NEW ORLEANS - Trainer Steve Asmussen won three of the last five open stakes races held at Fair Grounds and finished second in another. Saturday, he can make a dent in the restricted stakes division when he saddles Zuppy as the favorite in the $75,000 Crescent City Derby.
The Crescent City, run at 1 1/16 miles on the main track, is restricted to Louisiana-breds. The race drew a competitive field of nine, none of whom have proven their quality in two-turn races.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The stakes horses have carried Bob Baffert's stable through the first three weeks of the Santa Anita meeting.
Through Wednesday, Baffert had seven wins, trailing Bill Spawr in the overall standings by five. In stakes, Baffert led all trainers with three wins, a number that could increase this weekend.
ALBANY, Calif. - A field of 11, headed by defending champion and track record-holder El Dorado Shooter, will meet in the $55,000-added Montclair Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.
El Dorado Shooter won last year's Montclair and set a track record with a 1:07.55 clocking for the six furlongs. He dueled outside Waki American for the first half mile, put him away and defeated Roaring Red by 1 1/2 lengths.
PORTLAND, Ore. - In Search of Fame will attempt to improve upon an already brilliant record when he takes on six other older Quarter Horses, including archrival Rompun Stompin, in Saturday's 350-yard Director's Handicap at Portland Meadows.
In Search of Fame, a 6-year-old son of Dash Ta Fame who races for The Victory Group Inc., has won 17 of 30 career starts and has proven nearly unbeatable at this track. In Search of Fame, trained by James Glenn Jr., has not lost since late in 2000, when he was twice defeated by Rompun Stompin.
EAST BOSTON, Mass. - The stakes season at Suffolk Downs begins Saturday when 13 fillies and mares meet in the $30,000 Floyd Duncan Stakes.
The six-furlong race appears to be wide open, but Rippling Return, who makes her stakes debut for trainer Ned Allard, should be the betting choice.
PHOENIX - She comes in as the highweight, on the strength of a glossy resume forged in Southern California, where she has rubbed elbows with some of the best - Tranquility Lake, Kalatiara, Paga, and Polaire, to name a few.
But even with so much seemingly in her favor there are issues for shipper Dianehill, who comes to Turf Paradise on Saturday to lead a field of nine in the $30,000 Princess of the Palms Handicap.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The highly anticipated return of Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos will take place earlier than expected as he will make his 2002 debut Saturday in a fourth-level allowance race at Gulfstream Park.
*, who has not run since finishing third in the Belmont Stakes last June 9, will face four rivals in the 1 1/16-mile race which will serve as a prep for the $500,000, Grade 1 Donn Handicap on Feb. 9. It will go as race six on the 12-race card with an approximate post of 3:05 p.m. Eastern.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - When Shug McGaughey shipped Cat Cay out of Payson Park last April, he thought the regally bred filly was going to have a big year. McGaughey had to settle for a big month instead.
After a disappointing spring and summer, * finally realized her promise in the fall, winning a pair of graded stakes in a 34-day span. McGaughey hopes Cat Cay can continue her prowess Friday when she begins her 5-year-old season in the Grade 3, $100,000 The First Lady Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
