ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Trainer Graham Motion has kept one eye fixed on the national weather map the last several days. It's common practice for a horseman pointing a grass horse to a stakes race, as Motion has been with Dr. Brendler.
But there's one slight twist to Motion's designs - instead of avoiding rain, he is trying to steer into it.
"It's a little unusual to be looking for wet weather with a grass horse," Motion said Wednesday afternoon.
Jockey Donnie Meche's bid to resume riding was rebuffed Thursday when stewards at Louisiana Downs declined to license him. Earlier this week, a civil district court in New Orleans stayed a one-year suspension imposed on Meche by the Louisiana Racing Commission. Meche had hoped to begin riding again this week. His license expired June 30.
A steward at Louisiana Downs who asked for anonymity said Meche had not been denied a license. Rather, he said, "It was recommended that he not be licensed at this time."
ALTOONA, Iowa - Champali, who is 4 for 6 this year while racing exclusively in stakes company, has landed in his softest spot in months in Saturday's $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows. A field of six was entered in the 1 1/16-mile race.
Champali, who is trained by Greg Foley, enters the Iowa Derby off a two-length victory over Lone Star Sky in the one-mile Northern Dancer at Churchill on June 14. In his previous start, Champali finished second in the Grade 3 Derby Trial, beaten 2 1/2 lengths by graded stakes winner Midas Eyes.
EDMONTON, Alberta - Sixthirtyjoe, Alberta's reigning horse of the year, and Kalfaari, the top older horse at Assiniboia Downs, are the 120-pound co-highweights here in Saturday's one-mile Spangled Jimmy.
Sixthirtyjoe lost his first four starts this year, but returned to winning form in the Journal Handicap here two weeks ago, just in time to deal with the challenge of Winnipeg's Kalfaari, who has won six straight going back to last season.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Leading trainer Dino Condilenios thought enough of One of the Lonely to begin his year in the John Longden 6000 on June 14. One of the Lonely ran evenly to finish fifth in his first start since last November.
If One of the Lonely is as good as Condilenios thinks, he is the one to beat in a $35,000 optional race for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles that goes as the ninth of 11 races Saturday at Hastings.
Also on Saturday's card is the first leg of the Endurance Series, where stakes winner Find Our Star figures to be a solid choice.
AUBURN, Wash. - Rightbyu will attempt to become the first horse to win five races at the Emerald Downs meeting when she takes on eight tough rivals in Saturday's best race, a 6 1/2-furlong test for older fillies and mares eligible to be claimed for $32,000 to $25,000.
Rightbyu is the only contestant entered for the lesser tag, and as a consequence she will carry low-weight of 116 pounds with regular rider Sandi Gann up.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - From the major racecourses in Europe to points as far away as Australia and California, no major stakes is too far from the reach of Irish trainer Dermot Weld.
Even in an era when shipping horses around the world has become commonplace, Weld has a remarkable list of achievements outside Ireland, where he has been the champion trainer eight times.
Saturday at Hollywood Park, Weld will attempt to win the second running of the $750,000 American Oaks with Dimitrova, who is making her first start outside Ireland.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The sixth race at Hollywood Park on Saturday is a $62,000 allowance race over 1 1/16 miles, and it has all the elements of a preview for the California Cup Classic.
Even though that $250,000 race is four months away at Santa Anita, it would be no surprise if it included the stakes winners Calkins Road, General Challenge, Romanceishope, Sky Jack, and Yougottawanna, all of whom will run on Saturday.
The allowance race is part of a pick six that features a $1 million guaranteed pool. The program includes three stakes.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - For the last two years Lord Nelson has been the top older horse in British Columbia. But after Lord Nelson started this season with losses in two sprints, his trainer, Dino Condilenios was worried he had lost a step. The classy 6-year-old gelding left little doubt, however, that at nine furlongs he is still the champ in these parts, as he scored a three-length victory in the Grade 3 Lieutenant Governors' here on Tuesday.
PLEASANTON, Calif. - The quality of Neil Drysdale's stable is such that he doesn't start many horses on the northern California fair circuit. But on Saturday he will send Lhiz to the Alameda County Fair for her U.S. debut in the $50,000 Alameda County Fillies and Mares Handicap at 1 1/16 miles.
A Chilean-bred 5-year-old mare, Lhiz won a pair of Group 1 stakes in her native land, where she had 4 wins and 3 seconds in 10 starts.