ETOBICOKE, Ontario - New racing rules pressed for by the Woodbine Entertainment Group were passed by the Ontario Racing Commission last month and go into effect with the start of racing Saturday.
The first involves the elimination of entries in stakes races worth $1 million or more. All starters in $1 million races will run as separate betting interests.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Olympian stole the show on opening day of the 2001 Woodbine meet, winning a $100,000 optional claimer in a romp while sizzling five furlongs in a track-record 56.07 seconds.
On Saturday, Olympian will try to try to duplicate that phenomenal feat in the $101,800 Briartic Handicap, the opening day feature of the 2002 Woodbine meet.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The $150,000 purse of Saturday's Santa Ana Handicap at Santa Anita does not do justice to the quality of the field.
Five fillies or mares who have won a Grade 1 race in the last 18 months meet in the Grade 2 Santa Ana, run over 1 1/8 miles on turf. Bettors must choose among Grade 1 winners Astra (2001 Beverly Hills Handicap), Golden Apples (2001 Del Mar Oaks), Janet (2001 Yellow Ribbon Stakes), Starine (2001 Matriarch Stakes), and Tout Charmant (2000 Matriarch Stakes) as well as four longshots.
FLORENCE, Ky. - In any given year, a 3-year-old based the entire winter at Turfway Park has been a virtual throwout when the big boys come to town for the track's signature race.
But when the $500,000 Lane's End Spiral Stakes is run Saturday, the lineup not only will include one locally-based horse that rates as a serious contender, but two. Request for Parole and Perfect Drift are the so-called Turfway twins who will attempt to earn a spot in the May 4 Kentucky Derby by facing a solid field that includes capable invaders such as Saratoga Blues, Straight Gin, and Azillion.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Sometime early Saturday afternoon, trainer Michael Dickinson will take his customary stroll around the Gulfstream Park turf course. His mission is to assure that the footing is safe for his multiple Grade 1 winner Cetewayo later that day in the $250,000 Pan American Handicap. If Dickinson finds the footing to his satisfaction, Cetewayo's 10 rivals may well be running for second money in the Grade 2 event.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - It's time for the local 3-year-olds to stand and deliver. The Grade 3, $100,000 Rebel at Oaklawn Park on Saturday is their final chance to prove they belong in the Grade 2 Arkansas Derby April 13; In order to do that, they will have to beat a trio of shippers Saturday: Ocean Sound, Jeremiah Jack, and Dusty Spike.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Forest Heiress, beaten at 3-10 in the Old Hat Stakes at Gulfstream on Jan. 6, appears to have found a soft spot to make amends when she heads a six-horse field entered in Saturday's $100,000, Grade 3 Cicada Stakes at Aqueduct.
A daughter of Forest Wildcat, Forest Heiress won 4 of 5 starts as a 2-year-old, including the Sorority at Monmouth Park and the Valley Stream at Aqueduct, both Grade 3 races.
ALBANY, Calif. - Because Fancee Bargain was willing to allow Art and Steve Sherman to train her, the three might meet in the winner's circle following Saturday's $55,000-added Soviet Problem Handicap at Golden Gate Fields. The six-furlong Soviet Problem has a field of eight fillies and mares.
Fancee Bargain used to be high-strung and hard to train, said Steve Sherman, assistant to his father, Art. But she has settled down enough to have won both her starts this year.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Several trainers had a surprise awaiting when they picked up Saturday's overnight. They found the $46,000 open allowance they had chosen for their horses also attracted Macho Uno, who returns to action for the first time since finishing fourth in the 2001 Breeders' Cup Classic.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The cancellation of racing at Aqueduct on Wednesday helped Oaklawn Park reach its highest offtrack handle of the meet, as out-of-state patrons bet $4,537,572 on the 10-race card. Another $623,598 was bet on the program by the ontrack crowd of 5,883, bringing Oaklawn's total handle on its races Wednesday to $5,161,170.
The previous offtrack best this meet was reached on Feb. 16, when Oaklawn handled $4,189,228 on nine races, which were delayed because of a tote malfunction. The delay forced the track to cancel its final race.