INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Trainer Nick Canani says he has regrouped. He returned to California with owner Michael Gill in tow and started claiming enough horses to build one of the largest stables on this circuit. He also ran a few of those claims back quickly. Too quickly, Canani now believes.
He lost with his first six starters at Hollywood Park, a mere blip for most large barns, but for Gill, it is perceived as a severe drought.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Clouds of Gold, a commendable third in the Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes, heads the featured eighth race on the final Wednesday night card of the Woodbine meeting.
A field of eight fillies and mares was drawn for the $80,000 optional claimer, which will be run at 1 1/16 miles.
Clouds of Gold, a $32,000 claim last fall by trainer Ken Parsley, reached full bloom in midsummer, when she won a second-level allowance and finished third behind Royal Dalliance and Tuff Chick in the Belle Mahone Stakes.
NEW ORLEANS - Ben Huffman, the new racing secretary at Fair Grounds, sat staring at his computer screen at 8 a.m. Monday, watching entries for Thursday's card here slowly trickle into the system.
"It's slow, but we just opened," Huffman said.
By the time the entry box closed about three hours later, it was slow no more. Ninety-five horses, including also-eligibles, were entered for opening day at Fair Grounds, a relief to Huffman and to a racetrack hoping to break out of the cloud surrounding the inception of its 132nd season.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Few people were happier to hear the news that Sightseek will not race in the Falls City Handicap than trainer Ken McPeek, whose stable star, Take Charge Lady, has become a strong favorite for the Thanksgiving Day fixture.
"Of course we're glad she's not coming," said McPeek. "It's one less bear we'll have to wrestle."
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Smokey Glacken outsprinted several rivals to make the early lead, then carried her speed all the way to win Sunday's Grade 3, $112,200 by 3 3/4 lengths at Aqueduct.
Longshot Baldomera rallied from well off the pace to get second, a half-length in front of Stoic. Forest Music, the even-money favorite, tired to fifth after chasing the hot early pace.
The victory was the third in four career starts for Smokey Glacken, a half-sister to 1997 champion sprinter, Smoke Glacken.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Fencelineneighbor captured her second stakes race in the five starts since being purchased privately by John and Jerry Amerman when she won the $73,400 for 3-year-old fillies on the turf at Hollywood Park.
Fencelineneighbor ($7.60) was given a perfect ride by jockey Patrick Valenzuela. After tracking the early pacesetter, Shezsospiritual, Fencelineneighbor roared to the lead turning into the stretch, opened a 2 1/2-length advantage a furlong out, and held off 2-1 favorite Katdogawn to win by a half-length.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Six Sexy Sisters had a tough act to follow, with older brother Wando having been the toast of the town here this season.
But Six Sexy Sisters certainly has held up her side of the sibling rivalry and is perfect in two outings after winning the $160,950 Ontario Lassie here on Sunday.
"I thought she ran lovely," said trainer Mike Keogh, who won his 11th stakes of the year but his first with a horse not named Wando or Mobil.
ALBANY, Calif. - Three stakes winners and an undefeated runner square off in Wednesday's feature at Golden Gate Fields, a $50,000 optional claimer at six furlongs.
Sempai, Con Quixote, and Texas Chili are the three stakes winners in a field of six. Sempai recently defeated Con Quixote by a half-length in a $40,000 claimer, and Texas Chili was third in the Albany Handicap in his last start.
Constant Thunder, who made his debut Oct. 2 as a 4-year-old, is 2 for 2 in his career.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel abruptly canceled plans to run two of his stable stars, Sightseek and Medaglia d'Oro, in rich handicaps at Churchill Downs this week, saying he believed both horses were assigned excessive weight.
ALBANY, Calif. - The Herc took the lead out of the gate, extended it on the turn and cruised to victory in the $65,600 Golden Bear Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday.
A $50,000 claim at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita, The Herc won the Sunny Slope Stakes in his first start for trainer Gary Stute. He faded badly in the Pinjara at one mile on the turf but returned to a sprint Sunday and was never challenged.
