Mon, 09/03/2001 - 00:00

New phenom on horizon

Michael J. Marten
Officer, with exercise rider Dana Barnes, will be heavily favored in the the Del Mar Futurity, a race Bob Baffert has won the last five years.

DEL MAR, Calif. - They wear the same green-and-white colors in the afternoon and stay near one another the rest of the day in their barn at Del Mar. And even though Officer has been as brilliant as a 2-year-old as Point Given was dominating at age 3, it would be oversimplifying to say that Officer will now replace Point Given for trainer Bob Baffert and Prince Ahmed Salman's The Thoroughbred Corporation.

Mon, 09/03/2001 - 00:00

Lord Jim makes American debut

DEL MAR, Calif. - Lord Jim, a three-time Group 1 winner in his native Argentina, makes his North American debut in Wednesday's $75,000 Live the Dream Handicap, one of two stakes on the closing-day Del Mar Futurity undercard.

Lord Jim won four times in eight starts in Argentina, and was 4 for 7 on turf. He has not raced since February, but sports a lengthy series of works for the Live the Dream, which is run at one mile on turf. Carla Gaines trains Lord Jim for owner Gary Tanaka.

Mon, 09/03/2001 - 00:00

Weekend stakes lure full fields

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - While the live card at Hastings Park Wednesday evening isn't likely to get local fans' hearts pumping the upcoming weekend looks promising. That's because the $175,000 B.C. Breeders' Cup Oaks plus the $100,000 Jack and Sadie Diamond Futurities all expected to attract full fields.

Mon, 09/03/2001 - 00:00

Former claimer Paladdie hits B.C. big time

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Now that the monster trucks are gone and the Pacific National Exhibition is over, it's time to get down to serious business at Hastings Park. In the next six weeks close to a million dollars in stakes money is up for grabs.

Mon, 09/03/2001 - 00:00

Atto Mile hopefuls out for exercise

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Numerous Times, undefeated in five career starts for The Committee Stable and trainer Sid Attard, had his final major tune-up for the Grade 1 Atto Mile at Woodbine on Sunday morning.

Numerous Times, a 4-year-old, will be making his stakes debut in Sunday's $1 million Atto Mile, a turf race for 3-year-olds and up.

With jockey Patrick Husbands aboard, Numerous Times worked six furlongs in 1:14.60 over a firm turf training course.

Mon, 09/03/2001 - 00:00

Cardellapair take step up

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Sea Dog and Jarret's Odyssey, who ran first and second while coupled in a recent $32,000 event, will both step up in price in Wednesday's second race at Woodbine.

A field of 13, including main-track-only entrant Premier's Turn, has been assembled for the $40,000 claimer, which will be run at six furlongs on the grass.

Mon, 09/03/2001 - 00:00

In tough times, stakes purses take some big hits

FLORENCE, Ky. - Say that they're posturing. Officials at Turfway Park don't care; they only want to be heard. Badly wounded by the relentless siphoning of what once were their own gambling dollars, Turfway opens its 22-day fall meet Wednesday evening with cries for help amid what clearly has become an unsavory situation.

Mon, 09/03/2001 - 00:00

Dollar Bill out for year with an ankle injury

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Dollar Bill, who was frustrated by rough trips throughout the Triple Crown campaign, will not race again this season.

Trainer Dallas Stewart said Monday that Dollar Bill has a small fragment in his left ankle and would be out of training for the next 45-60 days.

Mon, 09/03/2001 - 00:00

Pretty 'n Smart faces strong opposition

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Pretty 'n Smart, who has been stakes-placed twice in Southern California, looks like the one to beat when she meets seven other 3-year-old fillies in the $32,000 allowance feature at Bay Meadows Wednesday.

Pretty 'n Smart, a daughter of Beau Genius, finished seventh in the San Clemente Handicap at Del Mar in her most recent start July 29, but that was not only a Grade 2 but also her first try at a mile.

Mon, 09/03/2001 - 00:00

Majestic Dinner wins Governor's Buckeye

CINCINNATI - Majestic Dinner raced heavily favored Unbridled Time into defeat before going on to a two-length victory Sunday in the $75,000 Governor's Buckeye Cup at River Downs.