LINCOLN, Neb. - Oglala Sue returns to Nebraska to shoulder top weight of 121 pounds in the $22,500 Falls Amiss Handicap for Nebraska-bred fillies and mares going a mile and 70 yards at the Lincoln State Fair.
The Falls Amiss is one of a series of races that have replaced the Nebraska Breeders' Sweepstakes Day, a program which is being phased out. On Sunday, older Nebraska-breds face off in the Who Doctor Who Handicap.
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio ? Bad Little Fellow saved ground under Andrew Ramgeet, got through along the rail to engage his pacesetting stablemate Truth Matters at eighth pole, and outfinished him to win the $100,000 Cleveland Gold Cup by a half-length here Thursday. Dinkers Millennium closed a gap through the stretch to finish third, three-quarters of a length in front of fourth-place finisher Mary's Lord. Eight Ohio-breds ran in the 1 1/8-mile race.
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio ? Seven lightly raced but promising 2-year-old Ohio-breds have been entered in the $40,000, 5 1/2-furlong Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes at Thistledown.
Bolaro, one of the two fillies in the race, is a half-sister to graded-stakes-winning speedster Big Bambu. She is owned by her breeder, Edward Marshall.
Two other top contenders are Churchill shipper Hackendiffy, who is owned by David Eigle and trained by Bernard Flint, and the other filly in the race, Kiosk, who is owned by Bruce Ryan and Blazing Meadows Farm and trained by Tim Hamm.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Michael Klein was on the sidelines in the 1980's when his colorful father, Eugene, stormed his way through Thoroughbred racing, campaigning a stable that included six champions. At the time, he was more interested in the stock market than bloodstock.
That changed this year. On Saturday, Michael Klein will have his first starter when Dublino runs for a partnership in the newly formed $500,000 American Oaks at Hollywood Park.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - In a little more than 90 seconds on Saturday, Innit or Old Money can end months of disappointment for trainer Ron McAnally with a victory in the $100,000 Royal Heroine Stakes at Hollywood Park.
Both have won important stakes previously - Innit in the Grade 2 Honeymoon Handicap in 2001; Old Money in three major stakes in Australia in 2000 - but have not shown that form recently.
Innit did not start from August 2001 to May 26 because of an ankle injury. In her comeback, she finished fourth in an allowance race on turf as a heavy favorite.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Gary Stevens rode two winners from two mounts on Wednesday, his first multi-win day of the Hollywood Park meeting. It was no cause for celebration for the Hall of Fame jockey.
Through Wednesday, Stevens, 39, had just three wins from 47 mounts at Hollywood Park, with 18 second- or third-place finishes. During the last few months, he has spent more time traveling to major stakes around the nation, and in May to Singapore, than riding at his base in Southern California.
CHICAGO - It's not true. Cetewayo was not around during the founding of the United States. The old man, however, will show up for Saturday's Stars and Stripes Breeders' Cup Handicap at Arlington.
And at age 8, Cetewayo, a Grade 1 winner earlier this season, clearly is the horse to beat in the Grade 3, $200,000-added Stars and Stripes.
CHICAGO - It was turning into a wonderful story. A 5-year-old horse suddenly discovers stakes form for a longtime Kentucky trainer with a short string of middle-class racehorses.
Then Two Point Two Mill made a sharp left turn.
At 67-1, Two Point Two Mill was on his way to an improbable victory June 1 in the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap. With the 51-year-old rider Charlie Woods aboard, Two Point Two Mill ranged up on the final turn and cruised to the lead as he straightened for home.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Good Journey got a perfect trip under Pat Day before running down Morluc to win the 10th running of the $292,500 Firecracker Handicap Thursday at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Wally Dollase, Good Journey returned $6.40 as second choice in the Firecracker, a Grade 2 race that marked the third straight victory for the 6-year-old horse.
ELMONT, N.Y. - The brilliance Left Bank has flashed at times in the past was on display for a July Fourth crowd of 18,609 at sweltering Belmont Park to see again Thursday as he rolled to a 6 1/4-length victory over Affirmed Success in the $150,000 Tom Fool Handicap.
By running seven furlongs in 1:20.17, Left Bank set a Belmont Park track record, eclipsing the mark of 1:20.20 set by You and I in 1994. John Velazquez rode the winner, his fourth victory on the 10-race card.