INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A clean trip may be all that California Sage needs to win the third race of his career on Wednesday at Hollywood Park.
In his last two starts, troubled trips have kept California Sage out of the winner's circle.
He finished fifth after stumbling at the start of an allowance race at Bay Meadows on Sept. 22. In a $70,000 claimer at Hollywood Park on Nov. 8, California Sage overcome a poor start but was blocked in the stretch, losing by a length under Tyler Baze.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - The run of dry weather that has made for uninterrupted turf racing this fall at Aqueduct is about to come to an end. With rain falling following the races Sunday and with more showers forecast Wednesday through Friday, it is quite possible turf racing could be done for the year.
At the very least, Wednesday's featured event, a third-level allowance at nine furlongs, is in jeopardy of moving to the main track.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Trainer Todd Pletcher wishes he could turn the calendar back a few months.
With Left Bank and Graeme Hall - the one-two finishers from Saturday's Grade 1 Cigar Mile - in the best form of their careers, it's hard putting them on the shelf for a few months.
"You have two horses that are doing so well, you'd love to have a big race a month from now," Pletcher said Monday morning. "But given the time of year and the fact they're both going to run as 5-year-olds, obviously, you've got to give them a break sometime."
MIAMI - The turf course was open for training on Monday morning, and several candidates for this weekend's $100,000 Hollywood Wildcat and Mecke Stakes made the most of the opportunity. Prominent among them was the promising 2-year-old filly August Storm, who will likely be the favorite in the 1/16-mile Hollywood Wildcat.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - What a Breeze edged away from favored Gonetofarr in the final sixteenth for a gutsy triumph in the $144,180 Ontario Lassie Stakes for 2-yearold fillies.
"She doesn't like to get beat," said Jake Barton, who rode What a Breeze. "For as young as she is, she's really mature, and she loves to chase things down. When I got into her, she really responded."
The final time for the 1 1/16 miles over a muddy strip was 1:46.34.
What a Breeze returned $7.50 as the second choice.
ANDERSON, Ind. - Marciann and Fight for Ally both successfully defended their titles in stakes races for Indiana-breds.
Marciann wore down front-running Heresyour Chickey to win the $43,100 Frances S. Slocum Stakes for fillies and mares by 2 3/4 lengths. It is her third win in as many starts at the meet. Marciann won the race last year as a 3-year-old, beating older horses.
With Terry Thompson aboard Sunday, Marciann shadowed Heresyour Chickey through splits of 23.44 seconds, 47.49, and 1:12.96.
NEW ORLEANS - Flick could not win an allowance race at Keeneland in her previous start, but on Sunday she was two lengths better than five rivals in the $60,000 Pontalba Stakes.
Rallying strongly in the final furlong, Flick ($7) passed the pacesetter, Purple Princess, and went on to win by two lengths, running the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.20.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Iron Deputy charged through a large opening along the inside turning for home, rocketed past pace-setting Saratoga Way in midstretch, and drew off to a four-length victory in Sunday's $82,500 Huntington Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings at Aqueduct.
Volley Ball, who broke slowly and then had to alter course in the stretch, got up for second, a half-length ahead of Mr. Kipp. Saratoga Way faded to fourth.
ALBANY, Calif. - Trainer Len Shoemaker hopes Mr. Tack Nail can develop into a stakes-caliber horse. Wednesday's start in a $40,000 optional claimer at Golden Gate may give Shoemaker an indication of whether that will happen.
Three of Mr. Tack Nail's foes in the six-furlong race-Right Return, Millennium Song, and Lil' Country-have run in stakes, and two of the three are stakes-placed. Millennium Song is making his first start since a third-place finish in the Atherton at Bay Meadows on April 15. Lil' Country was third in the Golden State Mile here on Feb. 10.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - If all goes according to plan, What a Breeze will be looking to uphold a family tradition in next year's Woodbine Oaks.
"The Oaks is her long-term goal," said trainer Earl Barnett. "She's a big, strong, good-looking filly and she's got the will."
What a Breeze is a daughter of Hope for a Breeze, who won the 1992 Canadian Oaks for the Hopefield Farm of owner-breeder Stan Dodson.