ELMONT, N.Y. - Grade 1 winners Harmony Lodge and House Party are standouts in Sunday's Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Park.
Six fillies and mares were entered in the $150,000 Gallant Bloom, a 6 1/2-furlong dirt race, which also drew Slews Final Answer, Alchemilla, Belle Artistic, and Literary Light.
ARCADIA, Calif. - A half-length win by Siphonizer in the Del Mar Futurity last month has made him more of a target than a horse to fear in Sunday's $250,000 Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita.
In the seven-furlong Futurity, Siphonizer was tested through the stretch and held off stablemate Minister Eric to win by a half-length.
A start in the Norfolk will offer clues as to whether Siphonizer was doing just enough to win at Del Mar and whether he can be as effective at 1 1/16 miles.
ARCADIA, Calif. - One prep race and three weeks separate Special Ring from a start in the $1.5 million Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita on Oct. 25.
The prep race comes in Sunday's $300,000 Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile. Then, the waiting game begins for Prestonwood Farm and trainer Julio Canani.
"It's up to him," Canani said. "I don't worry about the Oak Tree Mile."
Widely considered the top American hope for the BC Mile, Special Ring will be a heavy favorite in Sunday's Grade 2 race on turf, but there is no shortage of challengers.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - At least her owner knows a little something about the well-worn phrase, "on any given Sunday."
Desert Gold, quite possibly the longest shot in the Grade 1 Overbrook Spinster at Keeneland, is owned by the Stonerside Stable of Bob McNair, who also happens to own the Houston Texans franchise of the National Football League.
Four weeks ago, when the NFL season opened, the Texans shocked the Miami Dolphins in the kind of "any given Sunday" upset that trainer Pat Byrne is hoping Desert Gold can pull Sunday on Take Charge Lady.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Normally when an elite horse is withdrawn in the days leading up to a rich stakes race, a flood of new horses, with their trainers eager to capitalize on the missing star, are thrown into the mix.
Sunday's Grade 2 WinStar Galaxy at Keeneland is a rare exception. Even with trainer Christophe Clement passing the race with Voodoo Dancer, and with defending champ Owsley being retired recently, only six fillies and mares were entered in the $500,000 race.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Sunday's $60,000-added Courtship Stakes at Bay Meadows will serve as an important guidepost for the trainers of the six 2-year-old fillies entered in the six-furlong race.
The lightly raced fillies who have run in Washington and northern and Southern California will begin the sorting-out process that will determine their future direction.
Bianconi Baby, a 10-length winner in her Sept. 14 debut at Emerald Downs, is one of the contenders, but, obviously, has questions to answer for trainer Terry Gillihan.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Unbeaten 2-year-old Twisted Wit will test his ability around two turns Sunday in the $277,250 Grey Breeders' Cup Stakes.
The Grade 2 race is the richest and most important stakes for 2-year-olds at Woodbine. Wando, this year's Canadian Triple Crown victor, won the 2002 Grey, and Macho Uno captured the 2000 running before taking the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The turf training track opened for a special session here Friday, and the three horses who worked over the yielding surface had much in common.
Not Again Dan, Cut and Shoot, and Winter Whiskey all were $5,000 supplementary nominees for the $250,000 Cup and Saucer, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds here next Saturday.
And, with the recent wet weather having cut down sharply on turf training opportunities, Friday's opening allowed the three horses connections to assess their prospects.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Lenny the Lender, a 7-year-old gelding who is still looking for his first 2003 victory after seven tries, has emerged as Fort Erie's newest hero.
Last Sunday at Woodbine, at odds of 25-1, Lenny the Lender was just a nose short of nailing winner Bowman Mill at the wire in the Grade 2, $271,750 Sky Classic Handicap, a prep for the $1.5 million, 1 1/2-mile Pattison Canadian International on Oct. 19.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Lord Nelson has been the dominant older horse at Hastings for the past three years but one of the major races at Hastings has eluded him so far. His trainer, Dino Condilenios, is hoping to rectify that situation when Lord Nelson runs in the Grade 3, $100,000, Premier's next Sunday.