SEATTLE, Wash. - With the hearing for a license to operate Spokane's Playfair Race Course less than a month away, negotiations between prospective operator Eric Nelson and eastern Washington horsemen remain stalemated.
Jay Healy, president of Organization for the Preservation of Horse Racing in the Northwest, reported at a meeting of the Washington Horse Racing Commission here on Wednesday that his group has made no progress in securing a purse agreement with Nelson.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Kim Hart is back and that's good news for Hastings Park racing fans. As well as spending serious money for locally bred yearlings, in the past Hart has claimed high priced horses in California and brought them up to Hastings to compete in the major stakes races. His most notable purchase was Wandering, who Hart claimed for $62,500 at Hollywood Park and then shipped him up to win the 1999 British Columbia Derby.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Harlan's Holiday was scratched out of Friday's $350,000 Pegasus Handicap at The Meadowlands because of a sloppy track and is likely to run in Saturday's $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park.
Harlan's Holiday trainer, Todd Pletcher, delivered the news to New York Racing Association officials around noon on Friday.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Lido Palace won the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes three weeks ago and was criticized for the manner in which he did it. Repent finished second in the Grade 1 Travers five weeks ago and was lauded for overcoming a long layoff and sloppy track.
Handicappers will get a chance to reassess both colts before next month's Breeders' Cup Classic when they meet in Saturday's $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. Lido Palace and Repent figure to vie for favoritism in the Gold Cup, which has produced 13 of the 18 Classic favorites.
ELMONT, N.Y. - There may not be a horse entered in Saturday's $750,000 Flower Bowl Invitational who can beat Banks Hill.
But perhaps Mother Nature can keep the defending female turf champion from seeing the Belmont starting gate.
The connections of Banks Hill said she would not run in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl if Belmont's inner turf comes up soft. It rained most of Thursday and was expected to rain all day Friday, which could force Banks Hill to scratch and run in next Saturday's Yellow Ribbon at Santa Anita.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Mandy's Gold proved in the Ruffian she is more than just a sprinter. Next Saturday, we will find out where Mandy's Gold fits in the Breeders' Cup Distaff picture when she runs against Summer Colony in the Grade 1 Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park.
Trainer Michael Gorham confirmed Thursday that Mandy's Gold would prep for the Distaff in the $750,000 Beldame rather than in the Spinster at Keeneland on Oct. 6.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The good-natured California rivalry between Bob Baffert and Eoin Harty goes Midwest when the two trainers send out the top choices Saturday in the Arlington-Washington Futurity, a Grade 3 prep for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Harty was Baffert's assistant before he found work as Godolphin's American 2-year-old guru, and the two trainers often chase the same prizes with expensive young horses. Saturday, three colts from their Midwest satellite operations square off in the $150,000 Futurity, run at a mile on dirt.
POMONA, Calif. - A onetime prospect for the Kentucky Derby, Fonz's faces lesser competition Saturday at Fairplex Park, where he will start as one of the favorites in the $100,000 Pomona Derby for 3-year-olds.
A field of 10 entered the Derby, and Fonz's vulnerability is clear - at 1 1/8 miles the Derby is a virtual marathon for the good sprinter. Trainer David La Croix recognizes the problem. The longer the race, the less effective Fonz's becomes.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - A field of eight horses - four Europeans, three Canadians, and one American - will go in Sunday's $1.5 million Canadian International at Woodbine.
The 1 1/2-mile Canadian International will be one of two Grade 1 turf stakes on Sunday's program, along with the $750,000 E.P. Taylor for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles.
Zindabad, who finished third in last year's International but was disqualified to sixth for causing interference, returns this year in good form and is Daily Racing Form's 5-2 morning line choice.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Full fields in the Jack Diamond and Sadie Diamond futurities highlight a 13-race program at Hastings Park Saturday. Both 6 1/2-furlong races are worth $100,000 and are restricted to 2-year-olds foaled in Canada.
Illusive Force will be one of the favorites in the Jack Diamond Futurity, which drew 10 colts and geldings. He started his career in the New Westminster Stakes Aug. 24, and was beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Bullseye Bill, who is also entered Saturday and will likely receive heavy support.
