LOUISVILLE, Ky. - When it comes to buying top-class horses in foreign lands, the consensus of experienced horsemen in the United States is that France, England, and Argentina probably are the best places to start looking.
But Zimbabwe?
"It's not even on the radar screen," said Barry Irwin, whose Team Valor syndicate last August purchased an interest in the Zimbabwean superstar Ipi Tombe.
LOUISVILLE, KY. - The unidentified bettor who won a Churchill Downs-record $1.1 million pick six Wednesday is a man who bought a $6,720 ticket through his phone account at Coeur d'Alene, a casino and resort located some 30 miles southeast of Spokane, Wash., in the northern Idaho panhandle town of Worley.
"The man who won has requested that no information about him be released," said the Coeur d'Alene off-track betting manager, Diana Henry. "I can say the gentleman is totally excited. I think he's still in shock."
EAST BOSTON, Mass. - Last week the stars all came up to Suffolk Downs from New York to show off in the Moseley. This week there's a local star returning from New York, as last year's top juvenile filly in New England, Sweet Samantha, races in the $35,000 Kayla's a Gem Stakes.
It's fitting that in Virginia, home to some of the bloodiest Civil War battles, a stakes race at Colonial Downs on Saturday may pit a brother against a brother.
Trainer Lawrence Murray and owner Sondra Bender have entered two half-brothers, the 9-year-old Buenos Dias and the 5-year-old Tam's Terms, in Saturday's $50,000 Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs. Both are out of the Naskra mare Tamanaco Day.
MIAMI - Trainer Angel Salinas got away with a little highway robbery by running the extremely fast Usual Manner under a $32,000 price tag when he successfully launched the young filly's career at Calder earlier this month. On Saturday, Salinas and Usual Manner will try to steal the major portion of the $100,000 purse up for grabs in the 5 1/2-furlong J j'sdream Stakes, the first stakes race for 2-year-olds at Calder this season.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Three years ago, John Simms, in his second year as a trainer, struck a deal to buy three unraced 2-year-old fillies from the stable of prominent owner Steve Stavro.
Stavro, then boss of the National Hockey League's Toronto Maple Leafs and National Basketball Association's Toronto Raptors, was downsizing and sold the package for $20,000.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Reade Baker has a trio of talented Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies in his stable this year, and keeping them apart is not always an easy task.
But Baker has laid out a game plan that will maximize the opportunities for all concerned in the weeks ahead, beginning with Elusive Thought's appearance in the Ontario Damsel Stakes here Sunday.
Elusive Thought is one of three nominees, along with Regal n' Bold and Nystar, from Baker's barn. The Damsel is a 6 1/2-furlong turf race for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.
Coastalota, the champion older mare last year in Texas, and Eagle Lake, whose stock has risen by leaps and bounds over the past several months, will make for one of the best matchups Saturday during the Stars of Texas Day program at Lone Star Park.
The two will meet in the $75,000 Allen Bogan Memorial, a one-mile race for fillies and mares bred in Texas. The race is one of five restricted stakes on the card.
It has been a long time since Coastalota and Eagle Lake have met. "I think we ran against her a couple of years ago," said Randy Mayfield, who trains Coastalota.
BOSSIER CITY, La. - The footing should be firmer for Bien Nicole on Saturday when she takes on 10 fillies and mares in the $50,000 Honeymoon Stakes at Louisiana Downs.
The race, to be run at about a mile on turf, also drew defending champ Due to Win Again, and Lone Star Park shippers Naturally Wild and Golden Rhythm.
Soft turf did not agree with Bien Nicole in her last start, trainer, Donnie Von Hemel said. In that race, she finished an uncharacteristic sixth as the favorite in the Grade 3, $200,000 WinStar Distaff at Lone Star on May 26.
SHAKOPEE, Minn. - The $40,000 Canterbury Park Derby has apparently lost none of its luster even though its purse was downsized from $100,000 last season to fund the re-establishment of this season's Lady Canterbury Stakes. Twelve 3-year-old colts and geldings were entered in Saturday's Derby, which will be run at one mile on turf.