DEL MAR, Calif. - The two best handicap horses in California are not starting in Sunday's $250,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar, a traditional prep for the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 24.
Congaree, the winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup last month and three other stakes earlier this year, worked six furlongs Thursday and is under consideration for the Pacific Classic.
If he does run, Candy Ride, an unbeaten star from South America, will be waiting.
The $50,000 Rebel for 2-year-old fillies at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., on Sunday presents a common dilemma when handicapping races for young horses: Does one side with the battle-tested model, or an exciting upstart?
There are plenty of both in the Rebel, a 5 1/2-furlong race that drew 14 fillies. There will be 13 betting interests with the coupling of Miss Meister and Queen Trigger.
Royal Pet, a battle-tested filly, could go favored based on the
The fun is gone - Doubly Fun that is - and the fillies and mares entered in the Ms. Southern Ohio Stakes Stakes at River Downs are breathing a sigh of relief.
Doubly Fun, the winner of the last three runnings of the Ms. Southern Ohio Stakes, is not back to defend her title this season. Ten Ohio-sired and bred fillies and mares will try and fill her large horseshoes in the 1 1/16-mile turf race, which carries a purse of $40,000.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Malcolm Pierce will be looking to play giant-killer at Woodbine next Saturday when he sends out Strizzi in the Breeders' Stakes, in which Wando will be attempting to complete a sweep of the Canadian Triple Crown races.
But in the meantime, Pierce will be looking for success in the final leg of another series, as Alpha Saphire will start here in Monday's $250,000 Wonder Where.
AUBURN, Wash. - When last seen in the afternoon, Flying Notes was scorching the 1 1/8 miles of the $125,000 Emerald Breeders' Cup Derby in 1:45.40, the fastest nine-furlong clocking in North America for 2002.
That was a full 11 months ago, and things have not gone smoothly in the interim for Flying Notes, who will return to action in Sunday's $50,000 Governor's Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - The Vancouver City Council, which for a long time has had a no-slot-machines policy, approved a motion that would allow Hastings to apply to install slot machines at the track. In a 5-4 vote, the council agreed to consider allowing Hastings to install up to 900 slot machines. If final approval is met, Hastings management estimates that purses would double by 2005.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Passionate Bird will be heavily favored when she invades from Canterbury Park to take on eight other fillies and mares in the $35,000 Winnipeg Sun Stakes going 1 1/16 miles Sunday.
In her most recent race, the one-mile Queen's Handicap at Horsemen's Park in Omaha on July 12, Passionate Bird pressed the pace early before opening up and holding on to win by 1 1/2 lengths with something left.
She did the same thing two races back in the one-mile Minnesota HBPA Mile over the turf at Canterbury Park on July 5, winning by two lengths.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Wake at Noon, Canada's reigning Horse of the Year and champion sprinter, will try to win his second straight route race Sunday at Woodbine in the $136,500 Seagram Cup Stakes.
A seven-horse field entered the 1 1/16-mile race, the eighth race on a 10-race card. The Grade 1 Haskell Invitational from Monmouth Park will be simulcast.
DEL MAR, Calif. - For the second time in the Del Mar meeting that began on July 23, there is a double carryover. There were no winning tickets in Thursday's pick six, leaving a carryover of $524,087 for Friday's eight-race program.
The pick six covers the third through eighth races on Friday. Here is a glance at the changes and leading contenders.