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Things That Make You Go Hmmmm (5)

Things aren't perfect, but often times they're nowhere near as bad as people want you to believe.

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BC Attendance Up, Total Handle Slips

Attendance for the two-day event increased 11%, while the overall handle slipped 7% largely because two less races were run compared with 2008. On-track handle grew 3% compared with a year ago.

HRTV Debuts New Santa Anita Shows

HRTV will inaugurate its first-ever coverage of the popular six-week Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting with the debut of two original shows--"Grandstand" and "The Edge" --beginning Sept. 30.

Oak Tree Meet Lifted by Breeders' Cup

An otherwise sluggish Oak Tree at Santa Anita meet got turned around by hosting the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Oct. 24-25. Excluding the Breeders' Cup, the Oak Tree handle was down 14%.

Seeking Stardom in Oak Leaf

The first three finishers of the Del Mar Debutante (gr. I) have passed the entry box for the Sept. 27 Oak Leaf Stakes (gr. I). The two-turn, $250,000 race for 2-year-old fillies at the Oak Tree meeting figures to be a key prep for next month's Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I).

Santa Anita to Install Pro-Ride Surface

Santa Anita Park announced June 23 that its main track will undergo a complete overhaul beginning July 14, and will be reconstituted with a mixture of Pro-Ride synthetic material.

Hystericalady the Class of Lady's Secret Field

Three-time graded stakes winner Hystericalady will try to beat four rivals Oct. 7 in the $250,000 Lady's Secret Handicap (gr. I) at Oak Tree at Santa Anita, in what should be a springboard to the $2-million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff later this month at Monmouth Park.

Valenzuela Calls In Late, to Meet With Stewards

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela will meet with stewards Thursday morning after missing all his mounts at Oak Tree at Santa Anita on Wednesday. The oft-troubled rider said he was suffering from a sore foot that knocked him out of action following his ride in the second race on Sunday.

Oak Tree Honors Pincay With DVD Giveaway

Laffit Pincay Jr., the world's winningest jockey who retired with 9,530 victories in a career that spanned nearly four decades, will be honored by the Oak Tree Racing Association Oct. 15 at Santa Anita Park.

De Seroux Excited about Azeri

Trainer Laura de Seroux is excited about the way reigning Horse of the Year Azeri is training up to the Oct. 25. Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

Monmouth Winds Down, Oak Tree Heats Up

The live racing season ends Sunday at Monmouth Park near Oceanport, N.J., and at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, but as those parks prepare to lay low for the winter, Hawthorne, Oak Tree, and Turf Paradise are gearing up for openings this weekend.

Distaff Update (10/1): Final Preps on Tap

How the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) shakes out will largely be determined this week when the country's top fillies and mares enter their final preps for the Oct. 26 championships.

Angel Gift Looking to Steal Lady's Secret from Azeri

The Paddy Gallagher trained Angel Gift is due for a win after running second in three consecutive races, including falling two lengths shy of Azeri in the Aug. 11 Clement Hirsch Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar. Gallagher is hoping that win will come in Wednesday's $200,000 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) on opening day of the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meet.

Freespool Will Be Freewheeling in Ancient Title

The game plan for Freespool isn't any secret as the unabashed front-runner heads into Saturday's grade I $200,000 Ancient Title Handicap at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

Skimming Needs Goodwood Victory To Move To Breeders' Cup

Two-time Pacific Classic winner Skimming must win Sunday's $500,000 Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Oak Tree at Santa Anita in order to move on to the Breeders' Cup Classic at Belmont Park on Oct. 27, trainer Bobby Frankel said from New York Wednesday morning.

Jersey Rebel Wins Wednesday Feature at Oak Tree

Jersey Rebel overcame a slow start and earned a one-length victory Wednesday in the $42,000 allowance feature for California-breds at Oak Tree.

Nany's Sweep In Lady's Secret

Nany's Sweep was entered but scratched by trainer Kathy Walsh from Wednesday's Sen. Ken Maddy Handicap down the hillside turf course in favor of a start on the dirt in Saturday's $200,000 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II).

Timboroa Wins Burke Handicap; Dead-Heat for Second

Edmund A. Gann's Timboroa upset the $141,650 Carleton F. Burke Handicap (gr. IIIT) Sunday at Oak Tree at Santa Anita, completing the 1 1/2 miles in 2:29.91 over firm turf while winning by 2 1/2 lengths.

Pincay Reaches 9,000 Win Milestone; Wins Five on the Day

Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. earned career victory 9,000 Saturday at Oak Tree at Santa Anita, winning his third race of the day aboard Chichim in the Louis R. Rowan California Cup Distaff Handicap to reach the milestone. After accomplishing that feat, the veteran rider then added two more winners to bring his total for the day to five.

Pincay Moves Closer to Career Victory 9,000

Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. moved a victory closer to career win 9,000 Sunday, earning victory 8,995 aboard Free Companion in the third race at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

Fantasy Stable Contest Offered for California Cup Day

The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association and the Oak Tree Racing Association are offering the "2000 California Cup Fantasy Challenge," an on-line handicapping contest centered around the California Cup races at Santa Anita on Oct. 28.

Flame Thrower, Street Cry Work Toward Norfolk

The likely favorites for Saturday's $200,000 Norfolk Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita put in works at the track on Monday. The one-mile race should help to sort out the West Coast contingent for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I).

Oak Tree at Santa Anita Opens with Sen. Ken Maddy 'Cap

The $100,000 Senator Ken Maddy Handicap (gr. IIIT) is the opening day feature race of the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meet. The "about 6 ½-furlong" race for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up will be run Wednesday on the downhill turf course.

Stevens To End Retirement on Wednesday

Gary Stevens returns to the saddle Wednesday, when he is named to ride four mounts on opening day of the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meet. Stevens retired after riding mounts on Dec. 26, opening day of the last meet at Santa Anita, due to degenerative arthritis in his right knee.