Sat, 09/28/2013 - 18:05

Florida: Parranda takes Our Dear Peggy at Gulfstream Park

Coady Photography
Pachanga Party leads throughout to win the $85,000 Birdonthewire at Calder on Saturday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Parranda, who usually does her best running from mid-pack or beyond, found herself closer than usual to a snail-like pace and made the most of the golden opportunity, drawing off to a 2 1/4-length victory over Millennia in Saturday’s $100,000 Our Dear Peggy Stakes on the turf at Gulfstream Park. Sola Gratia, the even-money favorite, finished fourth after steadying in traffic on the final turn.

Sat, 09/28/2013 - 17:50

Flower Bowl: Slow pace helps Laughing handle distance

Tom Keyser
Laughing (right), ridden by Jose Lezcano, heads a one-two finish for owner Richard Santulli and trainer Alan Goldberg in the Flower Bowl Invitational.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The question regarding Laughing entering Saturday’s Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont Park was her ability to get the 1 1/4 miles.

Able to get away with a ridiculous soft early pace - she was loose on the lead through six furlongs in 1:16.02 under Jose Lezcano - Laughing had no trouble with the distance, holding off her stablemate Tannery by one-half length to win the $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational. Both horses are owned by Richard Santulli and trained by Alan Goldberg.

Sat, 09/28/2013 - 17:28

Vosburgh: Private Zone by a neck over Justin Phillip

Tom Keyser
Private Zone (right), ridden by Martin Pedroza, beats Justin Phillip by a neck in the Vosburgh Invitational on Saturday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Private Zone, a Canadian-bred who began his career in Panama and set the early pace in the Dubai Golden Shaheen earlier this year, continued his jet-setting ways, winning Saturday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Vosburgh Invitational in stakes-record time off the plane from California.

It didn’t come easily. The Doug O’Neill-trained speedster had to put away Forego winner Strapping Groom down the backstretch and needed to run an opening half-mile in 44.86 seconds to open a clear lead around the turn beneath Martin Pedroza.

Sat, 09/28/2013 - 17:05

Woodbine: Regal Conqueror takes Victorian Queen on front end

Michael Burns
Regal Conqueror takes the Victorian Queen under Eurico Rosa Da Silva.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Regal Conqueror put away the other speed and kept on going to land her stakes debut Saturday at Woodbine in the $125,000 Victorian Queen.

Regal Conqueror ($4.50) dueled with 45-1 shot Seeking a Glitter through moderate fractions in the six-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies. Regal Conqueror opened up a clear lead early in the stretch, and never looked back during a 2 1/2-length tally, in 1:10.51.

Third choice Lexie Lou rallied very wide to beat out second favorite On Rainbow Bridge for second in the seven-horse field.

Sat, 09/28/2013 - 17:02

Kelso: Graydar wins his prep for Breeders' Cup

Barbara D. Livingston
Graydar, ridden by Edgar Prado, beats Brujo de Olleros in the Kelso on Saturday. He could go in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile or the Classic.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Graydar returned from a six-month layoff with a solid effort, winning Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Kelso Invitational at Belmont Park. Now, his connections must decide whether it was good enough to take a shot at the Breeders’ Cup Classic next month at Santa Anita.

In his first start since winning the New Orleans Handicap in March, Graydar gutted out a front-running three-quarter-length victory over Brujo de Olleros in Saturday’s Kelso, earning an automatic berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.

Sat, 09/28/2013 - 16:38

Finger Lakes: Wired Bryan justifies heavy favoritism in New York Breeders' Futurity

Tom Cooley Photography
Wired Bryan, under Jaime Rodriguez, romps by seven lengths in the New York Breeders' Futurity.

Wired Bryan looked much the best on paper and that’s exactly how thoroughly he dominated on the track in Saturday’s 51st running of the $237,457 New York Breeders’ Futurity at Finger Lakes.

Sat, 09/28/2013 - 15:30

Beldame: Princess of Sylmar upsets Royal Delta

Barbara D. Livingston
Princess of Sylmar and Javier Castellano go past two-time champion Royal Delta en route to victory in the Grade 1 Beldame on Saturday at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The princess has morphed into a queen.

In a finish more surprising for its ease than its result, the 3-year-old Princess of Sylmar glided past two-time champion Royal Delta in midstretch to win Saturday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Beldame Invitational by two lengths at Belmont Park. It was 6 3/4 lengths farther back to Centring in third.

Sat, 09/28/2013 - 14:37

Santa Anita: FrontRunner contender Schoolofhardrocks scratched

ARCADIA, Calif. – Schoolofhardrocks, considered one of the leading contenders in the Grade 1, $250,000 FrontRunner Stakes for 2-year-olds on Saturday at Santa Anita, was scratched from the race on Saturday morning because he was “a little off behind,” according to his trainer, David Hofmans.

“We scratched, to be cautious,” Hofmans said. “We’re going to do some diagnostic work on him in the next couple of days.”

Hofmans said that, at this point, he could not pinpoint with specificity what was ailing Schoolofhardrocks, hence the need for diagnostic work.

Sat, 09/28/2013 - 14:34

Santa Anita notes: Obviously set for City of Hope Mile

Benoit & Associates
Trainer Mike Mitchell made the Del Mar Mile a late-summer target after Obviously won his first Grade 1 race in the Shoemaker Mile at Betfair Hollywood Park.

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ARCADIA, Calif. - Obviously, who will be heavily favored to win his fourth consecutive stakes in the $150,000 City of Hope Mile on turf next Saturday, worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds on the main track on Saturday.

Sat, 09/28/2013 - 13:46

Churchill Downs: Groupie Doll has sharpening drill for the TCA Stakes

Coady Photography
Groupie Doll will prep for the Breeders' Cup next Saturday at Keeneland in the TCA Stakes.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Groupie Doll had her final workout for the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes, breezing a half-mile in 48.20 seconds early Saturday over a fast main track at Churchill Downs. Regular exercise rider Jada Schlenk was aboard.

“I told Jada to let her work on a little today,” said trainer Buff Bradley. “The mare galloped out real strong and came back full of energy. That’ll sharpen her up. She’s ready.”