ARCADIA, Calif. - Last month's San Luis Obispo Handicap was such an evenly matched, exciting race that Santa Anita is running it again on Saturday, only this time as the $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes.
Like the San Luis Obispo, the San Luis Rey is a Grade 2 race that encompasses 1 1/2 miles of Santa Anita's downhill and infield turf course. Of the 11 horses in the San Luis Rey, seven are coming out of the San Luis Obispo, including the victorious Puerto Banus.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Continental Red was a mere pup of 6 when he won the San Luis Rey Stakes two years ago. The venerable California-bred gelding will try to equal Biggs as the oldest horse to win the 1 1/2-mile grass race, and join Cedar Key, Noble Dancer, and Hall of Famer John Henry as the only two-time winners of the San Luis Rey when it is run for the 53rd time on Saturday.
Lone Star Park has moved its annual jockey championship from June to October this year, hoping to build excitement leading up to the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, which the track will host on Oct. 30. The newly named International Jockey Championship will be held on Oct. 28.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Meadows management scrapped the $10,000 Governor's Speed Handicap, which was scheduled to be run on Saturday, after only four horses where entered in the six-furlong stakes.
The three highweights - Yesss (123 pounds), Knightsbridge Road (122), and Star of Elttaes (119) - were entered along with Lovers Son, who was assigned 117 pounds. The race figured to be among the most competitive of the meeting with those four, but management insisted upon at least five runners and none of the other three nominees could be induced to enter.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Quest Star led every step of the way to upset Man From Wicklow in the 2003 Pan American Handicap. But trainer Elliott Walden doesn't necessarily want to see Quest Star in front again when he returns to defend his title in the $200,000 Pan American on Saturday.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Wesley Ward won three races at three different racetracks on opposite coasts Wednesday, including the Irish O'Brien Stakes at Santa Anita with Bear Fan. It is a 4-year-old colt named Lifestyle, though, who may give the former rider his biggest thrills before the year is out.
River Cruise faded badly in her only start this season, a six-furlong race against optional claimers. Now, a month later, she's being asked to last 1 1/8 miles while rising in class. Her trainer, Larry Murray, is still looking for his first win of 2004.
Although those facts might prompt some to eliminate River Cruise as a contender in Saturday's $50,000 Gala Lil at Laurel Park, handicappers seeking some value in the field of seven older fillies and mares ought to give her a long look.
SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - Shemoveslikeaghost and Ghost Chatter, both 4-year-old daughters of New Mexico sire Ghostly Moves, meet once again in Saturday's $100,000-added City of Las Cruces Handicap at one mile.
Ghost Chatter, owned by M J Enterprises, has been assigned top weight of 123 pounds and will most likely be the favorite in the field of eight statebred fillies and mares. Ghost Chatter was a run-of-the-mill filly when transferred to the care of Henry Dominguez late last spring, but has won 6 of 8 since.
NEW ORLEANS - About a month ago, it looked like trainer Sam David would have a horse for the Gentilly Handicap. Actually, David has two, and the unexpected second horse, Mr. Sam, might be the better of them.
Mr. Sam easily won the prep race for the Gentilly, beating David's other hopeful, Old Lee, by four lengths. The two stablemates and nine others were entered Thursday in the $100,000 Gentilly, a one-mile grass race for Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds.