LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The last time Pisces raced at Churchill Downs, he may have become one of the most overlooked winners in stakes history at this track.
That's because Pisces was "kissed in" to a dead-heat win in a highly adventurous running of the Louisville Handicap in June. Pisces was declared a co-winner of the race with Classic Par after they dead-heated for second behind longshot Two Point Two Mill, who was disqualified from first for causing a rival to nearly fall in the stretch run.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Fall is the time of year when many fillies and mares reach their peak. Feathers is a prime example. She won her first stakes in November 2000 in the Bessarabian Handicap, a race in which she finished second last year.
Feathers should be well backed in Sunday's renewal of the Grade 3 Bessarabian at Woodbine while coupled in a Ralph Biamonte-trained entry with Miss Sweep.
The seven-furlong stakes has also lured the Elliott Walden-trained, WinStar Farm-owned entry of Madame Red and Victory at Sea, who could be favored in the $166,800 race.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Rolly Polly cuts it awfully close. Unbeaten in four turf sprints in the United States, Rolly Polly's average margin of victory is about a half-length, including two wins by a nose. Is she lucky, talented, or both?
"She's been lucky, she gets up at the right time. A lot of those, they get beat," trainer Bobby Frankel said.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - American Justice hasn't won a race since capturing the Grade 3 Premiers here in October 2000. That shouldn't stop local fans from making him a solid choice over 10 other older horses Sunday in the 1 1/16-mile Lions Gate allowance, a race for 3-year-olds and up who haven't won a stakes in 2002.
American Justice missed all of 2001 with a bowed tendon, but he appeared as good as ever in his second start this year, when he came from 15 lengths behind to finish second by a head to Work Visa in an allowance race Aug. 18.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Eight Oregon-bred 2-year-olds with a combined total of seven starts will contest Sunday's $12,920 Bill Wineberg Stakes at Portland Meadows. The inexperience of those in the field makes the six-furlong stakes a perilous but potentially rewarding betting proposition.
Hoosier Park's leading rider, Lester Knight, won four races on Thursday's 11-race card, boosting his lead to 72-53 over defending champ Terry Thompson. Knight picked up consecutive wins in the second through fourth races aboard Skip's Singer ($13.40), Kenok ($7.40), and Fit to Be a Gent ($32.40), then took the ninth on Picture This Tux ($13).
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Chris's Bad Boy, claimed for $13,000 on July 7, picked up three titles at Fort Erie's season-ending awards dinner Thursday night.
Honored as the track's horse of the year, Chris's Bad Boy, a 5-year-old gelding, was also chosen as the track's top male sprinter and best claim. Owned in partnership by trainer Lou Capi and Fabian Skyers, Chris's Bad Boy won six of his 10 starts here in 2002.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Starting for the first time since a 10th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby as the co-second choice, Saarland made a successful return in Friday's sixth race at Aqueduct.
Saarland, who had a chip in his left front ankle surgically removed soon after the Derby, was to have returned to the races sooner, but he developed a problem with a hind foot at Saratoga that delayed his training.
ALBANY, Calif. - Sunny Ho's dream came true Thursday at Golden Gate Fields when the 40-year-old jockey from Hong Kong won the fifth race with $121.20 upsetter Peters Punkin.
Ho had won only one other race in his career - in 1983 in Hong Kong, where he had only
13 mounts as a jockey.
"I had to have a chance to come to America before I could become a jockey," he said after his victory. "In Hong Kong, if you haven't won
10 races by the time you're 23, you can't be a jockey."
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Tizbud might have disappointed in his first two starts, but the promise at which he had hinted in his training was on full display Thursday at Hollywood Park, when he scored an overpowering maiden victory that had trainer John Sadler looking forward to the upcoming months.
