CALGARY, Alberta - Sly Lady faces just three rivals in Saturday's $40,000 Duchess of York at Stampede Park as she attempts to sweep the three filly-mare stakes at this meeting.
The 122-pound highweight, Sly Lady drew the outside post with Real Simard up in this 1 1/16-mile race. She will be strongly backed off her latest tally in the Ken Pearson Memorial, where she romped home 10 1/2 lengths in front of Full Scream Ahead.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Trainer David Forster likes his chances in both stakes races at Hastings Saturday. He will saddle the favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Sun Handicap, a $40,000 race for older fillies and mares.
Secondary School would be a solid choice if she runs, and she probably will, but Forster might elect to pass. If he passes with Secondary School, the Forster-trained Castle Mountain would take over the favorite's role. The Sun Handicap goes as the eighth race.
AUBURN, Wash. - Mukilteo Smoke, an impressive winner in restricted $12,500 company when last seen on May 9, will attempt to win again while stepping up to the open $16,000 level in Saturday's 6 1/2-furlong feature for older fillies and mares at Emerald Downs.
ALTOONA, Iowa - Ruby's Reception will be an odds-on choice when she faces six rivals in Saturday's $50,000 Panthers Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Prairie Meadows.
Ruby's Reception rallied to a 2 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park April 11. Trainer Larry Jones was pointing Ruby's Reception for the Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico but passed on the race after the filly came down with a minor illness.
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - The five Ohio-bred distaffers who will face Ashwood C C in the $50,000 Merry Time Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Saturday will have to beat the 2002 Ohio-bred champion handicap mare at her best game - going a middle distance.
Ashwood C C, by Cryptoclearance, has been very consistent throughout her four-year racing career, posting a 12-10-4 record from 33 starts for earnings of $394,599.
LAFAYETTE, La. - Scarlet's Tara, a runaway winner of her last two starts over the main track, heads the field for Saturday night's inaugural running of the $35,000 Frank A. "Buddy" Abadie Memorial Stakes. The one-mile race for Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies is named in honor of the former secretary-treasurer of the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders' Association from 1969-84. Abadie also served as the state steward at Fair Grounds before retiring.
AURORA, Col. - Arapahoe Park opens its 45-day meet Saturday with a new Saturday-through-Tuesday schedule, and a 10-fold increase in out-of-state simulcast outlets.
Highlighting opening weekend is the reappearance of local legend The Pen Pal, a Quarter Horse who is unbeaten in 15 local starts, in Sunday's $15,000 Dash for Speed Handicap.
Last year, Arapahoe Park raced 42 days, Friday through Sunday. Management hopes the new schedule will increase national visibility, especially on Mondays and Tuesdays, when most tracks are dark.
PHOENIX - Jim Grundy very much understands the concept of walk before you run.
Grundy, general manager at Yavapai Downs, is hoping his fledgling track in northern Arizona is ready to hit a full gallop in this, its third season, which opened May 24.
"We had a great opening, great attendance, full fields. We were delighted," said Grundy, who is making a bit of a comeback himself. Grundy, the longtime Prescott general manager, suffered a heart attack April 26. "I'm feeling much better now. It was a little sticky for a while."
ELMONT, N.Y. - Rodeo Licious got the week off to a fast start for the New York breeding program, roaring out of the gate on top and cruising to a 1 1-2-length victory in the $80,000 Fashion Stakes for juvenile fillies at Belmont Park.
Renaissance Lady, a regally bred daughter of A.P. Indy, had to settle for second, eight lengths ahead of 7-10 favorite Bikini Wiggle. Barnsy and I'vegothemusicinme completed the order of finish.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - There is a carryover of $103,343 on Thursday's eight-race program at Hollywood Park, a card plagued by short fields.
Bettors will not have many horses to sort through in Thursday's pick six, which covers the third through eighth races.
The third race drew five runners. Venture Cat is 8-5 on the morning line to beat four other 3-year-old entered to be claimed for $22,500 to $25,000. The race is run over 1 1-16 miles.
