ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - It's been in the back of Wayne Catalano's head for several months that Prairie Slam might be a nice horse - a really nice horse. How Prairie Slam runs Wednesday at Arlington will go a long way toward determining if Catalano is right.
Prairie Slam was entered in Wednesday's eighth race, one of two second-level allowances on a surprisingly strong card. The nine-race program kicks off Arlington's closing week, as Chicago racing shifts to Hawthorne on Sunday.
POMONA, Calif. - Can a maiden be a standout in a $50,000 stakes race? The question comes up Wednesday at Fairplex Park, where 2-year-old filly Poet's Studio is expected to score her first career win in the Black Swan Stakes.
A field of 12 entered the 1 1/16-mile Black Swan, race 11 on a marathon 13-race card. That Poet's Studio is still a maiden after three starts is less significant than that she is the only starter who has raced a route of ground. And she did it well. Poet's Studio finished second in a one-mile race Sept. 4 at Del Mar.
POMONA, Calif. - Trainer Jeff Mullins will come out of hiding this week at Fairplex Park. Mullins, who won 18 races with 65 starters during the last two seasons at the Los Angeles County Fair, started only eight runners (two wins) the first 10 days of the 2003 meet, but said Monday "I've got quite a few coming up for the last week here."
Does he ever.
EDMONTON, Alberta - Leading up to the $50,000 Red Diamond Express here last Saturday, owner-trainer Deanne Davies was confident that Sixthirtyjoe would rebound from a shockingly poor outing at Assiniboia Downs in his last start.
And Davies was right on the money, as Sixthirtyjoe, a 5-year-old gelding, won impressively in a strong field in the Diamond Express during the Alberta Fall Classic.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Reade Baker will take two shots at Wednesday's Woodbine feature when he runs the uncoupled duo of Fritz Blitz and Taipan.
Fritz Blitz should be favored in the 6 1/2-furlong allowance on turf. A 3-year-old Stronach Stable runner by Friendly Lover, Fritz Blitz set honest fractions before weakening when sixth in his July 24 debut.
CHICAGO - Recovered from a lung infection that forced her off schedule, Everyday Angel is on target to start Saturday at Arlington in the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Lassie.
Everyday Angel was to have run Sept. 13 in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies at Turfway Park, but days before the race she contracted an upper respiratory infection that prevented her from starting.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Apprentice jockeys Alex Bisono and Juan Avila got their first riding victories on back-to-back days Friday and Saturday at Bay Meadows, and Bisono has a chance to notch victory No. 2 in Wednesday's feature race.
Bisono, whose brothers Caesar and John are also riders, can tack 102 pounds and is listed to ride Stormy Zone at 105 pounds in the seventh race. Stormy Zone will be getting 10-12 pounds from his six rivals in the one-mile race for $25,000 claimers.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - A pair of Canadian-bred 2-year-olds stole the show in open company here last weekend, when Winter Whiskey prevailed in Sunday's $134,250 Swynford and Dream About romped in Saturday's $268,250 Mazarine.
Winter Whiskey, a gelding owned by Ten Goal Racing and trainer Catherine Day Phillips, won his debut at 6 1/2 furlongs here Aug. 9. He then finished third, beaten 2 1/2 lengths, in the seven-furlong Simcoe, a yearling sales stakes here Sept. 1.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Leading rider Pedro Alvarado guided Roscoe Pito ($4.80) to a comfortable two-length win in the $326,250 British Columbia Derby at Hastings.
Roscoe Pito, who is trained by John Snow, went head and head with Bold Texas for the first seven furlongs of the 1 1/8-mile race, opened up a two-length lead at the top of the stretch, and was never threatened while maintaining his margin over Steady Smiler, who made a late move to get up for second.
Smokey Glacken ($4.20) used her superior early speed to score a 2 1/2-length victory in the $50,000 Forward Gal Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Monmouth Park.
"We know she has a ton of speed," said trainer James Jerkens. "I'd like to see now if we can take her back and sit off horses."
Jerkens said Smokey Glacken, a half-sister to 1997 sprint champion Smoke Glacken, could make her next start in the Grade 3 Astorita, a 6 1/2-furlong stakes at Belmont Park, on Oct. 12.