bed o' Roses.
