Sat, 09/21/2013 - 17:37

Churchill Downs: Sky Girl takes Dogwood in debut for new connections

Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs
Sky Girl wins the Dogwood after coming through along the rail under jockey Corey Lanerie.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Sky Girl came through for new connections and for the many horseplayers who backed her down to odds-on favoritism when posting a hard-earned, 1 1/2-length victory Saturday in a scratch-laden 38th running of the Grade 3, $110,000 Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Corey Lanerie, Sky Girl came through a rail opening before finally getting the best of Irish Lute to prevail in the seven-furlong race. Elusive Fate was another neck back in a field of six 3-year-old fillies.

Sat, 09/21/2013 - 17:30

Gulfstream Park: My Pal Chrisy rallies to win Musical Romance Stakes

Coglianese/Lauren King
My Pal Chrisy wins the $100,000 Musical Romance Stakes at Gulfstream Park by two lengths.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – With four of the seven starters in Saturday’s $100,000 Musical Romance Stakes at Gulfstream Park, trainer Marty Wolfson felt pretty confident he would win the race. However, even Wolfson seemed a bit surprised that it was My Pal Chrisy – not Grade 1 winner Starship Truffles – who ended up in the winner’s circle after rallying to a two-length decision over Appealing Stella in the 6 1/2-furlong overnight stakes for fillies and mares.

Sat, 09/21/2013 - 17:02

Woodbine: Leigh Court rolls on front end in La Lorgnette

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Favored Leigh Court notched her third straight stakes in front-running style Saturday at Woodbine in the $128,250 La Lorgnette.

Leigh Court ($5.80) set honest fractions in the driving rain in the 1 1/16-mile route and then drew off in the lane to prevail by 5 1/4 lengths in 1:43.32. Overheard finished a clear second, and second choice Spring in the Air was a flat third in the six-horse field of 3-year-old fillies.

Gary Boulanger rode Leigh Court for Melnyk Racing Stable and trainer Josie Carroll.

Sat, 09/21/2013 - 15:10

Mountaineer: McCauley moves on to Plan C with Fusaichiswonderful

Fusaichiswonderful was supposed to run Saturday in either the Grade 3 Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs or the $400,000 Charles Town Oaks. A minor injury that Fusaichiswonderful sustained while in her stall Friday, however, caused trainer Tevis McCauley to scratch her from both races and devise an alternate plan that also involves a trip to West Virginia.

Sat, 09/21/2013 - 13:22

Santa Anita notes: Mucho Macho Man fresh for Awesome Again Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Mucho Macho Man will prep for the Breeders' Cup in the Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita.

Last fall, Mucho Macho Man was a late arrival at Santa Anita before finishing a game second to Fort Larned in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. Blame that travel disruption on Hurricane Sandy.

This year, gruesome weather is unlikely to interfere with Mucho Macho Man’s preparation for the BC Classic on Nov. 2. Mucho Macho Man was sent West earlier this month and will have a local prep in the $250,000 Awesome Again Stakes over 1 1/8 miles next Saturday.

Sat, 09/21/2013 - 12:45

Parx Racing: Sense of Reality dangerous first off of claim in Monday allowance

Few bettors realized a potent trainer that was in play last Thursday when the 3-year-old filly Just Got In made her first start off a $30,000 claim by Maryland-based trainer Mary Eppler on behalf of Triple Tree Stables. Switching from dirt to turf in an allowance, Just Got In paid $115 to win at Delaware Park.

For those who missed that opportunity, there may be another in Monday’s $50,000 feature at Parx Racing.

Sat, 09/21/2013 - 12:09

Churchill Downs: Mylute being freshened for a winter campaign

Barbara D. Livingston
Mylute should get a faster pace to set up his kick in Saturday's Jim Dandy at Saratoga than he did when finishing third in the Preakness.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – To little surprise, the standout 3-year-old Mylute is finished for the year and is being rested for several months until being brought back for a winter campaign as a 4-year-old.

Mylute ran second in the Louisiana Derby, fifth in the Kentucky Derby, and third in the Preakness before finishing eighth, beaten nearly 20 lengths, in his final start this year, the July 27 Jim Dandy at Saratoga.

Sat, 09/21/2013 - 11:53

Belmont Park: Pletcher works seven graded winners, including a sharp Palace Malice

Tom Keyser
Palace Malice works a half-mile under Annie Finney at Belmont Park on Saturday.

This content is part of a free preview of DRF Plus. Click to learn more.

ELMONT, N.Y. – His 3-year-old campaign started in January and has included stops at six tracks in four states. It certainly doesn’t appear that schedule has taken a toll on Palace Malice.

Sat, 09/21/2013 - 08:51

Remington Park: More Than Even wins fourth in a row in Te Ata

More Than Even won her fourth consecutive race when she wired the field in Friday night’s $50,000 Te Ata at Remington Park. The seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies was one of two stakes on the card. The $50,000 Tishomingo was won by My Brother Don.

Both stakes were restricted to Oklahoma-breds, with the Tishomingo for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.

Fri, 09/20/2013 - 20:37

Barretts at Fairplex: Conkate wins Bangles and Beads; pick-six, pick-five carryovers for Saturday card

POMONA, Calif. – Conkate restored a semblance of normalcy on a day of upsets at the Los Angeles County Fair meet by winning the $50,000 Bangles and Beads Stakes for filly and mare sprinters and returning $7.60 as the second betting choice.

It was tougher in other races.

Tonight at Eleven paid a meet-high $110.20 winning race 5; the $2 daily double to race-6 upset winner Suances Flower ($37.40) returned $1,063.

At least somebody won those bets. Horseplayers were unsuccessful in four other wagers, creating a carryover feast into Saturday.