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Friday Notes

A few quick updates for you on this Friday morning:

  • This week's Final Furlongs podcast will be up early on Saturday morning. JP Fanshawe is going to join me later today to talk about the stakes races at Woodbine and Kentucky Downs.
  • Lots of stakes action this weekend, both in North America and in Europe. Doncaster runs the final leg of the English Triple Crown, Longchamp has Arc Preview Day, and Woodbine features six graded events over Saturday and Sunday. Plus, we've got graded stakes at Belmont, Arlington and Kentucky Downs. Below is a summary of this weekend's stakes schedule.



Date Track Race Age/Sex Dist. Surf. Division
15-Sep BEL G1-Garden City 3yo, f 9.0 Turf F&M Turf
15-Sep CUR G1-Irish St. Leger 3up 14.0 Turf Intl/Ireland
15-Sep CUR G1-National Stakes 2yo, c&f 7.0 Turf Intl/Ireland
15-Sep DON G1-St. Leger 3yo, c&f 14.5 Turf Intl/England
15-Sep DON G2-Champagne Stakes 2yo, c&g 7.0 Turf Intl/England
15-Sep WO G2-Natalma 2yo, f 8.0 Turf Juvenile Fillies Turf
15-Sep WO G2-Summer Stakes 2yo 8.0 Turf Juvenile Turf
15-Sep KD G3-Kentucky Cup Turf 3up 12.0 Turf Turf
15-Sep BEL G3-Noble Damsel 3up, f&m 8.0 Turf F&M Turf
15-Sep AP G3-Pucker Up 3yo, f 9.0 Turf F&M Turf
15-Sep KD Kentucky Downs Juvenile 2yo 7.0 Turf Juvenile Turf
15-Sep KD Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies 2yo, f 7.0 Turf Juvenile Fillies Turf
16-Sep WO G1-Northern Dancer 3up 12.0 Turf Turf
16-Sep LCH G1-Prix du Moulin de Longchamp 3up 8.0 Turf Intl/France
16-Sep LCH G1-Prix Vermeille 3up, f&m 12.0 Turf Intl/France
16-Sep WO G1-Woodbine Mile 3up 8.0 Turf Turf Mile
16-Sep WO G2-Canadian 3up, f&m 9.0 Turf F&M Turf
16-Sep LCH G2-Prix Foy 4up 12.0 Turf Intl/France
16-Sep LCH G2-Prix Niel 3yo 12.0 Turf Intl/France
16-Sep DOR G3-Deutsches St. Leger 3up 14.0 Turf Intl/England
16-Sep WO G3-Ontario Derby 3yo 9.0 Turf Turf Mile
16-Sep LCH G3-Prix du Petit Couvert 3up 5.0 Turf Intl/France
16-Sep LCH G3-Prix Gladiateur 4up 15.5 Turf Intl/France
  • Paynter appears to be making good progress in his recovery from colitis, laminitis, and a host of other issues that have beset the Haskell winner in recent weeks. According to owner Ahmed Zayat, it is possible that Paynter could return to racing in 2013. We'll keep out fingers crossed for a full recovery; if he's able to return to racing that would be an added bonus.
  • The Paulick Report ran an interesting point/counterpoint series on the role of medications in today's sport. Lincoln Collins wrote the piece supporting a ban of all medications while Dale Romans penned a piece in support of Lasix. The series highlights the complex nature of the argument and the fact that it goes beyond "good" and "bad". While personally I would prefer to see medication-free racing, trainers like Dale Romans and Graham Motion, both of which have argued that banning Lasix isn't the answer, are highly respected trainers and provides good points for discussion. The answer, whatever it is, won't be easy.
  • The Keeneland September Yearling Sale is zipping along down in Lexington. Yesterday, an Empire Maker colt topped the session at $1.1 million, the seventh yearling to sell for $1 million during the sale. The Distorted Humor/Mushka colt remains the sale topper at $1.65 million.