ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Hidden Assets has won five of 10 races in her career, has brilliant early speed, and flew through a five-furlong workout last Saturday in about 58 seconds. And yet she may have no chance to win the Grade 3 $150,000-added Chicago Breeders' Cup Handicap at Arlington Park on Saturday.
"She's doing great as long as we don't get a wet racetrack Saturday," said assistant trainer Steve Flint.
LINCOLN, Neb. - Sweet Fantastic and Run Around Sue, co-highweights at 120 pounds, head a field of 10 set to go one mile in Saturday night's $12,500-added Matchmaker Handicap.
Sweet Fantastic collected her first win of the year here two weeks ago when she was an impressive three-length winner of the Bluegrass Handicap at six furlongs. Breaking from post 10, Sweet Fantastic cleared the field and gained the rail shortly after the start, and then cruised home in 1:11, one of the fastest clockings at the meet for the distance.
MUSKEGON, Mich. - I Match Too rallied to win the May 26 Regret Stakes at Great Lakes Downs. Saturday, she should be the favorite when she takes on nine 3-year-old Michigan-bred fillies in the $45,000 Plymouth Stakes.
In the Regret, I Match Too had to survive a rider's objection and a stewards' inquiry before being made the official winner. She rallied five wide outside of Joy of Brandy, one of the top 2-year-old fillies here last season and the favorite in the Regret. Joy of Brandy had to check in tight quarters and wound up third that day.
ALTOONA, Iowa - Graded stakes-placed Open Minded leads a field of six 3-year-old fillies in the $50,000 Panthers Stakes at one mile on Saturday night at Prairie Meadows.
Open Minded finished second, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, by multiple graded stakes winner Mystic Lady in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes at Gulfstream in January. Open Minded, trained by Steve Asmussen, then finished sixth, beaten six lengths, in the Grade 2 Fantasy at Oaklawn in April.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The 3-year-old filly Dancin Emi ran her record to three wins in three races Wednesday and probably earned a start in stakes company next month. Trainer Jan Ely said Thursday that Dancin Emi will be pointed for the July 5 Iowa Oaks, a $150,000 race at Prairie Meadows.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Reds Superstar, who missed by a neck in a similar spot May 26, appears to be the one to beat when he heads an overflow field in the mile allowance feature for 3-year-olds and up at Bay Meadows on Saturday.
There will also be an allowance race for 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs on the nine-race card. Dramatic Show, who finished second in a similar spot while returning from a seven-month layoff, heads a field of nine in that race, which will be the fourth.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Frustrated at not having their opinions heard by state officials over ongoing backstretch labor issues, Southern California Thoroughbred trainers were urged at meetings this week to reach out to legislators this summer.
The California Thoroughbred Trainers held meetings on Wednesday at Hollywood Park and Thursday at Santa Anita to discuss continuing investigations from the state labor department into trainers' payroll practices and the status of a pending bill that would establish a system to unionize backstretch workers.
Three New York invaders, with five graded wins among them, take on two local stakes winners in Saturday's $200,000 Baltimore Ravens Breeders' Cup Handicap at Pimlico.
What the field lacks in size is made up for in quality, even though the runners are not on the same level as the top handicappers in the country.
The New York trio, Cat's at Home, Milwaukee Brew, and Windrush, will vie for favoritism among the five 4-year-olds entered in the Grade 3 Baltimore Ravens BC.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Thistyranthasclass took Monmouth by storm last summer when he left the state-bred ranks - where he recorded three victories - to capture the $100,000 Long Branch Stakes against a tough group of 3-year-olds. One start later, he stumbled badly at the start of the Grade 1 Haskell, but recovered to set the pace and eventually finish fifth.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Monmouth Park has always been a summer spot for top horses en route to championship campaigns and careers. Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Vinery Matchmaker Handicap features a horse with that potential: Gaviola.
Gaviola, a 4-year-old daughter of Cozzene, is entered as the 121-pound highweight and heavy favorite in the Matchmaker, Monmouth's premier race for fillies and mares on the turf. The race, run at 1 1/8 miles, brings the owners of the first three finishers future stallion services. This year's stallions are Runaway Groom, Lord Carson, and Good and Tough.