ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Red Satin Slippers, a bang-up second last time out in the Carotene Stakes, deserves top billing as she takes on entry-level allowance opposition in Wednesday's Woodbine feature.
A field of 12 fillies and mares will line up in the seven-furlong turf dash, which carries a purse of $52,800.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Sparkling Number swept to a decisive victory in her first stakes race Sunday in the $50,000 Ocean Hotel for 3-year-old fillies running five furlongs on turf.
Sparkling Number, the favorite, pressed the pace under Jose Ferrer before rallying in the lane to a 1 1/2-length victory over Always on the Go. Hazino was another length back in third.
Owned by Richard Golden, Sparkling Number paid $5.40 and ran five furlongs in 56.38 seconds over a course labeled good.
The only two times Under the Rug faced graded stakes company last season she performed poorly and was beaten a combined margin of just over 30 lengths.
After watching how impressively Under the Rug ran in Sunday's $100,000 Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park, however, trainer James Murphy is willing to give his 6-year-old mare another shot in a major stakes.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The result of the Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Sale of 2-year-olds in training held Saturday night at Arlington Park mirrored many races here: Frank Calabrese came out on top.
The leading owner here last season, and with five wins already this meet, Calabrese shelled out $100,000 to buy an unnamed colt by the first-crop sire Victory Speech. And Calabrese's private trainer, Wayne Catalano, was unabashed in his appreciation of the colt Monday morning.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Another day, another major stakes win, another slice of Canadian racing history.
In other words, it was business as usual here Monday morning at the Sam-Son Farm shed row after Dancethruthedawn had given Canada's most powerful racing stable its fourth Queen's Plate win here at Woodbine Sunday afternoon.
A win by Strut the Stage in the Charlie Barley Handicap earlier on the Plate program already had kept alive a streak for Sam-Son and trainer Mark Frostad, who now have won a stakes here on five straight weekends.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Between plane trips to and from Japan on Sunday, Kent Desormeaux flew around the Hollywood Park turf course, guiding Astra to an impressive four-length win in the $200,000 Beverly Hills Handicap at Hollywood Park.
Desormeaux, who this week ends a successful two-month riding stay in Japan, landed in California before noon and left at 8 p.m. to return for a stakes on Tuesday. He resumes riding in California on Friday.
Astra's performance made Sunday's quick trip worthwhile.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Truebreadpudding, under John Velazquez, took the lead soon after the start and was never headed as she cruised to a 2 3/4-length victory in Sunday's $83,475 Mount Vernon Handicap.
Key Oui rallied to be second, 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Polly Jo. Shopping for Love, the 6-5 favorite, finished fourth after a wide trip under Norberto Arroyo.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Dancethruthedawn parlayed a perfect stalking trip into a determined victory over 4-5 favorite Win City in the 142nd running of the $1 million Queen's Plate at Woodbine Sunday.
Dancethruthedawn was made-to-order to win the Plate, since she's a daughter of Dance Smartly, the 1991 Plate winner and Canadian Horse of the Year. Her full brother, Scatter the Gold, captured the 2000 Plate for Sam-Son Farm and trainer Mark Frostad, who also campaign Dancethruthedawn.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Mr. Epperson, one of the hardest knockers on the grounds over the past few seasons, recorded his first stakes victory and the first for his trainer, Scott Fairlie, in Sunday's $223,400 Neartic at Woodbine.
"He's always been a bridesmaid in these stakes races always knocking on the door," said jockey Jim McKnight, who piloted Mr. Epperson to a neck victory in a cavalry charge to the wire in the six-furlong turf handicap. "But today he finally got his just dues, and got the job done."