EAST BOSTON, Mass. - African Princess will try to make Patriot's Day a family day when she attempts to stay undefeated in the $30,000 African Prince Stakes for Massachusetts-bred 3-year-old sprinters Monday at Suffolk Downs.
African Princess will have to take on males in the six-furlong contest, but she has looked impressive so far in her two previous races, including a 5 1/4-length victory in the Mystery Jet Stakes two weeks ago.
OLDSMAR, Fla. - Ever have an occupation where the better you do your job the less people notice?
Such is the fate of the starter and his assistants at any track. The man in the stand who pushes the button and his assistants are responsible for loading horses in a timely fashion, keeping often high-strung, nervous Thoroughbreds who weigh more than a half-ton under control, and then send a field than can total up to 14 horses away fairly and in an order as close to even as possible. Only when a horse gets left or breaks poorly do people talk about the starter and his crew.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - See How She Runs remained perfect in four career starts Friday when she held off an even-money favorite Lake Lady by three quarters of a length to win the Grade 2, $200,000 Fantasy for before a Friday crowd of 21,809 at Oaklawn Park.
It was another neck back in third to Chamrousse.
See How She Runs($9.40) broke well in the mile and a sixteenth race for 3-year-old fillies, and pushed pacesetter General Jeanne through an opening four furlongs in 46.07 seconds. She took the lead on the turn, and was game to the wire under regular rider Don Pettinger.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Every year, there is debate concerning the strength of the 3-year-old male division. The verdict is still out this year, but one thing is certain: This year's 3-year-old filly division is one of the strongest in memory.
Take Charge Lady, You, and Habibti top the division, while Bella Bellucci is waiting in the wings to make her bid for supremacy.
On Sunday at Aqueduct, Bella Bellucci, who has shown so much promise in four starts, will be the deserving favorite among seven fillies in the $100,000-added Comely Stakes, a Grade 3.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Whether he is in California, New York, or here in Kentucky, Bobby Frankel is the one to beat in stakes races. But to win it, you've got to be in it, and Frankel might provide a random act of kindness to others entered in the $250,000 Commonwealth Breeders' Cup Stakes on Sunday at Keeneland.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Overbrook Farm has sent five 2-year-olds to trainer Dallas Stewart in a notable departure from its longstanding relationship with D. Wayne Lukas.
Lukas will still train the majority of horses for Overbrook.
Overbrook also has sent several 2-year-olds to Christophe Clement, who has trained a few older horses for the farm in recent years.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Touch of the Blues emerged from a pack of horses in the final yards to post a 12-1 upset Friday in the $200,000 Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland.
Bred and owned by Gainsborough Farm and trained by Neil Drysdale, Touch of the Blues prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Pisces, an 18-1 shot. Kent Desormeaux was aboard for the victory, marking the second straight day he won the Keeneland feature.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Trainer Bob Hess Jr. has shipped the occasional horse to New York, as he is doing with Spring Meadow for Sunday's $100,000-added Comely. But until this year, Hess, who is based in Southern California, never maintained a division in New York.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - The first turf stakes race at Lone Star Park for older male route horses doesn't take place until June 15, when the $250,000 Dallas Turf Cup is run.
The void in the stakes calendar doesn't translate to a void in quality turf racing. On Sunday a talented field of eight turf runners goes in the ninth race, a $40,000 allowance at a 1 1/16 miles on grass.
Although an allowance, it might as well be a stakes. Run under open allowance conditions, it offers the quality a stakes normally would - minus a rich purse and black type.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Budroyale, the gelding who went from a $50,000 claimer to the runner-up in the 1999 Breeders' Cup Classic, has been retired due to a minor injury, trainer Ted H. West said.
Earlier this week, the 9-year-old Budroyale was shipped to a farm in British Columbia, near the home of owner Jeffrey Sengara. Budroyale retires with 17 wins in 52 starts and earnings of $2,840,810. He made his final start last September, finishing fourth in the Pomona Invitational at Fairplex Park.
