ELMONT, N.Y. - Every fall for the past 10 years, Kiaran McLaughlin has left New York for Dubai to train for the Maktoum family. In early September, McLaughlin announced he would not be returning to the Middle East, and instead would begin operating a public stable.
At the time of his decision, McLaughlin couldn't possibly have guessed how quickly his public stable would grow in quality.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The only time that trainer Pete Vestal ever ran Crafty Shaw in a grass race was last year at Belmont Park, where the horse was coming off a lengthy layoff.
"It was a very unfair assessment of his ability," said Vestal.
Crafty Shaw faded after setting the pace that day, but he will get another try on turf as the probable favorite in Wednesday's feature at Keeneland.
On Wednesday, veteran claimers Diplomatical and Call Me Mr. Vain will meet in an unusual match race at Suffolk Downs. The winner of the race will become the winningest horse in North America so far this year.
Both horses have managed to pile up 10 victories in 2003 and have at least a two-race edge on their nearest rivals - seven horses have won eight races so far this year.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Northern Californians often have little local rooting interest in the Breeders' Cup, but this year fans can root for two local jockeys as well as one local horse who will be on the Breeders' Cup undercard.
Bay Meadows' two leading riders, Russell Baze and Jason Lumpkins, have Breeders' Cup mounts: Lumpkins aboard Private Horde in the Sprint and Baze on Toccet in the Turf. Baze will also ride Lacie Girl for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer in the six-furlong Very Subtle Handicap.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Sovereign Attire should be among the favorites in Wednesday's Woodbine headliner, a 1 1/16-mile preliminary allowance, despite his inability to win this year.
Sovereign Attire has taken 10 cracks at the first allowance category, dating back to his final 2002 start, and has hit the board in seven of them. He ran second in each of his three most recent starts, and gave up the lead in deep stretch in his latest after looking the part of a winner at the sixteenth pole.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Maybe the third time was a charm for Volga when she won Sunday's E.P. Taylor Stakes.
She finished second by a neck at 6-1 in the 2001 E.P. Taylor, and third by two lengths as the even-money favorite last year.
Volga's first start in the Taylor was also her first appearance in North America, and her last for trainer Andre Fabre. She made her next 10 starts for trainer Christophe Clement, but after finishing fifth in the Oct. 5 WinStar Galaxy at Keeneland, she was turned over to Kiaran McLaughlin.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Phoenix Reach had been no match for Brian Boru when the pair met last time out in the St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster, England, on Sept. 13.
Brian Boru was a 1 1/4-length winner there as the favorite, while Phoenix Reach was beaten a total of 2 3/4 lengths while third.
But the circumstances were much different Sunday at Woodbine, and so was the result as Phoenix Reach won the Grade 1 Canadian International while Brian Boru, again the favorite, finished third.
Vals Fortune, a Quarter Horse, earned a $500,000 bonus when he picked up his ninth straight win, taking the Grade 1, $232,242 Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders' Association Futurity in Bossier City, La.
The LQHBA offered the bonus to the horse who could sweep the Mardi Gras Futurity at Fair Grounds and the association's Sale Futurity and Futurity at Louisiana Downs.
Vals Fortune ($3.20) was a dominating 1 1/4-length winner in the 400-yard race, covering the distance in 19.82 seconds. Gilbert Ortiz rode the winner for trainer Heath Taylor.
Caro's Royalty, a 41-1 longshot, upset the $35,000 Brother Brown Stakes in Oklahoma City, winning by a 1 1/2 lengths over April's Lucky Boy. It was another five lengths back in third to Abbi's Choice.
Caro's Royalty ($84.20), who is 10, was prominent from the start in the five-furlong turf race, covering the distance in 57.24 seconds. Robert Lester was aboard for owner-trainer Greg Frye.
Earlier in his career, Caro's Royalty won two $100,000 stakes at the five-furlong turf-sprint distance of the Brother Brown.