NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - A racing rarity occurred at Thistledown Friday when both halves of the late daily double ended in dead heats.
In the seventh race, Rich Shay (No. 7) and Prince Granville (5) finished on even terms. A half-hour later Order Chief (6) and Cider (4) hit the wire together.
As a result of the two dead heats there were four daily double payoffs: The 5-4 combination paid $l3.80, 5-6 returned $4.80, 7-4 paid $45.40, and 7-6 paid $l6.20.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Julie Jalouse won her American debut in the Grade 2 Orchid Handicap at Gulfstream Park on the heels of a five-month layoff.
In light of that, Julie Jalouse should merit respect when she runs for the first time in five months in Monday's $100,000-added Glens Falls Handicap at Saratoga.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Saturday's soggy weather, which forced the day's five turf races to the main track and which limited attendance, was expected to take a dramatic toll on New York Racing Association's (NYRA) business for Travers Day. Before first post, NYRA officials were hoping the crowd would reach the low 40,000's.
Last year, under ideal summer conditions, Travers Day produced a record crowd of 60,486 and a record total handle of $34,529,273.
DEL MAR, Calif. - There will be no more easy spots for Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem. No more unchallenged leads against ordinary 3-year-olds.
The whole picture changes Sunday at Del Mar, where War Emblem meets older horses for the first time in his career in the $1 million Pacific Classic. At 1 1/4 miles, there is nowhere to hide. War Emblem will set the pace and encounter a fresh challenge at every turn.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Disturbingthepeace, with three stakes wins the top sprinter in California this summer, will not start again until the $1 million Breeders' Cup Sprint at Arlington Park on Oct. 26, trainer Darrell Vienna said.
Vienna was considering a start in the Ancient Title Breeders' Cup Handicap at Oak Tree in early October, but has decided to train the 4-year-old Disturbingthepeace up to the nation's richest sprint.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - A year ago, Shine Again caught everyone by surprise when she won the Grade 1 Ballerina at 21-1 in a field that included 1-2 favorite Dream Supreme and the 2000 Breeders' Cup Distaff winner, Spain.
On Sunday at Saratoga, Shine Again seeks a Ballerina repeat. Shine Again, whose odds won't be as generous as last year, will have her work cut out for her in the $250,000 Ballerina, which drew eight fillies and mares, including multiple Grade 1 winner Raging Fever.
Could this be the big one for The Judge Sez Who?
Trainer Milton Wolfson, who had considered running The Judge Sez Who in the Pennsylvania Derby, hopes Sunday's Grade 3, $250,000-added Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park in Oklahoma City on Sunday will be the breakthrough race he has been anticipating.
"Of the races around, this looked like the best spot," Wolfson said. "But they're all tough. They all have runners in them."
AUBURN, Wash. - Sunday's Grade 3, $250,000 Longacres Mile took an intriguing turn on Friday morning when Redattore, the 123-pound highweight and certain favorite for the 67th Mile, drew post 11 in the 12-horse field.
Only Bolulight, who won the 1992 Mile, has been successful from the 11 post and only Coldwater, who won the inaugural Mile in 1935 from post 12, has been successful from farther out in the gate.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Grey Tobe Free looks like a standout in the $35,000, 1 1/16-mile Senate Appointee, but it will be hard to choose a favorite in the $35,000, 6 1/2-furlong Lassie Stakes on Sunday at Hastings Park. The Senate Appointee drew only four horses and will go as the first race, while the Lassie drew a full field of 11 2-year-old fillies and goes as the seventh of 13 races.
AUBURN, Wash. - Any objective handicapper who studies the past performances for Sunday's Longacres Mile will quickly conclude that Redattore is the best horse, just as his 123-pound highweight assignment suggests.
Redattore, a 7-year-old Brazilian from the barn of recently inducted Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, won last year's Grade 1 Eddie Read Handicap, and he is coming off a sharp third to Sarafan and Beat Hollow in this year's Eddie Read. Those two reversed order last weekend, when Beat Hollow came back to win the Grade 1 Arlington Million, with Sarafan second.
