ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Graced by sunny skies and unseasonably warm weather, Arlington Park opened its 2001 season on Wednesday, the track's first full year under the umbrella of Churchill Downs Inc.
As part of Arlington's and Churchill's efforts to integrate their operations, Arlington began its meet later than is typical, replacing its traditional Mother's Day opening in May with a midweek launch in mid-June. A crowd of 7,144 attended the opener.
MIAMI - The Florida Division of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association has asked the state to institute new regulations that would make it illegal for any racetrack in its jurisdiction to delay the transfer of horsemen's purse accounts at the conclusion of a meet.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Millennium Wind, the winner of the Blue Grass Stakes who was 11th in the Kentucky Derby, is not ready for Sunday's $100,000 Affirmed Handicap at Hollywood Park.
Two days after watching Millennium Wind breeze, trainer David Hofmans on Wednesday said the colt will wait for the $500,000 Swaps Stakes on July 15.
"I thought he got a little too tired the other day," Hofmans said. "I wanted to see how he came out of it, and he needs more time."
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Del Mar Show, who has won his last four starts, including the Grade 2 Hialeah Turf Cup Handicap, was committed to Saturday's $300,000 Dallas Turf Cup at Lone Star Park Wednesday morning after he worked four furlongs in 50 seconds over the training track at Saratoga Race Course.
"We're planning on going," said Bill Mott, who trains Del Mar Show for the Allen Paulson Living Trust. Mott said the colt was scheduled to arrive in Dallas on Thursday night, and that he would be ridden by Robbie Davis.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Trainer J.R. Smith Sr. said Wednesday morning that Chicago Six could still be entered Thursday in the $750,000 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs.
"We've got till tomorrow to decide," Smith said from his Arlington barn.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Songandaprayer, the top 3-year-old on the grounds, worked out Monday, breezing five furlongs in 1:02.40.
"It was what we wanted," trainer John Dowd said. "He is coming up to his next race just fine. We are looking forward to July 4."
MIAMI - The eagerly awaited rematch between Silver Bandana and Clearly a Queen in Saturday's $65,000 Aspidistra Handicap is off, and Clearly a Queen instead will be headed to Churchill Downs for the $150,000 Locust Grove Handicap, a Grade 3, the following weekend.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Coming off the best performance of her career, Dat You Miz Blue aims for her initial graded stakes victory in Saturday's Grade 3 $100,000 Vagrancy Handicap at Belmont Park.
Dat You Miz Blue, a 4-year-old New York-bred daughter of Cure the Blues, has seven wins and five seconds from 15 lifetime starts. Her three losses have come in graded stakes, including a fourth-place finish behind Dream Supreme in the Grade 1 Test last July.
Dream Supreme will be the favorite in the Vagrancy, run at 6 1/2 furlongs over the main track.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Gloria's Buck and Rubber Biscuit are the horses to beat in a field of nine in Friday's feature at Assiniboia, a seven-furlong race for conditioned claimers.
Rubber Biscuit has been running at Sam Houston and Lone Star Park in Texas, and will be making his first start at Assiniboia for trainer Patti Ross, who has an excellent win percentage with horses making their first appearance out of her barn.
Rohan Singh will ride Rubber Biscuit, who will break from the outside post 9.
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan - With no visible chinks in his armor, Ice Jamer appears set to score his third straight victory of this young meet in Friday's $6,000 Saskatoon Handicap for 3-year-olds.
The six-furlong Saskatoon is the first stepping-stone to the $15,000 Saskatchewan Derby on Aug. 5.
A winner of 4 of 6 lifetime starts, Ice Jamer has never finished behind any of his six opponents in this event.
Last year, Ice Jamer was successful in the CTHS Sales Stakes at first asking before winning the richest race of the meet, the Prairie Lily Sales.