SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, whose runners have been hot at the meet, has a horse for the course in Aslaaf for Thursday's $52,000 allowance feature at Saratoga.
Aslaaf has a win and two seconds in three turf starts at Saratoga. A 4-year-old son of Quiet American, Aslaaf is coming off a second-place effort as the favorite in a third-level allowance race run here on July 31.
Thursday's race carries the same allowance conditions and will be run at one mile on the inner turf.
DEL MAR, Calif. - An old friend has returned to the barn of John Shirreffs, and the trainer could not be happier. David Copperfield has had a star-crossed career, the highlights including defeating Fusaichi Pegasus in a maiden race and winning the Cinema Handicap, the lowlights including never quite living up to the $2 million The Thoroughbred Corporation spent for him at the Marshall Naify dispersal two years ago.
AUBURN, Wash. - Just Outrageous appears to be the one to catch in Thursday's feature at Emerald Downs, a six-furlong race for $20,000 3-year-olds that has drawn a field of eight.
Just Outrageous, a Pennsylvania-bred son of Press Card who races for Frank and Phyllis Gaunt, is coming off a front-running score over $16,000 rivals on Aug. 1, when he blistered a half-mile in 44.20 seconds and hung on to score by a neck over the fast-finishing Predominator in 1:16.80 for 6 1/2 furlongs.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - In the paddock between the second and third races on Sunday, trainer Phil Oliver watched intently as his barn's star, 5-year-old First Lieutenant, went through a routine schooling session, calmly walking through the ring and then up toward the paddock stalls.
Prized Amberpro, a former $10,000 claimer who over the past few months has developed into one of this region's top female sprinters, has been good for trainer John Gelner's health. The mare, who is set to race at Louisiana Downs on Aug. 24 in the $50,000 Monique Rene Handicap, has lifted Gelner's spirits following his minor stroke last year, and subsequent heart problems.
"She has been a tremendous boost," said Gelner, who trains Prized Amberpro for Linda Patch and Joseph Thomas. "She keeps me going."
Rainbow Futurity winner First to Flash is among 223 2-year-olds entered in 23 trials for the Grade 1, $1.9 million All American Futurity on Thursday at Ruidoso Downs.
The horses with the 10 fastest times qualify for the All American, Quarter Horse racing's richest race, on Labor Day. There is a 9:30 a.m. first post time for the 440-yard trials.
First to Flash is riding a 3-race winning streak, including the Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity in his most recent out. His trainer, John Bassett, won last year's All American Futurity with Ausual Suspect.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Apprentice Omar Figueroa, who finished third in the jockey standings at the Bay Meadows spring meeting, will begin to ride full-time in northern California on Thursday.
Figueroa, who had 39 wins, 40 seconds, and 40 thirds from 268 mounts at the Bay Meadows meeting, is listed to ride six horses Thursday at the Bay Meadows Fair, including Benchclearingbrawl, the likely favorite in a five-furlong 2-year-old maiden claiming race.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Dave Cotey is one of the rare Woodbine-based trainers who will cast an eye westward when the occasion seems appropriate.
So it should come as no surprise that Cotey has nominated both Lady Shari and Mind Body Soul to Northlands Park's Aug. 24 Canadian Derby, a 1 3/8-mile race that offers Grade 3 status and a purse of $150,000.
"Right now, I'm leaning toward running Lady Shari," said Cotey, who co-owns the filly under his Dominion Bloodstock banner along with his usual partners, Hugh Galbraith and Derek Ball.
