Fri, 05/24/2002 - 00:00

Frankel may run Medaglia d'Oro

Horsephotos
War Emblem enjoyed a perfect morning at Churchill Downs Friday as he prepares for the Belmont Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Immediately after the Preakness, in which Medaglia d'Oro finished a well-beaten eighth as the 3-1 second choice, trainer Bobby Frankel said a start in the Belmont Stakes was not in the offing.

"I will give him a month or so off and then try the turf," Frankel was quoted as saying.

But, when Frankel arrived in New York Sunday morning, he had a new take on things. And, while he hasn't officially declared Medaglia d'Oro a starter for the June 8 Belmont Stakes, he has become more open-minded about the idea of running.

Fri, 05/24/2002 - 00:00

Fair requests move to Santa Anita

Live racing will no longer be offered at Fairplex Park in Pomona if the California Horse Racing Board approves a request by the Los Angeles County Fair to relocate its racing dates to Santa Anita this September, according to a top fair official.

On Thursday, officials with the Los Angeles County Fair Association announced they had reached an agreement with Magna Entertainment, the parent company of Santa Anita, to change the venue of the fair meeting, which is scheduled for Sept. 13-29.

Fri, 05/24/2002 - 00:00

I'm All Yours all set for Kingston

ELMONT, N.Y. - I'm All Yours, the champion New York-bred male turf horse of 2001, begins defense of his title Sunday when he heads an overflow field entered in the $75,000 Kingston Handicap at Belmont. A field of 14 was entered for the nine-furlong turf race, but the race will be limited to 10 starters.

Fri, 05/24/2002 - 00:00

Pompeii faces softer opposition

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Pompeii has been mostly dormant since her explosive Grade 1 victory last summer at Saratoga. But Sunday, the 5-year-old mare will make just her second start in seven months when she will be a prohibitive favorite in the feature race at Churchill Downs, a $62,400 allowance at 1 1/16 miles.

Fri, 05/24/2002 - 00:00

They'll be chasing Expression

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Speed handicappers may disagree with trainer Jean-Pierre Dupuis, whose 2-year-old Expression dashed 4 1/2 furlongs in 51.36 seconds, fastest of the Hollywood Park spring-summer meet.

"I don't pay much attention to time, the track was pretty fast that day," said Dupuis. So was Expression, and for that reason he will be favored Sunday in the Willard Proctor Memorial Stakes. At five furlongs, the $65,000-added sprint is all about speed and final time. The key to beating Expression? Run faster.

Fri, 05/24/2002 - 00:00

Keeneland crowd in Woodbine turf route

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Lucky Scarab, Funny Soldier, and Native Mark, all exiting allowance races on the grass at Keeneland, could rule the roost in Sunday's Woodbine feature, a 1 1/16-mile preliminary allowance on turf.

Lucky Scarab, trained by Mark Frostad for the powerful Sam-Son Farm, will be favored to garner the winner's share of the $69,900 purse. A 4-year-old by recently deceased sire Kris S., Lucky Scarab finished fifth as part of an entry with victorious Dancethruthedawn in the 2001 Queen's Plate.

Fri, 05/24/2002 - 00:00

Hoofprint distance favors Intact

CALGARY, Alberta - The road to the June 15 Alberta Derby has taken several twists this spring, with no clear-cut favorite emerging from the 3-year-old ranks.

So it comes as no surprise that Sunday's Hoofprint on My Heart Handicap, the major prep for the Alberta Derby, drew a full field of 10 with one also-eligible.

Fri, 05/24/2002 - 00:00

Full Gainer looks tough on drop

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Full Gainer, who won the New Westminster Stakes last year, should be a solid favorite over five other 3-year-olds in a $35,000 claiming sprint at Hastings Park Sunday.

Full Gainer ran three times as a 2-year-old and was heavily favored each time. He beat straight maidens as the 3-2 choice in his debut July 28 and was even money when he won the New Westminster Stakes on Aug. 19. His next start was in the $95,000 Ascot Sophomore Oct. 14 at 1 1/16 miles and he went off at 8-5. He finished eighth.

Fri, 05/24/2002 - 00:00

Canadians help fill stakes field

AUBURN, Wash. - A full field of 12 older fillies and mares, including four who are invading from Canada, will run in Sunday's $35,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes at Emerald Downs.

Grooms Derby, a triple stakes winner at Hastings Park, heads the Canadian contingent in the 6 1/2-furlong stakes. Grooms Derby has started only once this season, finishing a good second to Inish Girl after helping to set

Fri, 05/24/2002 - 00:00

Redattore out of loaded Met Mile

ELMONT, N.Y. - Plane troubles have created havoc with the travel plans of several of the California shippers scheduled to run in Monday's $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park.