The German filly Danedream’s first longshot victory in a major European race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last fall, came in a romp, but her second, on Saturday at Ascot in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, came down to a head bob, with Danedream beating the race’s gallant 2011 winner Nathaniel by a nose.
Gantry’s ideal schedule for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint will be comprised of one light prep race in the Southwest region, sometime in September, said his trainer, Ron Faucheux. There’s also a chance the horse could just train up to the Grade 1, $1.5 million race, which is to be run at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.
Bill Mott was not at all surprised when his Royal Delta was beaten by Awesome Maria in the Grade 3 Sabin Stakes at Gulfstream Park in February.
The Hall of Fame trainer has greater expectations Saturday when Royal Delta squares off against Awesome Maria and five others in the $750,000 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Trainer John Sadler completed a sensational day at Betfair Hollywood Park on Saturday when Switch returned to her best form and rallied to win the Grade 2, $200,000 A Gleam Handicap, which gave Sadler his third graded stakes win on the day.
After running 1-2 in the Grade 3 Hollywood Juvenile Championship with Scherer Magic and Carson’s Crown early in the day, Sadler struck with back-to-back favorites, Lady of Shamrock in the Grade 1 American Oaks and then Switch.
Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. wasn’t looking for style points when it came to Redeemed’s performance in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Greenwood Cup at Parx.
He just wanted the win.
“I wanted him to get the job done and that was it,” Dutrow said. “I have to say mission accomplished.”
Redeemed won his third consecutive stakes with a front-running, half-length victory over Not Abroad in the Greenwood. While the final margin was close, the final time was a track-record 2:28.01 for the 1 1/2 miles. The previous mark was 2:29.90 set by Evening Attire in this race in 2008.
With Saratoga beginning next Friday, many Kentucky horsemen planning to run horses there have already shipped their runners northward or are soon planning to do so. But one filly who won’t be making the trip to Saratoga is Groupie Doll, who had originally been targeted for the Ballerina Stakes after scoring back-to-back Grade 1 victories in the Vinery Madison and Humana Distaff this spring in Kentucky.
Three past winners of the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap will test their prowess at the rarely run dirt distance of 1 1/2 miles in Saturday’s Greenwood Cup at Parx Racing. Even though 2009 Brooklyn winner Eldaafer and 2011 Brooklyn champion Birdrun have shown they can win at the demanding Greenwood Cup distance, it’s hard to look past reigning Brooklyn kingpin Redeemed.
The 4-year-old Redeemed, a 10-length winner over Eldaafer in last month’s Brooklyn at Belmont Park, is the even-money favorite on the Parx mornng line for the $300,000 Greenwood Cup.
Switch has been one of the best older females on the Southern California circuit for the better part of three seasons, but she has reached a critical juncture in her career, so there will be plenty riding on her, not just a good chunk of the bettors’ money, when she competes on Saturday in the Grade 2, $200,000 A Gleam Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park.
The A Gleam, at seven furlongs, is a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, also at seven furlongs, at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The late summer racing schedule for Hollywood Gold Cup winner Game On Dude will not be finalized until next month.
Saturday, Game On Dude won his third stakes of 2012 in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Betfair Hollywood Park, holding off stablemate Richard’s Kid to win the race over 1 1/4 miles by 1 1/2 lengths. The win gave trainer Bob Baffert a sweep of the Gold Cup exacta.
Sunday, Baffert reiterated his plans for Game On Dude and Richard’s Kid in coming months. Both will be sent to Del Mar next week, where they will resume training.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Game On Dude was leading the field into early stretch in Saturday’s $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at Betfair Hollywood Park when jockey Chantal Sutherland heard Rafael Bejarano closing in on Richard’s Kid.
Bejarano was shouting at Sutherland that he was going to catch her, which only made Sutherland more determined not to let a win in the Gold Cup get away.
“Rafael said, ‘Here I come, Chantal,’” Sutherland said. “I got a little nervous when Rafael said that.”
