ETOBICOKE, Ontario - September arrives next Saturday, and with it will come a slew of stakes to be run here over the holiday weekend.
The biggest of the bunch is Saturday's $300,000 Niagara Breeders' Cup, a Grade 3 handicap over 1 1/2 miles of turf that serves as the final local prep for the Canadian International at Woodbine on Sept. 30. The $95,000 Flaming Page Handicap, a 1 1/2-mile turf race for fillies and mares, is Saturday's supporting feature.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - The $75,000 Choice Stakes, for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on the turf, offers the most competitive field of the Iselin Handicap undercard stakes Sunday. The field includes the third- and fourth-place runners from the Grade 2 Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 6.
Saint Verre, trained by McGaughey, made his first turf start in the Hall of Fame, setting the early fractions and holding on for third. Saint Verre has not fulfilled his connections' high expectations on the main track, and may prove better on turf.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The two horses with the most to prove in Friday's 54th running of the Personal Ensign Handicap both made statements in the grade 1, $400,000 event for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga. Pompeii proved she has arrived on the scene as one of the top distaffers in the country, and Beautiful Pleasure, the former champion, showed she may yet have something left in the tank.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Often overshadowed, sometimes underestimated, but rarely outdone, trainer D. Wayne Lukas has managed to turn 2001 from moribund to magical.
In a year in which he broke his 20-year Kentucky Derby appearance streak and lost one of his biggest clients, Padua Stable, Lukas has found a way not only to endure, but to excel.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It would take only two minutes for trainer Nick Zito to want to remember what has been a forgettable summer.
If A P Valentine could win Saturday's $1 million Travers, it would more than make up for the fact that Zito is 1 for 47 at this meet.
"You're damn right, it makes the meet," said Zito, who ended Thursday on an 0-for-21 skid.
It made the 2000 meet for Carl Nafzger, whose only victory here last summer was when Unshaded defeated the Zito-trained Albert the Great by a head in the Travers.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Best known for his success with horses on the main track, trainer Bob Baffert is convinced he has a budding turf star in High Demand, who won his fifth straight in Wednesday's third race.
Baffert has trained such turf stars as Anet, Caffe Latte, Tout Charmant, Joe Who, and Tuzla.
"He may be the best turf horse I've ever trained," Baffert said. "This is a good horse."
DEL MAR, Calif. - Since he was gelded last winter, Kudos has emerged as a leading candidate in turf stakes in California, winning four of five starts and finishing second in the Grade 2 Sunset Handicap at Hollywood Park last month. His record has been a pleasant surprise for trainer Richard Mandella, who is hoping Kudos can win his first graded stakes in Saturday's $250,000 Del Mar Handicap at Del Mar.
"You do things trying to improve a situation, but you don't always get the results," Mandella said. "He fought all the way in the Sunset."
EDMONTON, Alberta - Eastern Canadian invader Stage Classic looks to add another western derby to his laurels when he faces six foes in the Canadian Derby at Northlands Park Saturday.
The Grade 3 Canadian Derby, at 1 3/8 miles, is worth $150,000. The card also includes the $50,000 City of Edmonton Distaff and the $35,000 Westerner Handicap.
Woodbine-based Stage Classic, winner of the Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs on Aug. 6, will be ridden by Constant Montpellier.
AUBURN, Wash. - A highly competitive field of 10 3-year-olds will contest Saturday's 6 1/2-furlong, $25,000 Backstretch Chapel Stakes at Emerald Downs. The overnight stakes is restricted to 3-year-olds who have not won $19,000 since May 5, which excludes all stakes winners at Emerald's current meeting.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - A full house of approximately 500 was on hand at Woodbine on Thursday to welcome the 2001 inductees to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
Following Julie Krone's turn as guest speaker, Larry Attard was the first new inductee to be enshrined.
Attard, 49, retired from a successful riding career four years ago and is now a trainer here along with older brothers Joe, Tino, and Sid.
"They made me," said Attard, in his acceptance speech. "Without them, I'm sure I'm not here today."
