SAN MATEO, Calif. - If trainer Bob Hess Jr. had a chance to do it over, he wouldn't hesitate to purchase National Park.
National Park, a British-bred 3-year-old gelding, will be the highweight and possible favorite in Sunday's $55,000 Round Table Handicap at one mile on the Longden Turf Course at Bay Meadows.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - J.T. Marshall, the northern California trainer, took four horses to Del Mar last summer and left for home before the meeting ended, unsatisfied with his results.
"I took BB's," he said. "I should have taken Howitzers."
Thursday at Hollywood Park, Marshall added to his stable for the upcoming Del Mar meeting, which opens on July 24. On behalf of owner Kim Hart, Marshall claimed two horses for $80,000 each - Futural and Catz.
PHOENIX - Racing is a game of changing expectations. A perfect example is the talented 3-year-old filly Fun House, who figures to be one of the favorites in Sunday's Manhattan Beach at 5 1/2 furlongs on the Hollywood turf course.
Bred to be precocious and fast, she did not disappoint in her debut for trainer Ron McAnally, winning by three easy lengths last December, looking very much like a filly who could give You and Habibti trouble.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Owner Phil Kives will be looking for his second consecutive Golden Boy Stakes victory at Assiniboia Downs on Sunday with Ness Gadoll and Jakes Wildindian, who will race as separate betting interests.
Five have entered the six-furlong stakes race for 3-year-olds, which carries a purse of $30,000.
Last year's top local 2-year-old, Ness Gadoll was unbeaten in four starts here with wins in the Graduation Stakes, Osiris Plate, and Winnipeg Futurity. His only loss came in the Birdcatcher Stakes at Northlands Park, where he finished ninth.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Many bettors were stung on Monday's final race when Dustproof, coupled with Profacy as an entry, was scratched shortly before the gates sprang open.
Dustproof, who was the reason the entry was going off as the 3-2 favorite, broke away as he was being loaded.
Making his Fort Erie bow for new trainer Layne Giliforte, Dustproof had made his Ontario debut at Woodbine where he finished sixth, beaten just 4 3/4 lengths, for a $14,000 claiming price. Monday, he was entered for $5,000.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Nick DeToro certainly appreciates owning and training a mare of the quality of Cafe Dancer. But there's also a certain amount of frustration involved, because Cafe Dancer can't quite make the grade in the top races, but there aren't many other places to run her.
That's why Cafe Dancer will be going in Sunday's 1 1/16-mile Ontario Matron, where she will be a relative outsider in a field of six.
"She's on her game," said DeToro. "She's feeling good, and training good. But she's very lightly raced."
ELMONT, N.Y. - Free of Love, who captured his first stakes when he took the Westchester Handicap here on opening day, will seek to make it two straight when he runs in Saturday's $250,000 Brooklyn Handicap, trainer Rick Violette confirmed Friday.
Violette also considered running Free of Love in the Baltimore Breeders' Cup Handicap at Pimlico the same day.
Violette, explaining why he elected to keep Free of Love in New York for the Grade 2 Brooklyn, said: "It's more the depth of the field. This Fleet Is Due is not running, Volponi is not running.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The last time she raced, Tabadabado barely made it - both into the race and to the
wire first.
An early scratch allowed Tabadabado into an optional claiming race last month after originally being relegated to the also-eligible list, a development that proved highly fortunate for the mare and her connections, including trainer Elliott Walden.
Once allowed in, she lagged well back for most of the 1 1/16-mile turf race before launching a furious bid that resulted in a neck victory.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Shippers beware. The cast of locals pointing for the $250,000 Dallas Turf Cup at Lone Star Park on June 15 is rock solid, led by Candid Glen, Nat's Big Party, Maysville Slew, and possibly Unrullah Bull, winner of the Grade 3, $300,000 Texas Mile.
Other locals gearing up for the race include Don'tbotherknocking and Chauffe Au Rouge.
Trainer Steve Asmussen is eager to see Nat's Big Party improve upon his third-place finish in the Dallas Turf Cup last year. In his most recent start, Nat's Big Party won a Lone Star allowance May 4.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Perhaps Midwest horsemen don't realize it yet: Arlington Park is open for business.
Entries have been slow here since the meet opened Wednesday, and Sunday's feature is a perfect example. Though 28 were nominated to the Flawlessly, an overnight turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies, only seven were entered in the race. And that's a mighty small turnout for a grass race.