SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Summer Colony left no doubt as to who is the best older filly or mare on the East Coast - and perhaps the country - with a convincing 4 1/2-length victory in Friday's $400,000 Personal Ensign Handicap at Saratoga.
Transcendental rallied for second - her third straight runner-up finish in a Grade 1 stakes - two lengths ahead of Dancethruthedawn, who was coming off a win in the Grade 1 Go for Wand.
FORT ERIE, Ontario ? Yatsko, owned and trained by Ralph Biamonte, will be after his third consecutive stakes score on Sunday at Fort Erie in the rescheduled $60,000 Peninsula Stakes.
The seven-furlong turf event, for Canadian-breds who have started at least twice at the present meeting, was set to go last Tuesday, but that day's card was canceled after a soft area was discovered on the track surface.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Lush Soldier lost the battle, running second in the Ontario Colleen prep here Aug. 9.
But David Bell, who trains Lush Soldier for John Franks, is hoping the filly can win the war when she goes for the bigger money in the Colleen itself Sunday at Woodbine.
"Last time, she had the outside post," said Bell. "She'd had a long time between races and there wasn't much speed in there."
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Hot Talent will try to extend her unbeaten streak to four races Sunday at Woodbine, when she meets 11 other 3-year-old fillies in the $145,250 Ontario Colleen Handicap.
Hot Talent, a closer trained by Malcolm Pierce, won her first two starts at a mile, including a first-level allowance. Most recently she was the more fancied half of a favored Stronach Stable entry when she defeated Silver Nithi and Ginger Gold ? the first two winners of the Tiara series - in the third leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, the Wonder Where Stakes.
AUBURN, Wash. - Emerald Downs president Ron Crockett promised "the finest Longacres Mile card we have ever presented" on Friday morning. And when Sunday's overnight was published a few hours later his promise had been kept.
The Longacres Mile Day card drew 107 horses for 11 races, with first post set for 1 p.m.
Sunday's supporting feature is the $100,000 Emerald Breeders' Cup Distaff, which has drawn a field of 10 fillies and mares going a mile. The Distaff will go as the 10th race, while the Mile will go as race 8 because of television and simulcasting considerations.
DEL MAR, Calif. - The idea is theoretically valid - add a "rabbit" to the Pacific Classic field. Attack War Emblem early, soften him up, make him vulnerable. Set up the Pacific Classic to be won by a come-from-behinder.
Sounds like a good idea.
War Emblem is a speedball, a one-dimensional demon with a hostile style. When he is loose on the lead, War Emblem becomes untouchable. It happened in the Illinois Derby, the Kentucky Derby, and the Haskell Invitational. Daylight wins, all three. Easy lead, long gone.
SHAKOPEE, Minn. - This year's ninth running of the Minnesota Festival of Champions on Sunday at Canterbury Park will feature six Thoroughbred and two Quarter Horse races for runners bred in Minnesota.
The Northern Lights Futurity and Debutante have been the major targets for Minnesota owners-breeders since Canterbury first opened, and this year's renewal of the two races for Minnesota-bred 2-year-olds appear very competitive.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Million-dollar races are not supposed to be easy. That may explain trainer Bobby Frankel searching for reasons why his 3-year-old Medaglia d'Oro will have a difficult time winning Saturday's Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga.
DEL MAR, Calif. - War Emblem may be the leader of the 3-year-old division, but his first foray into the older horse division in Sunday's $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar has not scared away the challengers.
A record field of 14 was entered on Thursday for the richest race of this meeting, run over 1 1/4 miles. The other 13 will all be chasing War Emblem, who is expected to be a pace factor from the start as he was earlier this year when he won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Haskell Invitational.
The previous record for field size was nine in 1994 and 1998.
DEL MAR, Calif. - There is a sense of permanence around the stable of Leonard Lavin's Glen Hill Farm not found often in racing. For 35 years, and through two generations, Lavin has employed a member of the Proctor family as a trainer or farm manager.
There is a desire to do well, of course, but also a desire to take the time to do it right. And this process has enabled Bonus Pack to emerge as a live longshot in Sunday's $1 million Pacific Classic.
