ARCADIA, Calif. – The first four finishers from last year's Breeders’ Cup Classic plus the beaten favorite in that race all appear headed to a rematch in this year’s $5 million Classic on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita following victories by Fort Larned, Mucho Macho Man, and Ron the Greek in their final preps Saturday.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – One could have been forgiven for thinking that Moonlit Beauty was past her “best before” date heading into last Sunday’s Classy ’n Smart Stakes.
After all, Moonlit Beauty had finished no better than fourth in her four previous starts this season and had been beaten by double-digit lengths in her two most recent stakes appearances.
Check N Fetch won the most prestigious race of her career in Sunday’s $150,000 Mildred Vessels Handicap for Quarter Horse fillies and mares, giving owner Lorena Velazquez Rodriguez of Arizona her second automatic qualifier for the $750,000 Champion of Champions on Dec. 14.
Sent off favored, Check N Fetch ($8.60) ran 400 yards in 19.55 seconds under jockey Ramon Sanchez, finishing a nose in front of 30-1 Zoomdasher. Shes Jess Toxic was a head behind Zoomdasher in the field of 10.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Quality speed will be on display in the $100,000 Apelia Stakes at Woodbine on Wednesday, when the hotshot 3-year-old Goldstryke Glory meets the aptly named Youcan’tcatchme in the six-furlong dash. Both are contenders for a Sovereign Award as Canada’s champion female sprinter of 2013.
Goldstryke Glory was one of the better 2-year-old fillies here in 2012. Following a winter layoff, she resurfaced in the spring at Hastings, where she finished second and third in a pair of dirt stakes. She subsequently joined trainer Kelly Callaghan’s Woodbine string.
Indy Point joined the list of leading contenders for the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 with his comprehensive win in Sunday’s $150,000 John Henry Turf Championship at the same track.
The win gave Indy Point’s backers a reason to forget his last-place finish as the favorite in the Arlington Million in August.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Royal Delta maintained her role as Breeders’ Cup Distaff favorite, though her position is less secure than before a pair of Grade 1 races Saturday at Belmont Park and Santa Anita.
In the Beldame at Belmont, Park, Royal Delta finished second to 3-year-old filly Princess of Sylmar. However, Princess of Sylmar is likely finished for the year and not expected to run in the Distaff.
In the Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita, 3-year-old filly Beholder scored a decisive win over Authenticity and Joyful Victory to emerge as second choice for the Distaff.
Last Friday’s Eddie D Stakes could yield multiple starters for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. This should come as no surprise considering the Eddie D was run on Santa Anita’s unique about 6 1/2-furlong downhill turf course, the same course this Turf Sprint will be decided on. Good downhill form has been a harbinger of success in past Turf Sprints run at Santa Anita.
AUBURN, Wash. - Del Rio Harbor raced to a rain-soaked 1 1/4-length victory in the $67,500 Gottstein Futurity on Sunday, laying claim to Emerald Downs’ traditional 2-year-old championship on the closing day of the meeting. Earlier on Sunday’s “getaway day” card, Dallon’s Gold splashed to an upset victory in the $48,465 Cahill Road Stakes as Emerald pulled down the curtain on a 75-day stand.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Under a perfectly timed ride by Frank Fuentes, Stepupforthemoney upset the heavily favored Hopeseeker by a nose in the $50,000 CTHS Sales Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings at Hastings on Sunday. Stepupforthemoney paid $53.50.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Nine months after he came out of retirement, jockey Gary Stevens had a season-best weekend at Santa Anita on Saturday and Sunday, winning four stakes, including Sunday’s $151,750 John Henry Turf Championship on Indy Point.
The wildly successful two days led the 50-year-old Hall of Famer to dream about more success in the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 1-2.
“I didn’t think in my wildest dreams it would be like this,” he said.
