ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Stormthebarricade came into the June 14 Victoria Stakes as the odds-on favorite, based on his winning debut here May 11.
But the Victoria came close to turning into a nightmare, as Stormthebarricade clipped heels heading into the far turn and fell to the racetrack.
"Fortunately, apart from a slightly busted mouth, he came out of that in one piece," said Laurie Silvera, trainer and co-owner of Stormthebarricade.
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan - Eleven 2-year-olds, nominated while their dams were in foal, will go in search of their first stakes win in Saturday's two divisions of the $5,000 Saskatchewan Futurity at Marquis Downs.
The conditions of the races stipulate the foal be Canadian-bred and the mare be Canadian-owned. Both divisions will go over six furlongs, with the first for colts and geldings and the second for fillies.
Five were entered in the first division, race 1 on Saturday, and the favorite should be Deputy Brawler.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Lucky Fern and La Grande Mamma, each a winner in her career debut, meet Saturday at Woodbine in the $137,375 Nandi Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies.
Lucky Fern came from just off the pace under Jim McAleney to win a five-furlong maiden special June 21. Her time of 59 seconds was good for a 66 Beyer Speed Figure.
Trainer John Ross said he wasn't surprised by her professional effort.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Brian Bochinski wasn't unhappy a fair amount of rain fell here Monday.
"My wife and I studied the Form last night and we figured we were going to have a good day," said Bochinski after he rode five winners from his seven mounts on Fort Erie's Tuesday program. "It helped us out lots that they took them off the turf."
SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Minnesota-bred 3-year olds are featured in the Minnesota Derby and Oaks, each contested at one mile and 70 yards for a purse of $50,000.
She's Scrumpy merits the favorite's role in the eight-horse Oaks. She won last season's Northern Lights Debutante and beat older statebred rivals in the Princess Elaine in her last start after that race was transferred from the turf to the main track. She's Scrumpy has raced around two turns in her last five starts, at Oaklawn, Prairie Meadows, and Canterbury. She's Scrumpy can handle any kind of pace scenario.
ALTOONA, Iowa - Coalpepper heads a wide-open field of nine, including an entry, in the $50,000 added Iowa Stallion Stakes for 3-year-olds at Prairie Meadows.
Coalpepper, a rapidly improving gelding trained by Dave McShane, rallied strongly through the stretch to finish second, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in an entry-level allowance at Saturday's mile and 70-yard distance in his most recent start here July 4.
Golden Tour makes her turf debut in a full field of 13 in Saturday's $100,000 Queen City Oaks, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old Ohio-bred fillies at River Downs.
In her most recent start, Golden Tour scored an upset at 22-1 in the $50,000 Petro Memorial at Thistledown on June 21. Golden Tour, now 2 for 4 lifetime, pressed the early pace before taking command on the far turn and drawing off under jockey Tommy Meyers in the 1 1/16-mile Petro.
John Bourke trains Golden Tour, whom he also owns and bred.
Dale Romans will be tending to his 27-horse stable at Saratoga, and Paul J. McGee will be in Chicago to saddle Honor in War for the Arlington Handicap. But both trainers will take time Saturday to focus on Ellis Park, in Henderson, Ky., where each has a major contender in the 34th running of the $100,000 Don Bernhardt Stakes.
EAST BOSTON, Mass. - Eight 3-year-old fillies will try to follow the show the New England 3-year-old colts and geldings put on in last week's Suffolk Downs Derby with their own inaugural race, the $35,000 Suffolk Downs Oaks.
This year's crop of local 3-year-olds has been surprisingly strong, and Strike 'N Go's nose victory over Boston Fox in last week's derby was the culmination of a much-anticipated clash. The fillies haven't been as flashy, but the group gathered for Saturday's Oaks has potential.
DEL MAR, Calif.-A string of longshots on Wednesday's opening day at Del Mar has produced a pick six carryover of $165,313 for Thursday's eight-race program.
The pick six will cover the third through eighth races on Thursday. Here is a glance at the changes and leading contenders for Thursday's pick six.