SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Owner Michael Dubb, who has campaigned stakes winners Alysweep and Tom's Thunder with trainer Pat Reynolds, has transferred 15 horses from Reynolds to trainer Joe Orseno.
Dubb, 47, declined to be specific on why he made the change, other than to say, "I did what I thought was best for the horses.''
SANTA ROSA, Calif. - Trish's Diamond could be the one to beat in Saturday's $40,000-added Cavonnier Juvenile Stakes at the Sonoma County Fair.
The six 2-year-olds entered in the 5 1/2-furlong race are an interesting lot. Four of the six come off their maiden victory, and the fifth, Crown Royalty, comes off two straight victories, including a stakes win in Idaho.
The one maiden in the race is stakes-placed filly A Real Lady, who will be ridden by Russell Baze.
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.