Thu, 11/21/2002 - 00:00

Kelly comfortable with rain

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Pat Kelly had been planning to run Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Evening Attire in in the Nov. 29 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs. Mother Nature could force a change of plans.

With rain in the New York forecast for Friday, possibly lingering into Saturday morning, Kelly entered Evening Attire in Saturday's $150,000 in the event the Grade 3 race comes off the grass. If it is run on dirt, Evening Attire would start as the 126-pound highweight under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan. The race would remain at 1 3/8 miles.

Thu, 11/21/2002 - 00:00

Small details may help Hennessy

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - If the outcome of the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue is decided by level of preparation, Roll Hennessy Roll holds the advantage.

Seven juveniles entered the seven-furlong race Saturday at Hollywood Park, none more focused than Roll Hennessy Roll. In bringing the colt up to his first graded stakes, trainer Rafael Becerra has left little

to chance - familiarizing Roll Hennessy Roll with the Hollywood track, and employing a key equipment change by adding blinkers.

Thu, 11/21/2002 - 00:00

Ruckus long overdue to win

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Barbeau Ruckus has earned a string of

80-plus Beyer Speed Figures in his eight starts this year, but the bottom line is that he hasn't won since he captured the Kingarvie Stakes last

Dec. 2.

Barbeau Ruckus meets the weakest field he has faced in a while Saturday at Woodbine in the Sir Barton Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for Ontario-sired male 3-year-olds.

Thu, 11/21/2002 - 00:00

Traveling win machine runs here

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Have grass, will travel. Bien Nicole, a 4-year-old filly who has won five straight races over five different turf courses, will try to extend that streak to six when she races Saturday at Churchill Downs in the $150,000 .

The Cardinal, a Grade 3 turf race at 1 1/8 miles, drew a quality field that also includes accomplished mares such as Lapuma and Quick Tip, but if the dominant trend holds, all will be hard pressed to keep Bien Nicole from keeping her remarkable streak intact for trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel.

Thu, 11/21/2002 - 00:00

Tuff Waters won't be 10-1 again

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - The photo-finish camera was needed to separate Tuff Waters from Papparizi and Name for Norm when they met in an $8,000 claiming race Nov. 2. They should attract the most betting when they square off again in Saturday in an $8,000 optional claiming race for older horses at 1 1/16 miles.

Thu, 11/21/2002 - 00:00

Favorite must lug 130 pounds

PORTLAND, Ore. - In Search of Fame will concede from eight to

12 pounds to five rivals on Saturday, when he shoulders an imposing 130 pounds in the Columbia River Handicap for older Quarter Horses at 400 yards.

Thu, 11/21/2002 - 00:00

Grey Memo could use racing luck

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The luck of Grey Memo and Hot Market can only improve when they start in Saturday's $100,000 On Trust Handicap at Hollywood Park. Both entered the $250,000 California Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 as leading contenders and each had a dreadful trip.

Grey Memo was the 5-2 favorite and may have been best. He turned for home within striking range but didn't have a clear path along the inside in early stretch. Grey Memo finished fourth, 1 3/4 lengths behind winner Calkins Road.

Thu, 11/21/2002 - 00:00

0-to-post close nixed for Hollywood

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - The California Horse Racing Board on Thursday defeated by 5-1 a proposal by Hollywood Park that would have ended betting at zero minutes to post, rather than when the gate opens.

The request stemmed from a policy change enacted earlier this month by Churchill Downs Inc., the parent company of Hollywood Park. The change has been implemented at three tracks owned by the company - Calder, Churchill Downs, and Hoosier Park - but needed CHRB approval to be implemented in California.

Thu, 11/21/2002 - 00:00

True Direction blazes 58.58

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - A strong comeback race followed by a sensational workout has True Direction heading in the right direction as he points for a start in Thursday's $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct.

On Nov. 8, coming off a 50-day layoff, True Direction ran second to veteran New York-bred millionaire Say Florida Sandy in a classified allowance race. True Direction earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 107.

On Thursday, True Direction drilled five furlongs in 58.58 seconds over Belmont Park's training track, the fastest of 19 drills at the distance.

Thu, 11/21/2002 - 00:00

Quiet Dare strides into spotlight

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Jockey David Clark and trainer Mac Benson, who teamed up to win the 1985 Queen's Plate with La Lorgnette, appear to have a candidate for next year's Plate in Quiet Dare, an impressive winner of Wednesday's $108,000 Sunny's Halo Stakes for 2-year-olds here at Woodbine.

The Sunny's Halo was one of three stakes on Wednesday's card, along with the Display and Bessarabian, that were rescheduled from last weekend when the races were canceled because of poor track conditions.