It's not easy for a jockey to lead the standings at Louisiana Downs if he does not regularly ride for one of the meet's two powerhouse trainers, Cole Norman or Steve Asmussen, but that's exactly what Kirk LeBlanc is doing at the Bossier City, La., track.
Going into the races on Thursday, LeBlanc had an 87-83 lead in the standings over defending champ Gerard Melancon. He is working to secure his second Louisiana Downs title, having won his first in 2001.
AB What a Runner - undefeated, a champion, and a millionaire - will be an overwhelming choice to advance to the finals of the Grade 1, $250,000-estimated Los Alamitos Derby when she runs in the 400-yard trials at Los Alamitos on Saturday night.
The 10 fastest qualifiers from the trials go on to the Nov. 8 finals.
Owned by Dennie and Kris Hill, AB What a Runner was last year's champion 2-year-old. She won the $1.9 million All American Futurity and turned in the all-time fastest quarter-mile by a juvenile, 20.993 seconds, while winning her All American Futurity trial.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Commendation has a lot more to do to even approach what his highly decorated sibling has accomplished, but at least he's off to a good start. As a 2-year-old half-brother to Take Charge Lady, Commendation can keep heading in a positive direction Friday in the $100,000 Bourbon County Stakes at Keeneland.
STICKNEY, Ill. - When Breeders' Cup Juvenile contender Cactus Ridge went down with an injury last weekend, his trainer, Bret Calhoun, felt the blow. Calhoun had never trained a horse who had so much talent, and he isn't sure he ever will again. But if Calhoun wants a cushion, he can look at his Hawthorne meet as a whole. Through Sunday, Calhoun had seven wins, four seconds, and a third from just 14 starters.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Any horse with designs on handicap stakes at the just-begun Portland Meadows meet should check the name on his bridle. If it doesn't say "Lethal Grande" he should probably think again.
That was the apparent conclusion to be drawn from Saturday's six-furlong Inaugural Handicap, which the 4-year-old Lethal Grande won in an authoritative performance.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Woodbine doesn't have much of a Breeders' Cup contingent this year, the only locally based representatives being Perfect Soul and Soaring Free in the Mile.
But that won't stop the money from flowing freely here Saturday when Woodbine offers a host of Thoroughbred wagering opportunities, including simulcasts of the 12-race Breeders' Cup Day program from Santa Anita, the abbreviated cards from Belmont and Keeneland, and the full 10-race slate from Fort Erie - in addition to 11 live races.
Beginning Nov. 1, a horse who tests positive in New York for the illegal blood-enhancing agent erythropoietin will be prohibited from racing until the drug clears the horse's body, according to a rule passed by the New York York State Racing and Wagering Board at a meeting on Tuesday.
ARCADIA, Calif. - After 28 starts, mostly in claiming races, Expresso Bay has Breeders' Cup written all over him. The notion is not as absurd as it sounds.
Claimed last out by Ted H. West and owner Bruce Hochman, Expresso Bay has a long way to go before he can be compared to West's best $50,000 claims. They are rags-to-riches Budroyale, runner-up in the 1999 BC Classic, and rejuvenated former claimer Bluesthestandard, a contender Saturday in the BC Sprint. Both became graded stakes winners after being claimed.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Eight 2-year-old maiden fillies, all making their turf debuts, present an interesting challenge to handicappers at Bay Meadows on Thursday.
For half the field, the one-mile race will mark not only a first time on turf, but also a first try around two turns.
With much uncertainty surrounding the race, it should be a good betting proposition. The horse worth looking at could be Fair Millielillie.