Mon, 09/16/2013 - 13:47

Woodbine: Wise Dan eyes Shadwell Turf Mile as final Breeders' Cup prep

Michael Burns
Wise Dan became the first two-time winner of the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile on Sunday, prevailing by 3 1/2 lengths under John Velazquez.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Wise Dan, winner of the 2012 Woodbine Mile, was hailed as a conquering hero well before the field of six went to the post for Sunday’s Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile. And, fortunately for the faithful, the 6-year-old version of Wise Dan proved to be as good or better than the one previously seen here as he cruised to a 3 1/2-length victory in a track-record time of 1:31.75 under regular rider John Velazquez.

Mon, 09/16/2013 - 13:17

Woodbine: Colleen’s Sailor takes a step back to find victory

Michael Burns
Colleen's Sailor, who ran in all three legs of the Canadian Triple Crown last year, will take a step back when he starts in a $40,000 conditioned claimer going seven furlongs Wednesday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Colleen’s Sailor gets some noteworthy class relief in the third race Wednesday night at Woodbine, in a $40,000 conditioned claimer going seven furlongs on the Polytrack.

Colleen’s Sailor had a productive 3-year-old campaign last year, under the guidance of Roger Attfield. He ran in all three legs of the Canadian Triple Crown, finishing fourth in the Queen’s Plate, third in the Prince of Wales Stakes, and then 12th in the Breeders’ Stakes on the grass.

Mon, 09/16/2013 - 12:53

Northlands Park: Aces Again goes for three in a row

Aces Again will be gunning for his third straight win in a $25,000 optional claimer that will serve as Wednesday’s feature at Northlands Park. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses, and the versatile Aces Again has never been better.

Mon, 09/16/2013 - 12:44

Barretts at Fairplex: Drill conceding weight to rivals in Governor's Cup Handicap

Shigeki Kikkawa
Grade 1 winner Drill will concede 4 to 14 pounds to his rivals in the Governor’s Cup on Wednesday.

POMONA, Calif. – Good money is on the line during a twilight card Wednesday at the Los Angeles County Fair, where horsemen and horseplayers can take aim at higher-than-normal pots.

The purse for the Governor’s Cup Handicap was boosted from $50,000 to $75,000 and attracted a full field, and a pick-six carryover of $25,384 is at stake on races 5-10. First post is 4 p.m. Pacific.

The purse boost for the Governor’s Cup, race 9, was intended to help restore the race to its former status as one of the most intriguing stakes at the Los Angeles County Fair.

Mon, 09/16/2013 - 11:06

Golden Gate Fields: Vallejo to serve 30-day suspension

Trainer Genaro Vallejo was handed a 90-day suspension, fined $3,000, and placed on probation for one year Sunday by stewards at Golden Gate Fields.

The ruling stemmed from a positive test for zilpaterol, a Class 1 drug, on Red Dwarf, who won the seventh race at Golden Gate Fields on April 12, 2012. Red Dwarf was disqualified, and Stroll for Us is now the winner.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 20:52

Barretts at Fairplex: Hi Fashioned wins maiden in Barretts Juvenile

POMONA, Calif. – The Barretts Juvenile was a rough-and-tumble affair Sunday at Barretts at Fairplex, where the maiden Hi Fashioned scored his first win in the $100,000 stakes.

Trouble occurred both early and late. After a lengthy review, stewards finally declared the front-running Hi Fashioned the official winner after he defeated the favored I Earned It Baby by 1 1/4 lengths.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 18:36

Belmont Park: Kharafa by a head in Ashley T. Cole Stakes

Adam Coglianese
Kharafa, with Javier Castellano aboard, wins the Ashley T. Cole Stakes on Sunday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Tim Hills felt that Kharafa made the lead prematurely when he was beaten a length in the West Point Handicap at Saratoga and made a rider change in hopes of getting an off-the-pace-type trip in Sunday’s $150,000 Ashley T. Cole Stakes at Belmont Park.

But when Hills got to the paddock and told jockey Javier Castellano of his plan, Hills said Castellano, “looked at me like I was crazy.”

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 17:50

Woodbine Mile: Wise Dan repeats with ease

Michael Burns
Wise Dan sets a course record at Woodbine by winning the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile in 1:31.75 on Sunday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Wise Dan, North America’s reigning Horse of the Year, became the first horse to win the $1 million Woodbine Mile twice on Sunday, when he lowered the course record in the 17th running of the Win and You’re In qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Wise Dan ($2.50) had a perfect stalking trip in third under John Velazquez in the Grade 1 event. Excaper and Dimension hooked up through fast fractions of 23.15 seconds, 45.44, and 1:08.50 before being overtaken in midstretch by Wise Dan, who drew off to score by 3 1/2 lengths over Za Approval.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 17:37

Golden Gate Fields: Terrero breaks wrist, out 4 to 6 weeks

Jockey Pedro Terrero is expected to miss four to six weeks after fracturing his left wrist and injuring a tendon in his right wrist in a spill Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.

Cloud Hopper clipped heels and fell on the far turn of Saturday’s sixth race. Terrero’s mount, Speed Rouser, then tripped over the fallen runner.

Terrero was taken to Highland Hospital in Oakland, Calif., after showing signs of a concussion, which proved to be minor, according to tests at the hospital. X-rays revealed the broken wrist.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 17:29

Woodbine: Forte Dei Marmi gets first Grade 1 win in Northern Dancer Turf

Michael Burns
Forte Dei Marmi (No. 2) beats stablemate Perfect Timber by a neck in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf on Sunday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Forte Dei Marmi ($3.80) held off his Roger Attfield-trained stablemate, 16-1 shot Perfect Timber, to land his first Grade 1 stakes win Sunday at Woodbine in the $315,600 Northern Dancer Turf.

The diminutive Forte Dei Marmi raced in second on the backstretch under red-hot rider Eurico Rosa da Silva, as Stormy Len set moderate middle fractions in the 1 1/2-mile marathon. Forte Dei Marmi hit the front early in the stretch and then held a one-length lead that dwindled in the final sixteenth.