PORTLAND, Ore. - An Naabi will seek a fourth straight victory at Portland Meadows on Sunday when he heads a field of seven older sprinters, each eligible to be claimed for $10,000, in the six-furlong feature race.
The feature will go as the ninth of 11 live races that have lured a total of 116 entrants. The first race goes at 1 p.m.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Saturday's $150,000 San Pasqual Handicap at Santa Anita attracted a field befitting a race that leads to the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 1.
Of the 11 entrants, several appear win candidates, but the most logical is Congaree, the flashy winner of the Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct Nov. 30. Congaree, third in the 2001 Kentucky Derby, will not have a free pass in the San Pasqual Handicap, run at 1 1/16 miles. He will likely have to catch Hot Market, who can carry his speed over the San Pasqual distance.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Alex Solis walked through the Santa Anita stable area beaming on Thursday morning.
"I'm undefeated this year," he shouted to a friend.
Considering the week that Solis just experienced, the enthusiasm was understandable.
On Saturday, after winning the La Brea Stakes on Got Koko, Solis was involved in a frightening one-horse spill that left him hospitalized overnight with a concussion.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - In 20 races Balto Star has gone through more highs and lows than most racehorses do in much longer careers.
There were spectacular wins in the Spiral Stakes and Arkansas Derby, followed by drubbings in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont. There were flashy victories on the turf at Saratoga each of the last two summers, but they were sandwiched around flops in the Aqueduct Handicap and Breeders' Cup Mile.
NEW ORLEANS - The one Fair Grounds horseman eager to take on the brilliant 3-year-old filly Lady Tak in the Thelma Stakes is the same one that trains her.
Five fillies were entered against Lady Tak in Saturday's $75,000 Thelma, and Valid Pulpit and Souris - like Lady Tak herself - are trained by Steve Asmussen. The standout of the Asmussen trio is obvious, and if Lady Tak continues to progress after smoking two Churchill Downs fields this past fall nobody will touch her in the Thelma.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Nicole's Pursuit risks a two-race winning streak in Saturday's $100,000 Pro or Con Handicap at Santa Anita, but the Pro or Con is not the big race that trainer Craig Lewis considers the focus of her January campaign.
Nicole's Pursuit is being pointed to the $350,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf for California-breds and Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25, and the Pro or Con Handicap over a mile on turf is a lucrative prep.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Gary Baze, the most accomplished rider in Northwest racing, will return to the saddle at Portland Meadows on Saturday when he will compete in three races on the 11-race card.
Baze will ride Questionable Road for trainer Jim Fergason in the $10,000 OTBA Stallion Stakes, which will go as the second race; Maria Kay for trainer Gene Davis in the seventh race; and Shy Boots for trainer Jonathon Nance in the nightcap. It will be Baze's first action since fracturing an ankle in a spill at Emerald Downs June 21.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Day Trader, who is at his best when racing clear on an early lead, could find the pace scenario to his advantage when he takes on five rivals in Saturday's $100,000 Mr. Prospector Handicap at Gulfstream Park. Also on the 12-race program is the Grade 2 Appleton Handicap.
