Barbara Minshall

It was the most literal of dream scenarios. The thing is, it had happened before. From time to time, Valerie Mastromonaco will have a dream--always about a horse--and then something will happen to bring it to life. Nothing dramatic, most of the time. True, once she dreamed that a particular horse in the barn had a problem, and unfortunately turned out to be right. But she doesn't take the phenomenon too seriously, as a rule; nor expect anyone else to do so. "I've no theories," she says. "I just think...

The Inglis Digital USA July Sale closed Wednesday with a pair of stakes-winning juveniles heading up the trade, topped by Good Civilian (Good Samaritan--Lei It On Me, by Benny the Bull), who was secured by Flurry Racing for $240,000. An impressive winner by 11 ½ lengths at Horseshoe Indianapolis June 14, the gelding followed up with a score in the Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes at Prairie Meadows. Good Civilian was previously raced by Southwest Racing Stables Inc. Good Civilian was consigned by trainer Genaro Garcia, who made the horse available...

When Sedburys Ghost (Shaman Ghost) burst from the pack to capture the Plate Trial Stakes at Woodbine a week ago, the gelding gave his owner/breeder Yawen Wu her first stakes victory and has the Canadian engineer dreaming of her first trip to the King's Plate. After finishing fourth in the 1 1/16-mile GIII Marine Stakes in June, Sedburys Ghost was given just a 7-1 chance to win the Plate Trial at an extra half-furlong July 20. Wu admitted she wasn't sure herself how the strapping chestnut would do in the...

Sedburys Ghost came flying late to take the Plate Trial Stakes and throw his name into the mix for next month's King's Plate, a race won by his sire in 2015. The 7-1 shot settled in midpack around the first turn as Scorching prompted the pace set by longshot Unbridled Weather and favored Notorious Gangster trailed the field. The pack began bunching up as the half went up in :47.22 and second choice Scorching took charge into the far turn, but Sedburys Ghost was inching ominously through traffic with Notorious...

Airdrie Stud's Beau Liam (by Liam's Map) got his second black-type winner in his first crop of 2-year-olds--and second in a week--Saturday when Border Czar sailed under the wire in the My Dear Stakes at Woodbine. Beau Liam's juvenile filly Lanaluah had captured the Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity July 5. Sent as a 6-1 choice on the all-weather surface, Border Czar broke smartly and settled between horses in the second flight but well behind the :22.17 pace. With rider Rafael Hernandez sitting quietly confident until the turn, the bay tipped...

3rd-Woodbine, C$70,594, Msw, 5-26, 2yo, f, 5f (AWT), :58.50, ft, 4 1/2 lengths. CARLISLE BAY (f, 2, Speightstown--Bicolour, by Tiznow) made her first start as the 6-5 choice here. Riding the rail up the backstretch, the filly took the lead and continued to hold sway around the far turn. The juvenile entered the lane under a full head of steam and posted a 4 1/2-length score over Sapphire Connect (Connect). The winner's dam is responsible for a yearling colt by Charlatan and she foaled a colt by Epicenter Apr. 21....

Whether digital or the old school paper variety, it is safe to say that most of the forms will be turned to the World Championship races. However, it should be noted that Saturday does sport some graded stakes action that you will not want to miss from both Santa Anita Park and Woodbine Racetrack. 'The Great Race Place' card gets the Breeders' Cup engines warmed with the GII Twilight Derby for 3-year-olds over the turf. If you are interested in how the course sets up for what's to come, then...

How's your Saratoga opening weekend stakes knowledge? You probably already knew that the Sanford S. is the only race that the legendary Man o' War ever lost. Or that over a five-year span in the '60s, the great Kelso amassed a staggering record of 63-39-12-2. You also knew that the late '80s warrior Quick Call, who lived to the ripe old age of 35, was denied a third consecutive GII Forego H. by a nose to Lay Down. And if you are pretty sharp, then you have it down pat...

Hoolie Racing Stable and Bruce Lunsford's Botta Swing (Not This Time--Lady of the Glen, by Purim), taking on the boys while looking to carry her sire's hot streak into the juvenile ranks, came out running Sunday, earning 'TDN Rising Star' honors while lowering Woodbine's synthetic track record for 4 1/2 furlongs in the process. Away in midpack and then scrubbed on to take over with swift strides entering the bend, the chestnut was two clear and cruising midway on the turn as well-backed Ninetyfour Expos (Outwork) was asked to narrow...

Dreaming of Drew dominated in her return to the Tapeta and stamped herself as one to watch for next year's Woodbine Oaks and maybe even Queen's Plate while becoming her freshman sire (by Speightstown)'s second stakes winner. The chestnut earned a solid 81 Beyer Speed Figure for a second-out romp going short over this same strip July 18, but was out-nosed in the grassy Catch a Glimpse S. Aug. 23 and settled for fourth when stretched to a mile for the GI Natalma S. Sept. 20. Donning blinkers for the...