For most of the season, Scott Lake has been chasing Steve Asmussen in the national race for most wins by a trainer. Playing catch-up became all the more difficult when Lake had to serve a pair of 10-day suspensions in June.
Now, with less than two months remaining, Lake has finally overtaken Asmussen in his quest to finish as the country's winningest trainer for the third straight year.
MIAMI. - My Cousin Matt, who was forced to bow out of the Breeders' Cup Sprint after spiking a temperature the week of the race, will return to action here next Saturday in the $150,000 Jack Dudley Sprint Handicap. The six-furlong race is one of five stakes races restricted to Florida-breds that make up the $1 million Florida Million card.
PORTLAND, Ore. - The racing surface at Portland Meadows was built for rain, as is prudent for any track that races in this part of the country at this time of year, and the problems that led to the cancellation of racing following last Sunday's fourth race can best be understood in that context.
Not that the brilliant fall weather that prevailed until this week was totally to blame. But a lack of rain played a role. The specific complaint that most riders voiced on Sunday was that the surface was uneven.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Drew Levere brings a rare perspective to his position as assistant track superintendent at Hastings Park. Levere, who is in charge of maintaining the racing surface at Hastings, also has a morning job as an exercise rider. He gets on about six horses a day for trainers Allan Jack and David Forster.
"It's a tremendous help to be out there galloping horses on a daily basis," said Levere. "I get a real feel for how the track is, and if a trainer has a complaint, I can filter out what's valid and what isn't."
CHICAGO - With Baker Road, trainer Leo Gabriel has one of this year's stronger route horses in the Illinois-bred ranks. Baker Road has won three times and banked more than $150,000 this season, and Gabriel feels his horse is coming up to Saturday's $100,000 Illinois Coronet in fine shape. And Gabriel still is worried.
"Let me tell you, it might say Illinois-breds, but that's coming up a damn good race," Gabriel said.
CHICAGO - Is Bulldog George ready for Chicago? Is Chicago ready for Bulldog George?
Only inches away from being undefeated in his seven career starts, Bulldog George has outgrown his home track, Fairmount Park, and on Saturday he travels to Chicago for the $100,000 Lightning Jet Stakes. It's not just the move from Fairmount to Hawthorne that's a challenge. The 3-year-old Bulldog George takes on the best Illinois-bred sprinters going in the six-furlong Lightning Jet.
CHICAGO - Two Item Limit's last race came against Horse of the Year hopeful Azeri in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. Call the connections of other horses in the Illinois-bred older filly route division unimpressed.
A surprisingly large number of challengers, 10 in all, have assembled to face the heavily favored Two Item Limit in Saturday's $100,000 Illini Princess at Hawthorne.
The speed in the $40,000 Zydeco Stakes at Delta Downs in Vinton, La., is blinding. No less than six of the 10 fillies and mares in the five-furlong race won their last race wire to wire, which makes off-the-pace runners Raymond's Dream and Fuse It attractive. Still, it is tough not to like the front-running filly Kwik Kash.
Extra Check takes on older rivals in the $30,000 Buffalo Bayou Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park after finishing third against straight 3-year-olds last out in the $150,000 Lawrence Realization at Belmont Park.
The 1 1/16-mile turf race drew a competitive field of nine, including Chauffe Au Rouge and Tuzinama Run, who is 5 for 9 over the local course for trainer John Locke.
It would seem that all Rubies N Roses has to do to win the $30,000 Southern Belle at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., on Saturday is run like her big sister - Grade 2 winner Astas Foxy Lady, who earned $335,032.
So far, Rubies N Roses has represented the family well. She won her debut in July, and one start later ran third against open rivals in the $40,000 Rebel at Louisiana Downs. In her most recent start, Rubies N Roses was beaten a neck in the $40,000 Laurel Lane.