IEAH selling pinhooking operation

dmcdonough — Mon, 21 May 2012 22:29:59 +0000

Matt Hegarty

The American Basketball Association, a publicly traded company that operates a league of 90 independently owned basketball teams, has signed a letter of intent to acquire the pinhooking operation of IEAH Stables, the former owner of 2008 Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown, according to the two sides.

Fasig-Tipton sale session topped by $575K colt

dmcdonough — Mon, 21 May 2012 22:04:58 +0000

Glenye Cain Oakford

A $575,00 colt by second-crop sire Scat Daddy topped Monday's opening session as Fasig-Tipton's Midlantic May 2-year-old sale kicked off a two-day run in Timonium, Md., with gains in average and median prices.

Mercedes Stable snapped up the $575,000 colt, a chestnut son of unraced Magical Mist, by Congaree. Kings Equine, agent, consigned the March 20 foal. Cataloged as Hip No. 39, he is from the family of Grade 1 winner J P's Gusto and had worked an eighth-mile in 10.2 seconds at the auction's under-tack show.

Woodbine: Gypsy Ring wins stretch battle with Paso Doble in New Providence

jdevivo — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:14:23 +0000

Ron Gierkink

Michael Burns

Gypsy Ring, under Justin Stein, prevails by three-quarters of a length in the New Providence.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — The favored Gypsy Ring outdueled second choice Paso Doble to win the $125,000 New Providence Stakes on holiday Monday at Woodbine.

Gypsy Ring and Paso Doble stalked a trio of front-runners in the six-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired stock.

Gypsy Ring found room on the outside at the quarter pole, while Paso Doble had clear sailing along the rail. They proceeded to battle through the stretch, with Gypsy Ring prevailing by three-quarters of a length, in 1:10.72. Executive Five wound up third in the five-horse field.

Belmont: Feature really two races within one

webmaster — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:25:22 +0000

David Grening

ELMONT, N.Y. – Regardless on which surface it is run, Wednesday’s second-level optional $50,000 claiming feature at Belmont Park looks to be a competitive event.

Eight horses were entered to run if the race remains on the turf at seven furlongs as scheduled. There are six horses entered only in case the race is moved to the main track. Heavy showers pummeled the area on Monday and more unsettled weather was forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Belmont: Awesome Maria dazzles in slop

jdevivo — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:07:18 +0000

David Grening

Tom Keyser

Awesome Maria, shown winning the Rampart at Gulfstream Park, turned in a fast five-furlong workout Monday in preparation for next Monday's Ogden Phipps.

Heavy showers turned Belmont’s training track into a sealed, sloppy mess by 9:30 a.m. Monday. But that didn’t prevent Awesome Maria from turning in a sensational five-furlong workout in 59.23 seconds in preparation for next Monday’s Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Handicap.

Under regular rider John Velazquez, Awesome Maria worked in splits of 12.38 seconds, 23.80, 34.85, and still got her last quarter in 24.38. She proceeded to gallop out six furlongs in 1:12.68.

Belmont: Broadway’s Alibi will skip Acorn

jdevivo — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:02:07 +0000

David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Broadway's Alibi is likely to skip next Monday's Acorn in favor of the June 23 Mother Goose.

Broadway’s Alibi, a game runner-up to Believe You Can in the Kentucky Oaks on May 4, will not run in next Monday’s Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont, trainer Todd Pletcher said Monday morning.

On Monday, Broadway’s Alibi worked four furlongs in 49.50 seconds over a fast Belmont training track, a move that Pletcher termed just “okay.”

Belmont: Saginaw proves quite a bargain buy for Jacobson

webmaster — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:41:21 +0000

David Grening

Adam Coglianese/NYRA

Saginaw, a $30,000 claim for trainer David Jacobson, wins the $100,000 Affirmed Success.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Of all the claims David Jacobson has made in the last six months – and there have been about five dozen – none has proven to be a better one than Saginaw.

Taken for $30,000 from Richard Dutrow Jr. out of a winning performance at Aqueduct on March 8, Saginaw has reeled off four more victories, including a sensational 7 1/2-length score in last Saturday’s inaugural running of the $100,000 Affirmed Success for New York-breds at Belmont Park.

Woodbine notes: Roxy Gap in fine form

webmaster — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:37:28 +0000

Bill Tallon

Michael Burns

Roxy Gap, with Patrick Husbands riding, wins the Hendrie.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Roxy Gap is back in the groove.

On Sunday, with her regular rider Patrick Husbands doing the honors, Roxy Gap rallied from just off the pace for a 2 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2, 6 1/2-furlong Hendrie Stakes.

Four weeks earlier, the 4-year-year filly had employed a similar style en route to scoring by a neck in the Grade 3, six-furlong Whimsical.

“She did what she had to do,” said Mark Casse, who had watched Roxy Gap break from the rail and prevail in a shortened field of six for the Hendrie.

Germany: Arc winner Danedream wins return at Baden-Baden

webmaster — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:33:34 +0000

Marcus Hersh

Danedream, the blowout winner of the 2011 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, made a winning return to the races on Sunday in Germany, beating nine rivals in the Group 2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Unternehmer at Baden-Baden.

Belmont Ball fundraiser for Old Friends

webmaster — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:29:25 +0000

Glenye Cain Oakford

The Oheka Castle mansion in Huntington, N.Y., will host its first Belmont Ball as a fundraiser for the Old Friends equine retirement facility, which has a division near Saratoga Springs, N. Y.