ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Walzerkoenigin, a Germany-based filly who has been competitive against some of North America's top turf fillies and mares in two races this year, will be looking for her first Grade 1 victory in Sunday's $750,000 E.P. Taylor.
The E.P. Taylor, a 1 1/4-mile turf race, has attracted a field of 11 fillies and mares, five of whom raced in Europe this year.
The defections of Alamshar and Mubtaker were blows to the Canadian International, but Woodbine's autumn showpiece is still a highly competitive event, as is the accompanying E.P. Taylor Stakes.
Irish Derby and King George winner Alamshar will run instead in Saturday's Champion Stakes at Newmarket, while Arc runner-up Mubtaker is headed for either the Japan Cup or the Hong Kong Vase. In spite of their absence, the Canadian International has as many European trainees as Americans: four. In the E.P. Taylor, European invaders outnumber their American counterparts four to two.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Mulligan the Great and Forever Grand head Sunday's $161,250 Highlander Handicap, an exciting supporting feature on Canadian International Day.
The six-furlong sprint may have Sovereign Award implications for Mulligan the Great and Forever Grand, who should both end up as finalists for champion sprinter, along with Atto Mile runner-up Soaring Free.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Friday's eight-race program at Santa Anita features a pick six carryover of $302,301, but bettors will not have many horses to consider.
The pick six covers the third through eighth races, and none have full fields. Three of the races are for maidens. There were no withdrawals at scratch time on Thursday.
The third race is a maiden claimer over 6 1-2 furlongs for 2-year-olds. Dramatic Copy, Tricky Touch and I'm Awesome Again are the top contenders.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - It has been nearly six years since Pat Byrne got on an airplane and flew to California for the Breeders' Cup. To this day, the afternoon of Nov. 8, 1997, remains perhaps the greatest day in Byrne's 18-year training career. He won the Juvenile Fillies with Countess Diana, then sent out Favorite Trick to win the Juvenile, a race that helped the colt clinch Horse of the Year honors.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Nobody bothered to claim Dyna Da Wyna at Saratoga this summer, and her connections are glad. After winning a $100,000 claiming race on Aug. 29 at Saratoga, Dyna Da Wyna wheeled back three weeks later and won the DeBartolo Oaks at Louisiana Downs, substantially increasing her worth for WinStar Farm and trainer Elliott Walden.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Many observers have been surprised by the training regimen Phoenix Reach has been following since arriving here last Sunday for the Canadian International.
Phoenix Reach, who is trained in England by Andrew Balding, was one of the first horses on the track when he went out at 6 a.m. Monday and Wednesday. But that did not mean his work was done, as the colt returned on both of those afternoons to canter on the turf course.
Simon Burgoyne, an assistant to Balding, seemed taken aback by the curiosity about Phoenix Reach's activities.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - In-form allowance runners Hanlan and Festive Spirit should have an edge if the turf has some give to it for Saturday's $144,750 Bunty Lawless Stakes, a one-mile race for Ontario-sired runners at Woodbine.
Hanlan was a very good fourth over soft ground in the 2002 Bunty Lawless, beaten just two lengths after dueling through fast fractions. He began his current campaign with two dreadful races on the main track, but has blossomed in his last three races on the grass, finishing second each time.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - On the Fritz, ridden by Robby Albarado, angled to the rail and was up in the final jumps to nail Brown Eyed Beauty by a head in the $85,425 Clark County Stakes at Keeneland on Thursday.
On the Fritz, a 5-year-old mare owned by Woodlynn Farm and trained by Jimmy Baker, returned $13.80 as fourth choice in a field of 10 fillies and mares. Victory in the Clark County was her first of the year, first in a stakes, and fifth in 22 overall starts.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Nobody could have known at the time, but last year's Sleepy Hollow Stakes for New York-bred juveniles turned out to be more significant than the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
While the top three finishers from last year's BC Juvenile have a combined record of 1-8 and just one graded stakes win since then, the top-three finishers from last year's Sleepy Hollow - Funny Cide, Spite the Devil, and Go Rockin' Robin - have combined to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Withers, and Peter Pan Stakes.