Tue, 11/26/2013 - 15:33

Aqueduct: DRF Plus handicapping report for November 27, 2013

Race 1

SPOT PLAY

MISS TAPIT (#7, 6-1) was 4 wide on the far turn and continued on ok in the lane to pick up minor award; with the impending storm making its way north, this may be rained off, but if they do stay on she deserves a play at listed price.

Tue, 11/26/2013 - 15:21

Delta Downs notes: Miss Behaviour will return to sprinting

Barbara D. Livingston
Miss Behavior won the Grade 2 Matron Stakes at Belmont Park earlier this year.

VINTON, La. – Miss Behaviour will target sprint races next year after finishing fifth in her two-turn debut Saturday in the Grade 3, $500,000 Delta Downs Princess. Trainer Phil Schoenthal said one of her chief objectives will be the Grade 1 Prioress, a six-furlong race at Saratoga.

“We’ll focus on sprinting,” he said.

Tue, 11/26/2013 - 14:07

Hollywood Park notes: Bright Thought targets rebound in Citation Handicap

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Bright Thought made his first start after a seven-month layoff in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 2. He finished last of 10, never racing closer than fourth and fading through the final furlong.

“Do I regret it?” trainer Jorge Gutierrez said Tuesday. “Absolutely. The good thing is he came out of it in good shape.”

Tue, 11/26/2013 - 13:39

Fair Grounds notes: String King may try dirt in Champions Day Classic

Lynn Roberts/Hodges Photography
String King wins the Mr. Sulu over a yielding course Saturday. His trainer, Charlie Smith, is considering a switch to the main track for the Champions Day Classic.

NEW ORLEANS – String King won the seventh turf stakes of his career when he captured the Mr. Sulu on Saturday at Fair Grounds by three-quarters of a length, but owner-breeder-trainer Charlie Smith said Tuesday he’s leaning toward running String King on dirt in his next start.

Tue, 11/26/2013 - 11:49

Golden Gate Fields notes: Berkeley a Tapeta test for Teaks North, Stryker Phd

Barbara D. Livingston
Teaks North was fifth in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship last month in his first start for trainer Eric Guillot.

Teaks North is a Grade 1-winning millionaire, and Stryker Phd has never run worse than second in a stakes race. Both will have something in common when they enter the starting gate for the Grade 3, $100,000 Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on Friday: The 1 1/16-mile race will be the first start for each on a synthetic racing surface.

Neither Eric Guillot, Teaks North’s trainer, nor Margo Lloyd, who trains Stryker Phd, seems concerned about that fact.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 13:57

Aqueduct notes: Bakken scores second impressive victory

Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs
Pants On Fire, back at Churchill Downs for the first time since the 2011 Kentucky Derby, wins the Ack Ack Handicap under Paco Lopez.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Bakken looks like he could be a serious horse in 2014, but he might not be finished racing in 2013.

Confirming that he is not a one-hit wonder, Bakken scored a second impressive victory Saturday at Aqueduct, winning a first-level allowance race by 2 1/4 lengths. His final time of 1:09.79 was the fastest by 1.37 seconds of four six-furlong races run on a windy day. He earned a 96 Beyer Figure. The victory came after he won his debut at Belmont on Oct. 13 by 6 1/2 lengths, running six furlongs in 1:08.46 and earning a 97 Beyer.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 12:32

Churchill Downs: Bourbon Courage waiting in weeds for Clark favorites

Tom Keyser
Bourbon Courage has been sidelined after suffering minor injuries during the running of the Alysheba Stakes.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Owing to his name, if nothing else, Bourbon Courage will be a fan favorite when friends and families reconvene at Churchill Downs amid the usual reverie that has made the Friday after Thanksgiving the fall-meet version of Louisville’s Day at the Races.

Fun and frivolity aside, Bourbon Courage merits a legitimate spoiler’s chance as one of the more accomplished challengers to Game On Dude and Will Take Charge in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap, which will be held Friday for the 139th time.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 11:31

Woodbine notes: Lexie Lou gains redemption in front-running South Ocean win

Michael Burns
Lexie Lou wins the South Ocean Stakes on Nov. 24 at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Paladin Bay swept by the front-running Lexie Lou to take the $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes Nov. 2, but the tables were turned last Sunday, when Lexie Lou led throughout the $125,000 South Ocean Stakes, leaving favored Paladin Bay back in second.

Sun, 11/24/2013 - 14:22

Hollywood Park notes: Hollendorfer looks strong for CashCall Futurity

Benoit & Associates
Tamarando, under Rafael Bejarano, strenthens his credentials for the CashCall Futurity by winning the Real Quiet.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer will have a strong team for the $750,000 CashCall Futurity on Dec. 14.

So far this month, Hollendorfer has swept the two stakes for 2-year-old males at Betfair Hollywood Park, winning the Prevue Stakes with Shared Belief on Nov. 10 and Saturday’s Real Quiet Stakes with the multiple stakes winner Tamarando.