LEXINGTON, Ky. - It's all about the racing.
To many people, October at Keeneland means a chance to savor the crisp autumn air, the ripening fall foliage, the reacquainting with old friends, the roar of a long-absent crowd, the allure of people-watching, and the wafting aroma of burgoo and popcorn.
But to tens of thousands of horseplayers throughout North America, all of those aesthetics fall dozens of lengths behind what Keeneland is really about: racing at its finest.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Once again, trainer Ken McPeek is a central figure in the Darley Alcibiades. McPeek won the Grade 2 Darley Alcibiades for fillies in 2000 with She's a Devil Due and in 2001 with Take Charge Lady, then saddled the favorite for the 2002 running, Midnight Cry, only to watch her labor home seventh.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Hall of Fame trainer Phil Johnson would love to see Volponi relax in the early stages of the Grade 2 Meadowlands Cup and make one strong run through the lane.
The only problem with that strategy: Volponi won't be the only one following that game plan.
"From what I heard, the whole field, all six horses, will be laying fourth," Johnson said.
He might not be far off the mark.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Thunder Bullet was outstanding on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita earlier this year. A repeat of that form will make him competitive in Friday's sixth race at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting.
In four starts on the hillside course from mid-January to mid-April, Thunder Bullet won three times and finished a close fourth in the Grade 3 San Simeon Handicap.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - My Lucky Strike, one of the most improved runners at Woodbine this year, will move up in class Friday, in a $100,000 optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up.
A nine-horse field was drawn for the six-furlong turf race, which also includes classy veterans Mr. Epperson, Chris's Bad Boy, and Red Sea.
My Lucky Strike was eased in his first start of the season, an April 12 allowance, but redeemed himself 13 days later, finishing third in a briskly run dash won by Spitfire Man.
ANDERSON, Ind. - The 12-horse field for Friday's Grade 3, $300,000 Indiana Breeders' Cup Oaks is the largest in the race's history and may also be the deepest.
Among the entrants is Youcan'ttakeme, who invades from the Pacific Northwest and is riding a four-race win streak, and Awesome Humor and Souris, both of whom are looking to end runner-up streaks but are proven against top stakes company. The 1 1/16-mile Oaks opens Hoosier Park's biggest weekend of racing, which includes the Grade 3, $400,000 Indiana Derby on Saturday.
EDMONTON, Alberta - With the 2003 Thoroughbred season in Alberta winding down, trainer Ron K. "Red" Smith will once again end the season as the leading trainer on the circuit.
That should come as no surprise, considering he has been at or near the top of the leader board for nearly two decades.
What is different this year is the way Smith has gone about it.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Though tempted by the absence of Wild Spirit to run Summer Colony in Sunday's Grade 1 Overbrook Spinster at Keeneland, trainer Mark Hennig said Wednesday that his 5-year-old mare will stay in New York for Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park.
Hennig said the speed-favoring nature of the Keeneland track would put Summer Colony at a disadvantage against the likes of the front-running Take Charge Lady, who won last year's Spinster.
ELMONT, N.Y. - He's Crafty, who won back-to-back starts at Saratoga during the summer, takes on more seasoned horses as he shoots for his first win over Belmont Park's turf course in Friday's $58,000 feature.
The 1 1/8-mile classified allowance race drew eight older males, including graded stakes winners Pisces and Dawn of the Condor, whose better days may be behind them.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Reba's Gold was in the best form of his 2002 campaign in late September and early October, winning the Pomona Handicap at Fairplex Park and returning the following weekend to run third in the Grade 2 Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap at Santa Anita.
This year, owner Alex Trebek and trainer Dan Hendricks considered the same plan, but scratched out of last Sunday's Pomona Handicap in favor of Saturday's $500,000 Goodwood.
