This one has the look of a classic tag-team scenario.
With the Churchill Downs shipper Andelegend likely to show his usual turn of foot in the Sunday feature at Arlington Park, trainer Louie Roussel has a horse to entertain him from the opening strides.
The catch is that Roussel - who is away to his typical high-percentage start at the meet - also has a horse capable of rallying from just off the pace if the dueling leaders grow weary from their efforts.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Saarland, who suffered a chip in his ankle while finishing 10th as the co-second choice in the Kentucky Derby, rejoined trainer Shug McGaughey's stable Monday and will be pointed to a fall campaign.
Saarland underwent surgery the day after the Derby to remove a chip from his left front ankle. Earlier this month, he began jogging on the Kentucky farm where he was recovering, and will continue to jog for the remainder of July, according to Buzz Tenney, McGaughey's assistant. In August, Saarland will begin galloping and will likely start breezing in September.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Halfway through the 78-day Monmouth meet, the business numbers have improved in the last month but continue to be down from last year's benchmark meet that set records in handle and attendance.
While two of the premier races of the meet, the Grade 2 Molly Pitcher and Grade 1 United Nations, were televised on CBS in the last two weeks and drew outstanding fields, the attendance on those days was not great. The daily attendance is averaging 9,626 this year, down 7 percent from last year.
SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Three-year-old fillies and colts will contest separate divisions of the $35,000-added, 6 1/2-furlong MTA Stallion Auction Stakes at Canterbury Park on Sunday.
The Stallion Auction Stakes are reserved for progeny of stallions whose services were sold at the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association's Stallion Service auction in December 1997.
Demiparfait is the probable favorite in the filly division because of her win in the Frances Genter Stakes two weeks ago. In that race she edged Lakeville by a half-length after closing well between foes.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Race on Green, who has rapidly gone through his conditions, will get tested for class Sunday when he takes on Grade 3 Texas Mile winner Unrullah Bull in the $75,000 Bob Johnson Memorial at Lone Star Park.
The one-mile race for older horses drew a field of eight, and is one of two closing day features on a 14-race card. The $100,000 Silver Spur Breeders' Cup for 2-year-old fillies will go as the 12th, and it drew 12-length maiden winner Parting.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - For jockey Jim McKnight, the time has come to place family ahead of profession.
That's why McKnight will be heading home from Woodbine this week, to Louisville, Ky., where he will take a break from riding and consider his future.
He plans to get reacquainted with his two children. "My daughter will be 13 in September, and my son will be 12 in November," said McKnight.
"I've been gone for most of their upbringing. I feel like I'm at a point in my life when I need to be there, spend more time with them."
WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Three of the six 3-year-olds entered in Sunday's $30,000 Derby Trial Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Assiniboia are coming off victories.
Ekati, the most impressive of the winners, won a seven-furlong maiden special weight race June 23 by
16 1/4 lengths in 1:25.80.
Trained by Jim Smith, Ekati probably will show speed, breaking from post 3 under Rohan Singh.
Winaferd, the winner of the restricted North Dakota Derby over one mile in his last start here July 7, is likely to challenge Ekati for the early lead.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Heavy rains and severe lightning forced the cancellation of races six through nine Thursday night at Lone Star Park.
The cancellation was the second of the meet. Thunderstorms forced the track to cancel the final two races on the program May 8.
Lone Star was hit with heavy rain and lightning about 8:45 p.m. Central on Thursday night. Officials made the decision to call off the remainder of the card around 9:30 p.m.
Horses were in the paddock for the sixth race when the storm began.
MIAMI - Xtra Heat, the undisputed queen of female sprinters, will bring her blazing speed and incomparable style to Calder Race Course on Saturday to face rival Gold Mover and four other older fillies and mares in the Grade 2, $400,000 Princess Rooney Handicap.
Orchard Park has the most wins on turf and is a two-time graded stakes winner. Flying Dash owns the best Beyer Figure and has not been beaten to the wire in two starts since coming to North America. And Kris's Prayer appears to be the best-bred horse for 10 furlongs.
Those conflicting pieces of evidence make for a difficult puzzle for handicappers in Saturday's $500,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs.
