EDMONTON, Alberta - A big field of 11 3-year-olds are entered in Saturday's 73rd running of the $150,000 Canadian Derby, a Grade 3 race that is the highlight of the Northlands Park meeting.
The crowded entry box results in part from the defection of Vancouver-based Lord Shogun, who is sidelined with a minor injury. He is unbeaten this year, with victories in the Alberta Derby, Ky Alta, and Manitoba Derby,
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Hastings Park has canceled the last four Friday nights of the meet, beginning with Aug. 23. Manag-ement cited lack of business on the four previous Friday nights for the decision.
On Aug. 16, the last Friday card, only $367,770 was bet on the seven races.
"The decision was made with the long-term view of providing our customers, both here and through our distribution channels, a quality product every time we race," said Phil Heard, president of Hastings Entertainment Inc.
EDMONTON, Alberta - A strong undercard, headed by the $75,000 Edmonton Distaff, supports the Canadian Derby at Northlands Park Saturday.
In the Distaff, which is richest race of the year at Northlands for fillies and mares, Full Scream Ahead tries to put an exclamation mark on what has been an outstanding season.
Full Scream Ahead arrived in Alberta after racing at Hastings Park and northern California and won the $40,000 John Patrick on July 19. She has been dominant in her two starts here and a victory Saturday would push her seasonal earnings to more than $115,000.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Le Cinquieme Essai, who won the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes at Forth Erie on July 21, is back in training.
Because of a high temperature, Le Cinquieme Essai sat out the final leg of Canada's Triple Crown, the $500,000 Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine Aug. 10. It wasn't until Sunday that Le Cinquieme Essai, who is trained by Fort Erie-based Paul Nielsen, resumed training.
"He jogged a mile on Sunday and Monday," said Nielsen. "Then he galloped his first mile and a half of training on Tuesday. He's acting like a fool again, so I think he's okay."
WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Silver Greek is the probable favorite in a field of seven 3-year-olds in Saturday's $30,000 Harry Jeffery Stakes at 1 1/8 miles.
Silver Greek comes off a second-place finish in the Manitoba Derby. Trained by Chad Torevell, Silver Greek's lone win came here in maiden special weight company in his start before the Manitoba Derby. Tim Gardiner will ride Silver Greek, who breaks from post 4.
Ekati and Beau Pip also exit the Manitoba Derby, in which they finished third and fourth.
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan - Six older horses will compete in Saturday's 1 1/8-mile Fred Mendel Memorial at Marquis Downs, and while Beau Ring should be the public's choice to repeat in the race, his task will not be an easy one.
Beau Ring has won 15 of 24 starts and earned $101,969, putting him among the best Saskatchewan-breds of all time.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Krz Ruckus will seek his third straight stakes score Saturday at Woodbine, taking on Sambuca on Ice, Trailthefox, and Runaway Love in the $126,000 Shepperton, a 6 1/2-furlong dash for Ontario-sired runners.
Krz Ruckus finished second after getting cooked in a pace duel with Trailthefox in the 2001 Shepperton. He lost his first two starts this year, but then won with a gutsy front-running performance in the July 3 Overskate Stakes.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - September is coming, and the turf course here will be in its full glory with the Grade 1 Atto Mile, Canadian International, and E.P. Taylor Stakes sure to attract horses from across North America and across the Atlantic.
The annual invasion should be officially launched early this week with Good Journey, trained by Wally Dollase, due to check in from California.
Good Journey's target is the Sept. 8 Atto Mile, a $1 million race for 3-year-olds and up.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Kafwain gave trainer Bob Baffert a record third consecutive victory in Wednesday's Grade 3, $150,000 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar.
Baffert had won the Best Pal Stakes with Flame Thrower (2000) and Officer (2001). He also won with Worldly Manner in 1998.
The victory by Kafwain, and a second by the Baffert-trained Chief Planner, gives Baffert an excellent chance to win an unprecedented seventh consecutive Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 11.
DEL MAR, Calif. - The challenge of facing older horses is a rite of passage that top 3-year-olds face every fall, one that both Came Home and War Emblem are scheduled to undertake Sunday at Del Mar in the $1 million Pacific Classic.
Only six times in the 11 previous runnings of this Grade 1, 1 1/4-mile race have 3-year-olds faced their elders, but the strike rate among them is quite good, with two victories, by Best Pal and General Challenge, and two other in-the-money finishes.