OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Todd Pletcher was excited to learn that Thursday's third-level allowance race for 3-year-olds and up had filled. Furthermore, Pletcher was thrilled to learn that his entrant, Smooth Jazz, drew the outside post in the seven-horse field in Aqueduct's feature at one mile.
The only thing Pletcher was not thrilled about is the prospect of a wet track. "He doesn't have an affinity for it," Pletcher said. "I guess we'll have a decision to make it if it's wet."
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Byzantine and Red Sea, a pair of 6-year-olds with contrasting backgrounds, made the most of their final turf opportunities of the meeting here last Sunday.
Byzantine, bred in Ontario by her owners, Tony and Jennifer Monk, became a stakes winner in the $114,000 River Memories, a one-mile race for fillies and mares. She also became the first stakes winner for trainer Bruce Pollock, who has been in the racing business since 1969.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Last week, trainer Steve Flint entered Allamerican Bertie in a turf race with a "main track only" designation. The race stayed on the grass, and Allamerican Bertie was scratched.
But this time around, Flint isn't playing around.
Allamerican Bertie is one of nine fillies and mares entered in the eighth and richest of nine races Thursday at Churchill Downs, a $59,500 allowance at 1 1/16 miles on turf. "Rain, shine, or even a big hole in the turf, we're still running," said Flint.
SPOKANE, Wash. - Three days after receiving a license to conduct racing at Playfair, Eric Nelson was taking the first steps toward reopening the historic Spokane track, which has not held a race meet since 2000.
"We're starting to address the repairs that we need to make on the facility, and we're trying to nail down a purse contract with the horsemen," Nelson said Monday. "I'm very excited about moving forward."
CHICAGO - Trainer Tom Tomillo still is recovering from multiple bypass heart surgery late last month, but Tomillo's vast public stable can't take a break. His barn has four horses entered on Hawthorne's Thursday program, including two in the featured seventh race.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - When the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting ended in July, Asong for Billy was just another anonymous maiden claimer toiling in Southern California.
When the Hollywood Park fall meeting begins on Wednesday, Asong for Billy starts as a leading contender in the $70,000 Bien Bien Stakes for 3-year-olds on turf.
Claimed on July 4 for $40,000 out of a maiden race by Ken and Alex Wong and trainer Paul Aguirre, Asong for Billy is unbeaten in his last three starts, including the Pomona Derby at Fairplex Park on Sept. 28.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Patrick Valenzuela, the leading rider at the spring-summer Hollywood Park and Del Mar meetings this year, has dropped appeals of three suspensions and will be out of action for most of November.
Beginning Wednesday, opening day of the Hollywood Park fall meeting, Valenzuela will be suspended through Sunday, Nov. 24, a span of 15 racing days. In addition, he will not be eligible to ride designated races, or major stakes, from Nov. 20 to 24 as part of the terms of a five-day suspension at Del Mar.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr., won his third consecutive riding title at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting that ended on Sunday and said he has sights set on the Hollywood Park fall meeting that begins Wednesday.
Pincay, 55, is the senior member of the Southern California jockey roster and the world's all-time leading rider with 9,448 victories through Sunday. He said Sunday that he has no definite plans for a late-year vacation during the seven-week Hollywood Park meeting.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Racing was canceled after the fourth race at Portland Meadows on Sunday after the riders informed management that they felt the track was unsafe.
In an ad hoc meeting presided over by steward Jim Smith, with management in attendance, the riders said that they were unanimous in their opinion that the surface was uneven and that nothing could be done to remedy the situation in time to resume racing on Sunday.
ALBANY, Calif. - Opening day at the racetrack doesn't have the pizzazz it used to now that racing is year-round, but Wednesday's opening at Golden Gate Fields offered the local racing community the proverbial breath of fresh air.
Monday was one of the busiest days of the year for local trainers who moved their horses from Bay Meadows to Golden Gate Fields, but good things awaited them at the new location.
Most importantly, the main track - which caused many problems last year because of unusually heavy rains early in the meeting - is in excellent shape.
