EAST BOSTON, Mass. - After a fall meeting with no stakes victories, the highest powered barn in New England, Yasou Stable Trust, is ready to wheel out its top horses, starting Saturday with two fillies in the $35,000 Yankee Fashion Stakes at Suffolk Downs.
Since Suffolk reopened in 1992, Yasou Stable, the family business of trainer Charlie Assimakopolous and his son, John, has been the leading owner for seven of the 11 years on the strength of numerous regional champions.
Green Fee, who is the class of Saturday night's $200,000 Connally Breeders' Cup Turf at Sam Houston Race Park, and Candid Glen, who has won the last two runnings, will both be dependent on pace to win the 1 1/8-mile turf race, which drew a full field of 12.
It appears they should get the pace they need. Several in the field are capable of helping set a fast pace, including Runaway Choice, a former sprinter; Rasby, who is coming out of a one-mile race; and Dynameaux and Even the Score, who both have natural speed.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Sale or not, trainer John Servis is hoping he has the opportunity to run Martha's Music in Monday's $75,000-added Rare Treat Handicap, the feature on the Presidents Day card at Aqueduct.
Servis said it's possible that Martha's Music, a winner of her last four starts, including three stakes, could be sold before the Rare Treat. The unnamed potential buyer sent a veterinarian to Servis's barn at Philadelphia Park on Thursday to examine Martha's Music, who is currently owned by Leonard Green's D J Stable.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - After a head-turning performance in a first-level allowance race last month, Harford Ghost seeks her first stakes victory in Saturday's $75,000-added Dearly Precious at Aqueduct.
Harford Ghost will meet six other 3-year-old fillies in the six-furlong Dearly Precious, the first of three stakes to be run over the three-day holiday weekend. The weather forecast is for wintry conditions throughout the weekend.
ALBANY, Calif. - Moving straight from the maiden ranks to stakes company isn't a standard practice, especially for a 3-year-old filly that has run only once.
But that's what China Princess will do Saturday when she takes on five rivals in the $60,000-added Vallejo Stakes at one mile.
China Princess won her debut at six furlongs for trainer Brent Sumja on Jan. 12 despite racing greenly in the lane.
PHOENIX, Ariz. - How competitive is the $50,000 Coyote Handicap at Turf Paradise? The weight spread from top to bottom among the 11 contestants is a mere four pounds, 121-117, and one of the horses who has been at or near the top of the Phoenix pecking order the last few seasons, Hangonslewpyhangon, is one of the 117-pound lightweights.
FLORENCE, Ky. - It was one year ago that Golden Oldie hit the top of the Turfway Park race charts. A five-length romp by Golden Oldie in the Dust Commander Stakes gave David Asbury perhaps the greatest thrill of his training career.
"He ran a great race that day," said Asbury. "I'd have to say it was one of my best days in this business."
Golden Oldie will attempt to give Asbury a similar feeling when the 7-year-old horse returns in the $50,000 Dust Commander at Turfway. A full field of 12 older horses was entered in the 1 1/16-mile race.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - For the second time in five days, trainer Mark Hennig will send out an odds-on favorite in a Grade 3 sprint stakes race at Gulfstream Park. Hennig hopes Gold Mover fares better in Friday's $100,000 Shirley Jones Handicap than Gygistar did when he finished fifth as the 4-5 favorite in last Sunday's Deputy Minister Handicap.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - If nothing else, Offlee Wild proved on Wednesday morning that he can work awfully fast.
In his final tune-up for Saturday's $200,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes, Offlee Wild turned in a torrid five-furlong work. Gulfstream Park's official clockers caught him in 57.40 seconds, while Daily Racing Form timed him in 58.
Regardless, it was a fast work, the best of 34 at the distance and a full second faster than the next-quickest work. It was one of just two five-furlong works that were faster than one minute.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Gary Contessa said Wednesday that a sixth horse trained by him has tested positive for the banned substance ephedra, which Contessa said is in a herbal vitamin supplement that he fed his horses.
The Aqueduct stewards confirmed the six positives.