HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Ruff was considered among the leaders of the 3-year-old filly turf division here last winter after winning the Via Borghese Stakes. But after she underwent throat surgery in the fall, even trainer David Donk isn't sure what to expect when Ruff makes her 4-year-old debut against six rivals in Wednesday's $40,000 allowance feature.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Unseasonably warm weather helped Oaklawn Park draw 46,299 patrons over the three-day opening weekend of its 54-day meet last Friday. The season runs through April 13.
Last year, the track opened the first weekend in February, and over the first three days drew 44,076.
Oaklawn's handle from all sources last weekend topped $15.1 million, more than last year's corresponding handle of $14.6 million.
A crowd of 18,142 filled the grandstand opening day this year, an increase of 1,294 patrons over the 16,848 the track drew in 2001.
Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., will distribute a record $200,000 a day in purses during its summer Thoroughbred meet that begins June 28, a 40 percent increase over last season.
The elevated purse structure will be in effect through Sept. 22. For the track's fall season, which runs from Sept. 26 to Nov. 10, daily purses will average $100,000.
Truly Sunlit closed from last place to win Saturday night's $30,000 Bayou City Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston. It was a length back in second to pacesetter French Lass, who finished 2 3/4 lengths clear of favorite Sly Kona.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Trainer Bobby Frankel's decision to leave Lido Palace in California for Sunday's San Antonio Handicap at Santa Anita could give Frankel the favorite in the two major stakes this weekend.
Lido Palace will be a clear favorite in the $250,000 San Antonio Handicap for older horses. On Saturday, Frankel starts top contender Mizzen Mast in the $400,000 Strub Stakes for 4-year-olds.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Partly because of Totaly Wild's upset in the Busanda Stakes on Sunday, a pick-six carryover of $32,316 awaits Aqueduct horseplayers Wednesday, following the two-day break.
Wednesday's pick six concludes with the eighth race, a $56,000 classified allowance at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares who are nonwinners of $18,000 twice at a mile in the past five months, or nonwinners of four races other than maiden, claiming, starter, or restricted.
ALBANY, Calif. - Chime After Chime, a stakes-placed 7-year-old mare, will make her comeback in Wednesday's feature race at Golden Gate Fields.
Chime After Chime, third behind Tuzla and Isle de France in the 1999 Royal Heroine at Hollywood Park, and second, beaten a head by Dream of Gifts in the 2000 Lady Morovich at the Bay Meadows Fair, has not raced since finishing last in the Queen O Green Handicap at Turf Paradise on Nov. 26, 2000.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Each of the seven 3-year-olds in Wednesday's fifth race at Santa Anita has beaten only maidens. But in three months, a few of them could be at Churchill Downs, preparing for the Kentucky Derby.
Run over a mile, Wednesday's optional claimer could produce contenders for the Santa Anita Derby and the Triple Crown.
Azillion, Puerto Banus, Raven Power, and True Monarch face winners for the first time. Cable Ready, Gold Dollar, and Pelirrojo were each well beaten in their last starts.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Snow Ridge spoiled the comeback of Squirtle Squirt in Sunday's $150,000 Palos Verdes Handicap over a wet track at Santa Anita.
Squirtle Squirt, the 2001 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner, dueled with Snow Ridge for the first half-mile but was no threat through the stretch, losing by four lengths.
Steady rain after lunch left the track wet-fast. Snow Ridge finished six furlongs in 1:07.70, just missing Sunny Blossom's 1989 track and stakes record of 1:07.20 when races were timed in fifths.