Wed, 10/03/2001 - 00:00

Distinctive Mr. B peaking now

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Arlington's Friday feature offers about everything you would want in a horse race - good horses, a full field, and a long list of legitimate contenders. But weather wet enough to move this turf sprint to the main track would change all that and further damage the program, since the co-featured sixth is also an allowance race on turf.

Wed, 10/03/2001 - 00:00

Delta Downs hikes purses to record level

There's a new player in the Mid-South. Delta Downs in Vinton, La., will offer a record $125,000 a day in purses for its upcoming fall Thoroughbred meet, which puts the track in a position to compete for horses with neighboring Sam Houston Race Park in Houston. The new purse structure also allows Delta Downs to lure lower-level claimers from Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Wed, 10/03/2001 - 00:00

Booklet sunny in Florida

MIAMI - Any doubts that trainer Steve Klesaris may have had about Booklet adapting to the local climate and racetrack were erased Wednesday morning when the 2-year-old worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 in preparation for the $400,000 In Reality Stakes on Oct. 13. His black-letter clocking matched that of the older stakes winner Just Listen on Wednesday's work tab.

Booklet is apt to be the slight choice against the undefeated Carey's Gold in the 1 1/16-mile In Reality, the final leg of the open division of the Florida Stallion Series.

Wed, 10/03/2001 - 00:00

Handle and attendance are up at Assiniboia

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Both attendance and handle at Assiniboia Downs showed increases at this year's 76-day live meeting, which ended Sept. 30.

The handle on the live races was up 8 percent to $10,074,462 for an average of $132,558 per day. Attendance rose to 147,150 from 140,927, an average of 1,936 patrons per day.

On the racetrack, jockey Rohan Singh and trainer Ardell Sayler successfully defended their titles.

Singh won six races on the closing weekend to finish with 82 victories. Tim Gardiner was second with 72 wins, followed by Alan Cuthbertson with 71.

Wed, 10/03/2001 - 00:00

What to do with Julie's Witt?

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The classy Julie's Witt should be tough if she runs her best race in Friday's $60,000 Woodbine headliner.

A field of six fillies and mares will line up in the $100,000 optional claimer, which will be run at 6 1/2 furlongs on the grass.

Ontario Debutante Stakes winner Platel heads another feature on the card, a 5 1/2-furlong allowance for 2-year-old fillies, which has also attracted Muskoka Stakes winner Miss Noire.

Wed, 10/03/2001 - 00:00

Plate runner-up offered for a tag

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - I and I, winner of the Simcoe Stakes at 2 and runner-up in three stakes last year including the Queen's Plate, will be offered for a $32,000 claiming price when he makes his first start of the season at Woodbine Friday.

In fact, I and I has been race-ready for months but had not been allowed to start until a case regarding his ownership was resolved.

Wellesley Clayton had been listed as the trainer and sole owner of I and I, but Diana Yeboah had claimed she had an interest in the horse.

Wed, 10/03/2001 - 00:00

Gale storms to 4 wins at Fairmont

There were several highlights over the weekend at the Fairmont Park, starting with Mike Gale's four winners Friday night. Gale is Fairmount's leading active jockey with nearly 1,800 wins. Gale kicked off the evening by winning both halves of a $33.40 daily double, with Penny One ($6.40) in the first and Adams Peak ($6.20) in the second. Gale then took the sixth aboard Delaneyimoutahere ($4.40) and the 10th with Rainbow's Rally ($5.40).

Wed, 10/03/2001 - 00:00

Nothing Iffy about Kentucky invader

Kentucky invader Iffy is a major threat against the locals in Friday's $50,000 Prairie Meadows Debutante for 2-year-old fillies.

Iffy ships in for this six-furlong race off back-to-back come-from-behind scores at Ellis Park for trainer Joe Cain. A daughter of Is It True, Iffy began her career in a $30,000 maiden claiming race Aug. 4 and rallied from 12 lengths back to finish second, beaten a neck. She returned less than two weeks later in a six-furlong $50,000 maiden claimer and scored by three-quarters of a length.

Wed, 10/03/2001 - 00:00

Michigan breeding gets annual night in spotlight

MUSKEGON, Mich. - Friday night's card at Great Lakes Downs will showcase Michigan breeding with a series of six Sires Stakes, for the progeny of Michigan sires. Four of the six winners from the 2000 series will be back to defend their titles. Each race is worth an estimated $120,000.

Wed, 10/03/2001 - 00:00

'Winner' brings streak to Altoona

Fastest qualifier Racing Winner goes after her fourth straight victory when she starts in the Grade 3 $79,600 Altoona Derby on Friday night at Prairie Meadows.

Racing Winner, owned by Jerry Windham, dominated the three trials when she sped to a 3 1/4-length victory as the 9-5 favorite. Her time of 19.74 seconds for the 400 yards was the top qualifying time by .30 seconds, a huge margin in Quarter Horse racing.