Richies Sweetheart all the way in Turf Amazon

BENSALEM, Pa. – Coming into the $200,000 Turf Amazon Handicap at Parx Racing on Monday, Richies Sweetheart had made the lead in 15 straight races. Well, add on one more.

Richies Sweetheart, based at Arlington Park with trainer Larry Rivelli, outbroke the field in the Turf Amazon and went on to win by two lengths. She cut out fractions of 21.61 and 44.59 seconds en route to a final five-furlong clocking of 56.36.

Veteran rider E.T. Baird, who has been plying his trade since 1986, said he could have gone faster.

"I had to sit on her," he said. "There was a flock of geese on the course, her ears went straight up, and I had to wait and see what happened."
The geese took flight, and Richies Sweetheart kept rolling.

"She does it pretty effortless," Baird said. "I've been on her when she's been headed, and it's never affected her. She's just a real racehorse."
Baird has ridden Richies Sweetheart in her last five starts, winning four of those races.

The late-running Joya Real, based at Parx with trainer Kate DeMasi, had to overcome the outside post in the 11-horse field but finished strongly to nail 43-1 Inspired By Grace for second by a nose.

Thieves Guild, the 3-5 favorite, finished fourth, three-quarters of a length farther back, after launching an outside move on the turn.

Richies Sweetheart is 12 for 23 in her career with earnings of $475,657. She is an Illinois-bred daughter of Bring the Heat who was bred by Rivelli and part-owner Richard Ravin.

Neck 'n Neck breaks losing streak in Greenwood Cup

Neck 'n Neck broke a 13-race losing streak dating to November 2012 in the Greenwood Cup on Monday. The win was the second for trainer Ian Wilkes in a Grade 3 at Parx in nine days. He won the $300,000 Smarty Jones with Island Town on Aug. 29.

Neck 'n Neck, 6, may have lost a step over the years, but he still has a lot of class, and the 1 1/2 miles of the $200,000 Greenwood Cup seemed to suit him. Jockey Paco Lopez rode a very smooth race, settling Neck 'n Neck off the pacesetting Majestic Harbor after a quarter-mile and then tracking him to the stretch. Neck 'n Neck took a short lead a furlong from home and scored by a half-length.

Neck 'n Neck paid $5.40 as the favorite in the eight-horse field. He was timed in 2:33.64 following fractions of 25.43, 50.58, 1:16.31, 1:41.62, and 2:07.14.

For Greater Glory finished third, 2 1/2 lengths behind Majestic Harbor.

As a 3-year-old in 2012, Neck 'n Neck won the Grade 3 Matt Winn, the Grade 2 Indiana Derby, and the Grade 3 Ack Ack over older horses. He finished second in that year's Jim Dandy to Alpha.

Neck 'n Neck, owned by Ted Mitzlaff, has won six of 28 starts and $965,962.