If this were an ordinary Friday in October, chances are slim that a horse such as Megantic would be anywhere near Chicago.
But this is Breeders' Cup eve, and Arlington Park not only is where owners and trainers have brought their Breeders' Cup horses, but other stakes-class horses capable of wowing appreciative race fans.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - After impressive wins in allowance races, Saint Marden took his game to another level on Wednesday by winning the opening-day feature at Aqueduct, the $114,000 Discovery Handicap.
A crowd of 3,745 was in attendance for the nine-race card, which was run under sunny but brisk conditions.
Saint Marden, the 3-5 favorite under Jerry Bailey, was a 1 1/2-length winner over Regency Park. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to No Parole in third in the 10-horse field of 3-year-olds.
Churchill Downs Inc. had net earnings of $7.9 million in the third quarter this year, or 59 cents a share, on record revenues for the quarter and the first nine months of the 2002.
The results met the average estimate of four analysts. Churchill officials said during a conference call on Wednesday morning that the company was on pace to hit its target of $1.77 to $1.80 in earnings per share this year, compared with $1.67 last year.
Churchill's stock declined 24 cents on Wednesday to $38.32, or six-tenths of a percent, on light trading of 11,200 shares.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Long-range planning paid off for trainer Jonathan Nance last Saturday, when Proud Louie won the six-furlong Inaugural Handicap with a stirring display of speed and determination.
Nance claimed Proud Louie, a 6-year-old son of Proud Irish, on April 26 at Bay Meadows, taking him from a win against $5,000 claimers for himself, brother-in-law Mike Stafford, and their friend and fellow Prineville, Ore., native Steve Smith. From then until Saturday, Nance was basically biding his time.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Jason Lumpkins, second in the Bay Meadows jockey standings and the leading rider in stakes here, is not listed among entries for the second straight day Friday as he takes a brief respite from riding while attending the national bull riding finals in Las Vegas.
Northern California racing fans will have to get used to his absence.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Enhanced security procedures will be in place at Arlington Park for Saturday's Breeders' Cup Day program, with an increase in security personnel and a limit on the type of items that customers will be allowed to bring on the grounds.
The procedures will be similar to what was enacted at the 2001 Breeders' Cup at Belmont Park and the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs earlier this year.
Just a few races into their careers, most of the 2-year-olds in the Hopemont Stakes already have earned black type.
Several are stakes placed, and several are stakes winners. And one, Lismore Knight, already is a Grade 2 winner, having captured the Sept. 8 Summer Stakes at Woodbine in his last start. That accumulation of youthful talent should make for a terrific renewal of the $100,000 Hopemont, a 1 1/16-mile turf race that highlights the Friday program.
Sheza Nasty Lady finished third in her last start to two-time graded winner Bedanken, and that race makes her seem like a solid choice Friday night in the $30,000 San Antonio Oaks at Retama Park near San Antonio.
The 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies also drew the up-and-coming Very Geri.
Bedanken beat Sheza Nasty Lady by 2 1/4 lengths in the $50,000 DeBartolo Oaks at Louisiana Downs on Sept. 21, and then went on to win the Grade 3, $100,000 Valley View at Keeneland last Saturday.
MUSKEGON, Mich. - Beau Classic heads a field of six juveniles in Friday night's $45,000-added Michigan Futurity as Great Lakes Downs enters the final week of its 2002 racing season. The race for Michigan breds has been shortened from a mile and 70 yards to seven furlongs this year and will be the opener on a nine-race card.