Horse Racing News

It's hard to believe that Bill Mott sent out 12 losers from his first 19 starters at the Churchill Downs fall meet, because it seems like every time the spotlight came on, the Hall of Fame trainer had the winner.

Second in his return to racing following a 20-month layoff, grade I winner Bob Black Jack will make his turf debut for trainer James Kasparoff in the $250,000 Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park Nov. 26.

Unbeaten champion Awesome Feather puts her seven-race winning streak on the line against nine opponents in the $250,000 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct Nov. 26.

Bill Mott won the Breeders' Cup Classic with Drosselmeyer, who was considered the lesser regarded of the two horses the Hall of Fame trainer ran in that race three weeks ago at Churchill Downs.

This year's Breeders' Cup may be a memory, but no fewer than five horses that competed in the 2011 World Championships are back at Churchill Downs for the Grade 1, $500,000 Clark Handicap Nov. 25.

Empire Way, a full brother to 2011 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner Royal Delta, makes his stakes debut in the $100,000 Hollywood Prevue Stakes on Thanksgiving Day at Hollywood Park Nov. 24.

Arena Elvira will be seeking her fourth consecutive stakes win when the 4-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper tops a nine-horse field in the $150,000 Go for Wand Handicap Nov. 25 at Aqueduct.

Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap, among the traditional highlights of Calder's Tropical meeting, has attracted a solid field led by multiple Grade 1 hero Winchester. The McKnight is scheduled for 1 1/2 miles on the turf.

Grade 3 winner Super Espresso has been plying her trade unsuccessfully against Grade 1 opponents in her last five, but the Todd Pletcher trainee might have found a more congenial spot in Thursday's Grade 2, $175,000 Falls City Handicap at Churchill Downs.

The 98th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack has drawn 10 sprinters who will be among those putting on a few extra pounds on Thanksgiving Day.