ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Consistency and a competitive spirit appear to be the common denominators among the six fillies and mares who will clash Sunday in the $39,000 feature race at Arlington Park.
The six-furlong race attracted such hard-trying sprinters as Savannah Hanna, Emily Ring, and Dare She Goes, all of whom have earned numerous paychecks besides the winner's shares that have brought them to the threshold of breaking through this third-level allowance condition.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Todd Pletcher and his veterinarian on Friday said they may never know the exact reasons why two of Pletcher's horses died within eight days of each other, or if the deaths are even related.
Pletcher lost two top horses when Freedom's Daughter, a stakes winning 2-year-old filly, died on Aug. 12 because of a disease called colitis X, Aand Warners, a talented 3-year-old colt, died on Aug. 20 from laminitis.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Summer Colony left no doubt as to who is the best older filly or mare on the East Coast - and perhaps the country - with a convincing 4 1/2-length victory in Friday's $400,000 Personal Ensign Handicap at Saratoga.
Transcendental rallied for second - her third straight runner-up finish in a Grade 1 stakes - two lengths ahead of Dancethruthedawn, who was coming off a win in the Grade 1 Go for Wand.
FORT ERIE, Ontario ? Yatsko, owned and trained by Ralph Biamonte, will be after his third consecutive stakes score on Sunday at Fort Erie in the rescheduled $60,000 Peninsula Stakes.
The seven-furlong turf event, for Canadian-breds who have started at least twice at the present meeting, was set to go last Tuesday, but that day's card was canceled after a soft area was discovered on the track surface.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Lush Soldier lost the battle, running second in the Ontario Colleen prep here Aug. 9.
But David Bell, who trains Lush Soldier for John Franks, is hoping the filly can win the war when she goes for the bigger money in the Colleen itself Sunday at Woodbine.
"Last time, she had the outside post," said Bell. "She'd had a long time between races and there wasn't much speed in there."
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Hot Talent will try to extend her unbeaten streak to four races Sunday at Woodbine, when she meets 11 other 3-year-old fillies in the $145,250 Ontario Colleen Handicap.
Hot Talent, a closer trained by Malcolm Pierce, won her first two starts at a mile, including a first-level allowance. Most recently she was the more fancied half of a favored Stronach Stable entry when she defeated Silver Nithi and Ginger Gold ? the first two winners of the Tiara series - in the third leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, the Wonder Where Stakes.
AUBURN, Wash. - Emerald Downs president Ron Crockett promised "the finest Longacres Mile card we have ever presented" on Friday morning. And when Sunday's overnight was published a few hours later his promise had been kept.
The Longacres Mile Day card drew 107 horses for 11 races, with first post set for 1 p.m.
Sunday's supporting feature is the $100,000 Emerald Breeders' Cup Distaff, which has drawn a field of 10 fillies and mares going a mile. The Distaff will go as the 10th race, while the Mile will go as race 8 because of television and simulcasting considerations.
DEL MAR, Calif. - The idea is theoretically valid - add a "rabbit" to the Pacific Classic field. Attack War Emblem early, soften him up, make him vulnerable. Set up the Pacific Classic to be won by a come-from-behinder.
Sounds like a good idea.
War Emblem is a speedball, a one-dimensional demon with a hostile style. When he is loose on the lead, War Emblem becomes untouchable. It happened in the Illinois Derby, the Kentucky Derby, and the Haskell Invitational. Daylight wins, all three. Easy lead, long gone.
SHAKOPEE, Minn. - This year's ninth running of the Minnesota Festival of Champions on Sunday at Canterbury Park will feature six Thoroughbred and two Quarter Horse races for runners bred in Minnesota.
The Northern Lights Futurity and Debutante have been the major targets for Minnesota owners-breeders since Canterbury first opened, and this year's renewal of the two races for Minnesota-bred 2-year-olds appear very competitive.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Million-dollar races are not supposed to be easy. That may explain trainer Bobby Frankel searching for reasons why his 3-year-old Medaglia d'Oro will have a difficult time winning Saturday's Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga.
