PLEASANTON, Calif. - If trainer Fred Costa is correct, he may surprise a few people in Sunday's $50,000 Alamedan Handicap on closing day at the Alameda County Fair.
Costa is sending out an entry in the 1 1/16-mile race, and he's confident one of his horses will be in front at some point during the race.
Fight for Silver should be the speed of the race, and Ironman Dehere, who won the Pleasanton Stakes here last year as a 3-year-old, will be coming from off the pace.
EDMONTON, Alberta - The Ky Alta, which will be featured at Northlands Park next Saturday, presents a number of interesting scenarios.
The Ky Alta, a $40,000 handicap for 3-year-olds, will revive the rivalry between Sid Gray's 2001 Alberta champion 2-year-old Dance Me Free and the runner-up in the voting, Crescent Remark.
Before Crescent Remark jumped up in the season finale to upset Dance Me Free in the $50,000 Canadian Juvenile, Dance Me Free had built up sufficient credits by sweeping the Edmonton Juvenile, Sales Stake, and Birdcatcher.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - It's hard to say what happened to Bold'n Keen in the Burnaby Stakes last Saturday, but he was put on the veterinarian's list following a troubled trip where he was eased down the backstretch by his rider. Bold'n Keen will try to get back on track when he faces six other 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles in a $50,000 optional nonwinners-other-than on Sunday.
"He just got confused," said his trainer, Rob VanOverschot. "It was his first time going long, and after he broke poorly, he rushed up and then must have thought the race was over."
MIAMI - The weights have been released for next Saturday's $400,000 Princess Rooney Handicap, the main event on the $1.4 million Summit of Speed card at Calder. And it's obvious racing secretary Bob Umphrey wasn't about to tinker with a formula that has already worked.
Umphrey assigned Xtra Heat 127 pounds and Gold Mover 115 for the six-furlong, Grade 2 Princess Rooney. Those are the same weights both carried when finishing necks apart in Belmont's Grade 2 Vagrancy Handicap on June 9.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - After practicing the walk from the box seats to the winner's circle following the Hollywood Gold Cup last year, trainer Craig Dollase is ready to do it for real on July 14.
Last year, Dollase watched Futural finish first and be placed third after causing interference.
Next Sunday, Dollase is back in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup with Momentum, who was racing on turf in England at this time last year.
LINCOLN, Neb. - Tate's Way will carry high weight of 123 pounds when he returns to action as the likely favorite in a field of six entered for the $22,500 Who Doctor Who Handicap at Lincoln.
The 1 1/16-mile event for older Nebraska-breds replaces the Nebraska Breeders' Sweepstakes Classic and is in its second year.
SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Blumin Bauble will be favored over seven rivals in the $35,000 added Princess Elaine Stakes for Minnesota-bred fillies at Canterbury Park, but several loom with upset chances.
Trained by Doug Oliver, Blumin Bauble was named the statebred champion 3-year old last season following her win in the Minnesota Oaks. She showed continued development with a five-length win over Minnesota-bred foes in the Lady Slipper Stakes on opening weekend.
Joanies Bella, the top 2-year-old filly in Ohio last year, will be a strong favorite in the $50,000 Cincinnatian Stakes, the feature at River Downs. The Cincinnatian, restricted to Ohio-bred 3-year-old fillies, will be contested at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.
None of the major contenders, including Joanies Bella, has tried the turf, nor do any of their bloodlines suggest they will have a great love for the surface. The outcome might ultimately depend on class, and Joanies Bella is the shining star.
You'llbeinmyheart and Taylor's Queen, who both win more often than they lose, will meet for the first time Sunday in the $40,000 Fantasia Stakes at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La.
The six-furlong race is restricted to 3-year-old fillies bred in Louisiana, and also drew local stakes winner C.J.'s Star.