SHAKOPEE, Minn. - There was a storybook ending to the meet when Canterbury Park Hall of Famer Dean Kutz rode Binalegend to a half-length victory in Monday's $40,000 Minneapolis Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf.
Binalegend ($4.40) and the 44-year old Kutz edged Be My Friend in 1:42.25. Binalegend is trained by Carl Nafzger, who also is a member of Canterbury's Hall of Fame.
Binalegend was Kutz's second winner since he began his comeback from throat cancer surgery Aug. 8 at Ellis Park.
Years ago, Louisiana Downs was known as being very kind to inside speed. In recent seasons, however, that bias has diminished to the point of track position rarely affecting the outcome of a race.
All that changed Labor Day, when the old bias returned with a vengeance. Winner after winner came from along the rail, and the first eight winners made the lead soon after the start. Most drew off down the stretch after being used early, which seemed implausible.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - The newest member of the local jockey colony is J.G. Matos, who was a hot apprentice in Southern California a few years ago but has been in Puerto Rico since March 1998.
He arrived in northern California just before the opening of the current fall Bay Meadows meet, and got off to a flying start. He won three races last Saturday, the second day of the meet, and came into Wednesday's program with five winners from 16 mounts.
"I'm very happy" said Matos about his fast start. "I have a good agent, and I'm getting along real good with the people here."
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer James Chapman said he will not run Caller One in Saturday's $150,000 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Sprint because of the colt's 125-pound weight assignment.
"I'm going to find some track that will treat us right on the weights," Chapman said. "There's a race at Turfway Park at the end of September [Kentucky Cup Sprint], and there are a couple of races in New York, including the Vosburgh. Or, I could just train him into the Breeders' Cup."
Top East Coast sprinter Disco Rico makes his first start since winning the Grade 3 Maryland Breeders' Cup Handicap in Friday's $100,000 Paterson Handicap at The Meadowlands.
Say Florida Sandy, another tough sprinter from the East, is entered in the six-furlong Paterson, but is also among the entries in Friday's $75,000-added Gen. Douglas MacArthur Handicap at Belmont Park, where, if he starts, he would be a heavy favorite.
Five entered the Paterson. Disco Rico and Say Florida Sandy were each assigned highweight of 123 pounds, six to nine more pounds than their rivals.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba - J J Thedotcom Man will try to make it 2 for 2 locally in the featured seventh race when racing resumes Friday at Assiniboia Downs.
Nine 3-three-year olds are entered in the six-furlong race for conditioned claimers.
Opposing J J Thedotcom Man will be Bye Bird, Lord Patton, High Storada, Kenyawin, Swissarmy-knife, Prowess Cat, and the Ardell Sayler-trained entry of Disco Mania and Northern Ace.
Post times for Friday and Saturday racing have been moved to 7 p.m. for the remainder of the meeting.
Torevell horses take two stakes
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan - The Labor Day weekend produced plenty of highlights: Jockey Tim Moccasin's record string of wins reached new heights; a filly, Swing in Satin, won the Prairie Lily Sales Stakes; the local yearling sale produced an increase; and Beau Ring turned in a track record-equaling performance in the Toon's Mile.
French Assault and Victory Road will both advance to graded stakes for their next starts after winning the $100,000 El Joven and $100,000 La Senorita last Saturday night at Retama Park near San Antonio. The one-mile races, which are among the nation's first two-turn stakes of the year for 2-year-olds, were taken off the turf because of wet weather. The races highlight the meet at Retama.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - No one in Sunday's Atto Mile has had more ups and downs in the race than trainer Neil Drysdale.
He sent out Labeeb to win a thrilling 1998 edition of the Mile. His Hawksley Hill finished first in 1999, but was disqualified and placed fourth when the stewards ruled that his rider, Pat Day, had hit one of his rivals with his whip.
Drysdale was back last year with Kahal, who got caught in a speed duel and faded to finish 11th in a field of 13.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Irish Prize, the probable favorite for the Grade 1 Atto Mile, checked in to Woodbine Wednesday morning and will be saddled by trainer Neil Drysdale in Sunday's $1 million (Canadian) race.
Affirmed Success and Brahms, who are likely to be the second and third choices in a field of 14, arrived from New York Wednesday afternoon.