ALBANY, Calif. - One familiar face was missing from Friday's Forty-Niner Handicap at Golden Gate Fields - I'madrifter.
I'madrifter, a 5-year-old who won both the Grade 3 Berkeley and Lafayette handicaps here earlier this year, has been retired and will stand at stud at Applebite Farms in French Camp, Calif, in 2004.
"He was neat to train and real manageable," said trainer Steve Specht, who will particularly miss I'madrifter come New Year's Day.
SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - Ghost Chatter puts her four-race winning streak on the line Sunday at Sunland Park against 11 other statebred fillies and mares in the $125,000-added New Mexico Racing Commission Handicap.
Despite being one of three 3-year-olds in the race, she has been assigned co-highweight of 122 pounds in the six-furlong race.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - It has been 18 months since the Woodbine Entertainment Group bought out the Pacific Racing Association and took over horse racing in British Columbia under a subsidiary, Hastings Entertainment Inc. At the time of the purchase there was a great deal of optimism within the local industry that the new management group could turn things around in this neck of the woods.
After all, the Woodbine group had plenty of money to invest in the future, and it also had a proven track record operating one of the largest racing operations in North America.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Next Saturday's Sovereign Awards ceremony could be a feast or a famine for Bob Tiller, a finalist for the outstanding trainer award who is also represented by four nominees in the divisional categories.
"It's going to be an interesting evening," said Tiller. "I'm sure some people are going to be disappointed and upset; I just hope I'm not one of them."
Heading into the last two cards of the meeting, Tiller has clinched the trainer title here with 72 wins, nine better than runner-up Scott Fairlie.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day took off all mounts Friday at Churchill Downs, including Tenpins, the morning-line favorite in the $500,000 Clark Handicap. Day's agent, Doc Danner, said the jockey continues to be bothered by sinus problems.
Corey Lanerie was named to ride Tenpins for trainer Don Winfree.
It was the second straight program that Day took off all mounts. Day has a lengthy history of sinus problems and has undergone surgery at least once to correct them.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Some racing pundits have suggested that a one-mile dirt race would enhance the Breeders' Cup. The connections of Congaree would be all for that.
"If they had a one-turn mile we'd probably keep him in training till he was 10 years old," said Bob Baffert, who trains the 5-year-old Congaree for Bob and Janice McNair's Stonerside Stable. "He's a great miler."
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Jockey Edgar Prado will put the finishing touches on a career-best season this weekend while riding in major stakes at Aqueduct and Hollywood Park.
After Sunday, Prado, 36, will not ride again in the United States until opening day at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 3. Prado will travel to Japan to take part in a jockey challenge championship Dec. 6 and 7 and will spend the rest of December on vacation with his family.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Lead Story led a one-two sweep for trainer Carl Nafzger, drawing off for a surprisingly easy victory Thursday in the $334,200 Falls City Handicap, a Grade 2 race that marked the career finale for Take Charge Lady, who labored home a well-beaten fifth in the Churchill Downs fixture.
Over a sloppy track, Lead Story finished 6 1/2 lengths ahead of second-place stablemate Mayo on the Side, who had another six lengths on late-running Cloakof Vagueness. Misty Sixes narrowly beat Take Charge Lady, the 3-5 favorite, for fourth.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - They couldn't catch Bossanova.
Getting away to a clean start under Edgar Prado, Bossanova made the lead effortlessly, set moderate fractions, and held on for a one-half length victory over Papua in Thursday's Grade 3, $108,300 Fall Highweight Handicap before a Thanksgiving Day crowd of 4,337 at Aqueduct.
Savoy Special, who stumbled leaving the gate, chased Bossanova early, but had to settle for third. Speed Hunter finished fourth followed by Peeping Tom and Vodka.
