BOSSIER CITY, La. - The Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby picked up a major player Tuesday when Essence of Dubai committed to the race, which will be run for the 23rd time Saturday at Louisiana Downs.
Essence of Dubai appears to be coming into a top effort for the Super Derby. He finished second in his last start, beaten 4 1/2 lengths by the explosive Harlan's Holiday in the Grade 3, $500,000 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 2.
MIAMI - Saturday's $100,000 Brave Raj and Foolish Pleasure Stakes will provide many of the top 2-year-olds on the Calder grounds a first opportunity to try their luck around two turns.
For some, the races are a chance to get in a valuable prep before the final legs of the Florida Stallion Stakes on Oct. 12.
Among the leading candidates for the Brave Raj is the undefeated Puxa Saco, a member of leading trainer Bill White's talent-rich barn of 2-year-olds.
CHICAGO - As the World Thoroughbred Championships draw ever nearer, Chicago's 2-year-old filly crop has begun to look like the strongest division at Arlington.
Two top fillies logged major workouts Monday, and on Saturday Godolphin Racing unveiled its most impressive runner of this meet, Ashraaf, whose 10 1/2-length win in a one-mile maiden race for 2-year-old fillies probably earned her a start in the Sept. 28 Arlington-Washington Lassie.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Jeff Bonde has always liked Miss Jeanne Cat.
That's why he was willing to spend $160,000 for her at Ocala last spring for the JMJ Racing Stables.
Miss Jeanne Cat, a daughter of Tabasco Cat out of the Valid Appeal mare Few Choice Words, paid immediate dividends.
She won her debut at Bay Meadows and followed that with a stakes victory over the track.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Rod Haynes has never run a horse at Woodbine.
Haynes, based in Alberta, hasn't picked just any spot for his local debut. He will saddle Raylene, who has been overpowering her opposition at Northlands Park, in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Mazarine Stakes.
Raylene, a Kentucky-bred 2-year-old filly, was purchased for $10,000 at the Keeneland September sale and races for the Calmar Stable and Ranch of Kevin Lung and Rick Mah, who joined forces with Haynes this year.
NEW YORK - In theory, almost all of the stakes races at major tracks this time of year are supposed to help crystallize the picture for the World Thoroughbred Championship Breeders' Cup races. In practice, that isn't always the case.
How about the stakes run this past weekend at Belmont and Turfway? What did they mean in regard to the Breeders' Cup, which is now only five weeks from Saturday? Here are some initial impressions:
ELMONT, N.Y.- Trainer Bobby Frankel has redesigned the Breeders' Cup campaign for two of his top contenders for next month's World Thoroughbred Championships at Arlington Park.
Squirtle Squirt, the defending Breeders' Cup Sprint winner and divisional champion, will have his final prep in the Grade 3, $250,000 Phoenix Breeders' Cup Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 5. The following day, Beat Hollow, who is being pointed to the Breeders' Cup Mile, will run in the Grade 1, $600,000 Shadwell Keeneland Turf Mile.
FLORENCE, Ky. - Tenpins was scratched Saturday from the Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park because he was treated with an oral spray within four hours of the race - a violation of state rules. The scratch prompted the colt's trainer, Don Winfree, to say he felt unfairly singled out because many trainers in Kentucky administer the same product within four hours of racetime.
FLORENCE, Ky. - Vindication's victory in Saturday's Kentucky Cup Juvenile at Turfway Park was so impressive that he most likely will head to the Oct. 26 Breeders' Cup Juvenile as one of the favorites. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 87 with his third victory in as many starts.
From the first jump, the Kentucky Cup Juvenile was a funny race.
"Not funny ha-ha," said Pat Byrne, trainer of Private Gold. "Funny peculiar."
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Macho Uno, a candidate for the Breeders' Cup Classic at Arlington on Oct. 26, put in a guest appearance at Woodbine on Monday morning, breezing five furlongs in 1:02.40.
"He breezed real well," said Joe Orseno, who trains Macho Uno for Stronach Stable and who recruited local rider Robert Landry for the work. "I got him going out seven-eighths in 1:30 and a mile in 1:45.
"He kept going, which was good. It didn't tire him out too much; it was about what I expected. It was his first breeze since the Whitney."
