INGLEWOOD, Calif. - When Line Rider stormed down the middle of the track to win the Harry Henson Stakes at Hollywood Park on April 24, trainer Mike Machowsky knew he had a tough job ahead of him.
The Henson Stakes was Line Rider's final start with trainer Tim Pinfield, who was breaking up his stable before moving to Singapore. Machowsky watched Line Rider that day knowing the partnership that owns the colt had selected him as the next trainer.
"That put a little pressure on me," Machowsky said.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Anglian Prince and Shaws Creek, both sons of 1995 Kentucky Derby runner-up Tejano Run, are the obvious contenders in Saturday's Plate Trial Stakes at Woodbine, an important prep for the $1 million Queen's Plate.
Nine other Canadian-bred 3-year-olds will prep for the June 23 Plate in the 1 1/8-mile Trial, which is worth $170,400.
CALGARY, Alberta - Fancy Prancer, runaway winner of the six-furlong Mount Royal, will try to stretch her speed to a mile in the Lilac at Stampede Park on Saturday.
Fancy Prancer faces six rivals in the $40,000 handicap for 3-year-old fillies and is the highweight at 119 pounds. She drew the outside post but remains the one to catch. Rider Quincy Welch undoubtedly will send her away from the gate in search of the lead in the short run to the first turn.
AUBURN, Wash. - Just Outrageous, who made a spectacular debut against $16,000 maidens here on May 11, will be tested for class when he takes on seven other 3-year-olds in Saturday's feature at Emerald Downs, $40,000 optional claiming race at 6 1/2 furlongs.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Local fans can come out for lunch and stay for dinner as Hastings Entertainment Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Woodbine Entertainment Group begins its experiment with marathon cards this Saturday. Post time for the first of 13 races is 2:23 p.m.
The 13th race goes off at 8:05 pm.
Jockey Victor Espinoza and trainer Bob Baffert have combined to propel War Emblem to the threshold of joining the all-time greats, and now each says they would not want the pressure placed on the other.
With a horse going for the Triple Crown, "There's a lot of pressure put on a jockey," Baffert said Thursday. "I wouldn't want to be on his back," added Baffert, who rode briefly before turning to training.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Jockey Joe Bravo was taken to Monmouth Medical Center after he fell from his mount, Oh My Pretty Halo, in the seventh race at Monmouth on Thursday. Dr. Angelo Chinicci, medical director of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, reported that Bravo broke his left wrist.
"Healing time on something like this is typically six to eight weeks," Chinicci said.
CHICAGO - Legislation that would ease a proposed merger between the National Jockey Club at Sportsman's Park and Hawthorne Race Course passed the Illinois state senate on Tuesday, but faces an uncertain fate in the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, where it had stalled as of Thursday.
"Hopefully it will move today," Charles Bidwill III, president of the National Jockey Club said Thursday. "We've got a shot. We've obviously got people working against us, but I'd say it's 50-50."
ALBANY, Calif. - Magna Entertainment has filed development applications for Golden Gate Fields with the cities of Berkeley and Albany.
The applications were to protect the company's rights for possible expansion under existing municipal legislation in the two cities.
The applications are consistent with Magna's plans at other tracks of attempting to make the track a "destination center" with hotels, restaurants and shops.
The application to Berkeley would allow for a hotel of fewer than 300 rooms and 10,000 square feet of light retail development.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Christophe Clement would like to follow the same pattern with Forbidden Apple that he did last year, when the then-6-year-old horse came off a seven-month layoff to win the Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap.
Clement is again targeting next Saturday's Manhattan for Forbidden Apple's seasonal debut. Thursday morning, after watching Forbidden Apple breeze five furlongs in 1:02.02 over the Belmont turf course, Clement said his participation in the Manhattan depends largely on racing secretary Mike Lakow.