LOUISVILLE, Ky. - As seven highly accomplished fillies left the paddock Thursday to run in the $273,500 Falls City Handicap at Churchill Downs, trainer John T. Ward Jr. could not help but express his amazement at the depth of the field.
"Other than the Breeders' Cup, I don't know that there's been anything like this," said Ward.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Excluded from the Breeders' Cup Sprint because he lacked the necessary points, Yonaguska has made the most of his opportunities since then. On Thanksgiving Day at Aqueduct, Yonaguska scored his second consecutive stakes victory in the $112,200 Fall Highweight Handicap before a crowd of 5,343.
NEW ORLEANS - Bonapaw returned to his former barn and a racetrack he loves to put in a dazzling performance on opening day at Fair Grounds, easily winning the Thanksgiving Day Handicap for the second year in a row. Before a crowd of 7,648, Bonapaw beat Robin de Nest by 4 1/4 lengths, and his time of 1:08.74 for six furlongs - a stakes record - was close to the track record of 1:08.34 set last meet by Hallowed Dreams. He paid $3.40.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Stormy Jack prevailed in a three-horse photo to win the second stakes of his career in Thursday's $102,550 On Trust Handicap at Hollywood Park.
Ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye, Stormy Jack ran 7 1/2 furlongs in 1:28.65, finishing a head in front of 17-1 Waingarth. Ceeband, the 3-5 favorite, finished third, a head behind Waingarth. Stormy Jack paid $8.20 to win. The race was restricted to California-breds.
MIAMI - Raponera proved her upset victory in the Powder Break Handicap earlier this month was no fluke when she won Thursday's $50,000 Georgia Peaches Handicap over Light Dancer.
Raponera's win at 16-1 in the Powder Break was her first victory of the year. She was dismissed at 9-1 for the Georgia Peaches, but under Horacio Karamanos ran down the leader in early stretch and withstood the final bid of Light Dancer. Light Dancer, one of two 3-year-olds in the race, was returning on just five days' rest after having finished seventh in last Saturday's Lenta Stakes.
NEW ORLEANS - For many years, Herman Taylor harvested rice and soybeans on his farm in Arneaudville, La. But this season's crop includes Walk in the Snow, a modestly bred gelding who just might be the fastest Louisiana-bred 2-year-old in training.
That notion will be put to the test Saturday at Fair Grounds, when Walk in the Snow meets nine rivals in the $60,000 Sugar Bowl, a 5 1/2-furlong stakes for open 2-year-olds.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - For a man who gets close to his horses, this has been a tough year for veteran trainer Carl Nafzger.
Nafzger not only endured the death of his 1998 champion filly, Banshee Breeze, early this year, but also was deeply saddened by the death last month of Unbridled, the great racehorse and stallion who helped Nafzger win his only Eclipse Award as top trainer by capturing the Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic in 1990.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Perhaps more important than the long proud history of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, which dates to 1920, is the strong recent history of the race.
Seven of the last 10 winners of the Kentucky Jockey Club, Churchill Downs's premier race for 2-year-olds, have gone on to run in the Kentucky Derby the next year, several of them as highly regarded contenders. The names Dollar Bill, Captain Steve, Cape Town, and Concerto should be easily recognizable for serious racing fans.
PHOENIX - Considering that Jetson has won his last three races, you would think he would tower over his foes in Saturday's $25,000 Arizona Breeders' Futurity at Turf Paradise. But he figures to get a stiff challenge from Hollywood Warrior, who comes off a 6 1/4-length allowance win.
Also on Saturday, 12 Arizona-bred 2-year-old fillies will compete in the fillies division of the Arizona Breeders' Futurity.