Veteran trainer Bill Helmbrecht shot for the moon last month with Moonlight Sonata, and the results were stunning. A 60-1 upset in the Arlington-Washington Lassie was the first victory in five career starts for Moonlight Sonata and it brought up logical questions about whether to proceed to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.
After careful consideration, Helmbrecht employed admirable discretion in saying he would pass on the Breeders' Cup and search for a less demanding spot.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - While Wando has been the center of attention as he prepares for Saturday's Breeders' Cup Juvenile, it would be wise not to lose sight of the "other" talented 2-year-old colt here in trainer Mike Keogh's shed row.
Mobil, who like Wando is a Langfuhr colt owned and bred by Gustav Schickedanz, is riding the crest of three straight victories, including the Simcoe and the Cup and Saucer Stakes.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Man Among Men, growing into both his name and his frame, will be difficult to wager against Thursday at Santa Anita when he faces winners for the first time in the $50,000 Pinjara Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf.
Trained by Gary Mandella, Man Among Men earned an explosive maiden win at Del Mar on Aug. 26 - he won a mile turf race by 5 1/2 lengths - in one of the most impressive performances of the summer. In the two months since, Man Among Men has grown up.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Lonnie Arterburn would be the first to tell you he may have made a mistake last winter by being too ambitious with Attabrook, who looms the one to beat when he meets older rivals for the first time in a six-furlong, $40,000 optional claimer Thursday at Bay Meadows.
Attabrook is 2 for 3 in his brief career. He made his debut last Dec. 13, winning a one-mile maiden race at Golden Gate Fields.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - All those extra seats they have been putting up at Arlington will come in handy. Tuesday, Arlington and Breeders' Cup Limited declared the 2002 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships a sellout.
The sellout means no walk-up tickets will be made available to the general public on Breeders' Cup Day, which is unprecedented in Breeders' Cup history. There is no general admission to the event, and all fans will have an assigned seat.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Three years ago, veteran trainer Larry Robideaux needed a disqualification to win the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland.
No such assistance was required Sunday. Robideaux watched in delight as French Riviera, overlooked at 19-1, sped clear at once from her far outside post and proceeded to dominate the Grade 3, $125,000 TCA Stakes, winning by 5 1/2 lengths over Don't Countess Out.
Three-year-old Outstander ($12.60) appears ready to tackle bigger game after beating older sprinters in the $50,000 Lite the Fuse Stakes.
Lightly regarded as the next-to-last choice in a field of five, Outstander outdueled favored Sassy Hound and Shake You Down to get up by a neck. Sassy Hound nosed out Shake You Down for the place.
Trainer Rodney Jenkins said Outstander will be pointed to one of two races on Nov. 16, Laurel's $300,000 De Francis Dash for older horses at six furlongs or the $100,000 Mountaineer Mile for 3-year-olds at Mountaineer Park.
Heirloom Diamond ($20.40) upset the $100,000 Blue Hen Stakes for 2-year-old fillies by a half-length over Lets Just Do It.
Heirloom Diamond, trained by Tim Ritchey and ridden by Jeremy Rose, raced well back early, but advanced between rivals on the turn. She made the lead in upper stretch and prevailed.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Only the Best ($10.20) burst to the front and was long gone in the $96,900 Sunny Slope Stakes. The only California-bred in the field of nine 2-year-olds, Only the Best won the six-furlong stakes by two lengths over Domestic Dispute.
Pat Valenzuela rode Only the Best, whose 21.16-second opening quarter-mile was the second-fastest of the meet. Only the Best had a seven-length lead after the first quarter, led by 4 1/2 lengths after a half in 43.84, and finished in 1:09.12.