EAST BOSTON, Mass. - A new stakes at Suffolk Downs, the $35,000 Last Dance, will bring out two statebred stars on Saturday.
Jini's Jet will race for the first time since being disqualified from a top-level allowance victory last month. The disqualification means that Jini's Jet, the best Massachusetts-bred in recent years, is winless from three starts in 2003.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - With one eye on the weather forecast and one eye on the running styles of the other entrants, trainer Craig Lewis entered Excessive Barb in Saturday's $100,000 California Derby at Bay Meadows.
Six 3-year-olds, none with Kentucky Derby aspirations, were entered in the 1 1/8-mile race.
Distinctive Code caught a few breaks this week on the road to the $75,000 Irving Distaff, Saturday's feature at Lone Star Park. The biggest may have come when Bien Nicole ran in the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn last Saturday rather than in the Irving Distaff. In another stroke of luck, stakes winners Distant Valley and Lake Lady were entered in an allowance race Thursday night at Lone Star instead of in Saturday's race.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Several of trainer Richard Mandella's top older horses have mended from minor setbacks and are aiming for stakes races at Hollywood Park and beyond.
Pleasantly Perfect has recovered from a foot problem that surfaced after his fourth-place in the Santa Anita Handicap.
"He had a little bruise that surfaced that we cut out," Mandella said.
Winner of the Goodwood Handicap last fall, Pleasantly Perfect will aim for the Grade 2 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap on May 10 at Hollywood Park.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Mille Feville may appear to be up against it as she makes her first stakes appearance at Woodbine in Saturday's Whimsical.
But Roger Attfield, who trains the 4-year-old Mille Feville for Haras Santa Maria de Araras, is confident in her ability and that may be recommendation enough.
Mille Feville, a Kentucky-bred filly, saw action three times here as a 2-year-old, finishing second in her first appearance and then registering back-to-back victories over maiden special weight and first-level allowance company.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Classy comebackers Mysterious Affair and Devastating head a strong field of 10 fillies and mares in Saturday's $140,250 Whimsical Stakes at Woodbine.
Mysterious Affair, victorious in the last two runnings of the Whimsical, has won 11 of 25 career starts while earning $845,045. She had a typically good year in 2002, winning two stakes and compiling nearly $300,000 in earnings despite missing the second half of the year.
Owner-trainer Mort Hardy said Mysterious Affair simply wasn't herself after a workout last August.
ARCADIA, Calif. - After trying to make a dirt horse out of Singletary - it did not work, but what else do you do with a 3-year-old in winter? - trainer Don Chatlos will let Singletary do what he does best. That is, run on grass.
Eight entered the $150,000 La Puente Stakes Saturday at Santa Anita, and Singletary could be a standout. The only reason Singletary might not be a lock in the one-mile turf race is the presence of Urban King, a well-regarded colt trained by Bobby Frankel whose European form and steady workouts suggest he may be a star.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Lord Abounding, claimed out of his last start for $150,000 by trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. for the Bridle Path Racing Stable, wastes little time attempting to win back $45,000 of that purchase price in Saturday's $75,000 Yankee Affair Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The Yankee Affair is a five-furlong turf race.
STICKNEY, Ill. - Illinois Thoroughbred people may simply take pride in breeding a nice statebred horse, but they don't mind taking the money, either. Too Many Bucks, Classic Appeal, Tic N Tin, Magic Doe - household names, no, but gold mines, yes. They have earned from about $221,000 (Too Many Bucks) to almost $700,000 (Magic Doe and Tic N Tin). Not bad for horses who would be something like high-end claimers on the open market.
Empire Maker drew the far outside post in a field of eight and has been installed as the prohibitive 3-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's 79th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
Empire Maker is considered by many to be the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby based on his 9 3/4-length romp in last month's Florida Derby-G1 at Gulfstream Park. Empire Maker is trained by Bobby Frankel, and will again be ridden by regular rider Jerry Bailey.