The Blitz is on. But it will be more like a delayed Blitz in Saturday's West Virginia Derby.
Thunder Blitz will not be going all out early. After having him run close to the pace in last month's Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth, trainer Joe Orseno and jockey Jorge Chavez have decided to let the colt revert to his preferred off-the-pace tactics.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - With the absence of Queen's Plate winner Dancethruthedawn and Prince of Wales Stakes winner Win City, the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, Saturday's $500,000 Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine, is a competitive event lacking in quality.
Fillies have won two of the last three runnings of the 1 1/2-mile turf marathon, and are represented again Saturday by Sweetest Thing and Asia.
Roger Attfield, who trains Sweetest Thing, won two consecutive Breeders', with Pinafore Park and Free Vacation in 1998 and 1999.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Sparkling Number wasn't supposed to run in the five-furlong Anderson Fowler against 3-year-old colts on the turf July 22, but when her planned allowance race came off the turf, she did. Although she finished third, the race showed how tough she will be when she faces fillies in Saturday's $50,000 Candy Eclair Stakes, run at five furlongs on the turf for 3-year-old fillies.
Jockey Travis Dunkelberger, the nation's leader rider in wins by a narrow margin, broke his collarbone Wednesday night in the seventh race at Charles Town and is expected to be sidelined for at least four to six weeks.
On Thursday, Dunkelberger, 24, said his mount, Southern Trail, stumbled and broke his leg, tossing the rider to the ground near the sixteenth pole.
Dunkelberger said he was scheduled to meet with a doctor Friday morning to see if the break required surgery.
"In my opinion it probably will need [surgery] because it's separated," Dunkelberger said.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Paga, a filly from Argentina, and jockey Mike Smith earned their first stakes win of 2001 in California in Wednesday's restricted $81,175 Osunitas Handicap at Del Mar.
Paga ($7.60) ran 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:41.06, holding off a late rally from La Ronge. A 4-year-old, Paga was a multiple stakes winner in Argentina last year.
Smith, a two-time Eclipse Award winner as the nation's top jockey, won his first stakes since relocating from the East in May.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - First of all, John's Call doesn't know he's 10 years old.
As far as he's concerned, time passes in big chunks, alternating between the good life on the farm and such competitive diversions as the Breeders' Cup Turf, the Japan Cup, and the Sword Dancer Handicap, which will bear his stamp again on Saturday at Saratoga.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The success of the Saratoga meet for trainer Christophe Clement depends on what happens this weekend.
Clement will have runners in all three graded stakes beginning with Friday's $100,000 Glens Falls Handicap when he sends out the uncoupled entry of Aiglonne and New Assembly. Clement will also be in action in Saturday's Grade 1 Sword Dancer with Honor Glide and/or Craigsteel and in Sunday's Grade 3 Ballston Spa Breeders' Cup with Penny's Gold.
AUBURN, Wash. - Seven 3-year-old $12,500 claimers will do battle in Friday's six-furlong feature at Emerald Downs.
Alnaab the Gold and Pazhalsta are logical contenders, as they finished second and fourth, respectively, while racing for a slightly higher tag on June 20. The sharp sprinter High Tailing won that race in a quick 1:10.60 for six furlongs, but Alnaab the Gold closed to be beaten less than a length and Pazhalsta held fourth, beaten just over two lengths after pressing the pace throughout.
EDMONTON, Alberta - Another small field will go to post for a stakes race at Northlands Park Friday, as the $30,000 Mademoiselle has only four horses, and betting will be limited to win and exactor.
The morning-line favorite, Northern Neechitoo, looks to rebound after a rough trip in her last race, the John Patrick Memorial Handicap here July 21. Northern Neechitoo finished fifth, 5 1/4 lengths behind Crimson Hue, after breaking in the air and hitting the starting gate.
