Weekend Preview

By ROBERT KIECKHEFER
UPI Racing Writer

A million dollar secret for a very happpy Thoroughbred racehorse.

There’s something for everyone – at least for the horses – on this weekend’s Thoroughbred racing schedule, right down to petting and peppermints.

Saturday’s $500,000, Grade I Alabama for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga highlights the action and could be a factor in shaping the Ladies Classic field come Breeders’ Cup time in less than three months. It’s Tricky will face five rivals including Turbulent Descent and Plum Pretty as she tries to earn the third jewel in the “Triple Tiara” after winning the Acorn and the Coaching Club American Oaks earlier. The series is sponsored by TVG.

But the handicap horses get their moments, too, in Saturday’s $250,000, Grade III Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth and – who knows? –the $300,000 Canadian Derby at 11 furlongs on Saturday at Northlands Park. Pleasantly Perfect, ninth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, will make his second start of the year in the Iselin following an allowance win last time out.

Sprinters? Check out Saturday’s $200,000 Remington Park Sprint Cup, the $150,000, Grade III Rancho Bernardo Handicap for fillies and mares on Sunday at Del Mar, Saturday’s $150,000, Grade III Endine Stakes for distaffers at Delaware Park.

Milers? Sunday’s $200,000, Grade III Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs in Washington.

Fillies and mares will be all over the turf, featuring Saturday’s $250,000, Grade I Del Mar Oaks at 9 furlongs where Cambina heads a field of 10, all of whom are graded-stakes placed. At Saratoga, it’s Sunday’s $150,000, Grade II Woodford Reserve Lake Placid for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga.

Males take to the lawn in Sunday’s $250,000 (Canadian) Grade II Sky Classic Stakes at 10 furlongs at Woodbine.

There is a scattering of juvenile and juvenile filly races hither and yon. And Saturday is Louisiana Cup at Louisiana Downs, with eight races for horses bred in the Bayou State.

The Ebor meeting at York in England winds down after some early-on upsets, including Goldikova and Midday going down to defeat.

And, on Saturday in Cleveland, Catlaunch heads a field of nine for the $50,000 Honey Jay Stakes. Unremarkable? Not really, because Catalaunch, a 10-year-old gelding, is Ohio’s newest millionaire equine. Running strictly in the Buckeye State, Catalaunch has 38 career wins, including all four of his starts this year, all restricted stakes, the last of which put him over the $1 million mark.

“He’s training pretty good,” said trainer Ivan Vazquez. “As long as you give him peppermints and pet him, he’s happy.”

And those are this week’s words to live by.

This entry was posted on Friday, August 19th, 2011 at 11:40 am and is filed under Featured Articles. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.