SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Alpha and Flat Out, separated by a head in Saturday’s Grade 1 Woodward Stakes in the slop at Saratoga, could meet again next month at Belmont Park in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, a race Flat Out has won in each of the last two years.
Alpha, under an aggressive ride from John Velazquez, went gate to wire in the Woodward, holding off Flat Out, who drifted out a path or two in the stretch before trying to come back on Alpha.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Apprentice jockey Skye Chernetz has appealed a three-day suspension imposed by the stewards for her ride aboard On Rainbow Bridge, who finished first here in last Wednesday night’s $200,000 Muskoka Stakes but was disqualified and placed second.
The stewards penalized Chernetz for “failing to keep a straight course, going out with her mount On Rainbow Bridge, and causing interference on Lexie Lou.”
On Rainbow Bridge, the 6-5 favorite, had hit the finish line a nose in front of Lexie Lou, who was awarded the victory at odds of 17-1.
DEL MAR, Calif. - A new distance, new equipment, and a confident ride helped She’s a Tiger win Saturday’s $300,750 Del Mar Debutante for 2-year-old fillies.
Racing at seven furlongs for the first time, and wearing blinkers for the first time, She’s a Tiger ($11) had an ideal trip under jockey Gary Stevens to win the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante by a half-length over 6-1 maiden Fascinating.
The win left Stevens eager to ride She’s a Tiger in route races this fall.
“I think she’ll get better going two turns,” he said. “She’s got a stride that’s a mile long.”
DEL MAR, Calif. - Summer Hit, who was claimed for $12,500 in his debut at Golden Gate Fields in January 2012, won the third stakes of his career in Saturday’s $110,400 Harry Brubaker Stakes at Del Mar.
Summer Hit ($10.60) led throughout the one-mile Brubaker, holding off Wilkinson to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:34.99. Liaison, who was scratched from the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 25 in favor of the Brubaker, finished third. Sky Kingdom, second in the Cougar II Handicap on July 26, was fourth as the 5-2 favorite, followed by Clubhouse Ride, Batti Man, and Hawk’s Eyes.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. -- Willcox Inn had taken three tough stakes losses this year, but Saturday at Arlington he came out on the right side of things in the Washington Park Handicap. Locked in a stretch dogfight with upstart Gallant Eagle, Willcox Inn, under a vigorous drive by James Graham, struck the front a stride before the finish and won by a nose.
“The more I asked, the more he gave. He stuck his neck out and put his head down at wire,” Graham said. “Thank God we were on the good side of the photo.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - In a race that became void of speed with each passing day, Alpha picked up the mantle of pacesetter under John Velazquez and used those front-running tactics to record a head victory over Flat Out in Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward Stakes at sloppy Saratoga.
It was 6 3/4 lengths back to Successful Dan in third, who was followed in the order of finish by Ron the Greek and the 3-2 favorite and expected pacesetter, Paynter.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Twenty-four hours after experiencing the lowest moment of his racing career when his pride and joy Saginaw was euthanized because of injuries suffered in Friday’s third race, trainer David Jacobson experienced the highest after Strapping Groom splashed to a half-length victory over Jackson Bend in Saturday’s $500,000 Forego Stakes at Saratoga.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The turf courses at Saratoga had been favoring speed for more than a week in part because of the firmness of the ground caused by a lack of rain.
That was going to suit Silver Max just fine for Saturday’s Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap.
But then the unfathomable happened. It rained. Was trainer Dale Romans fearful that might change things for Silver Max, the apparent lone speed in the 1 1/16-mile turf race?
Angelica Zapata picked up the seventh stakes win of her career Saturday at Gulfstream Park, when she finished with authority in the $100,000 Wasted Tears. She won by 1 1/4 lengths over Ann of the Dance, while it was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third to Team.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The aptly-named Youcan’tcatchme led all the way to notch her second straight stakes Saturday at Woodbine in the Grade 3, $156,900 Seaway.
Youcan’tcatchme ($6.40) set slow fractions in the seven-furlong sprint, while being pressed by Nikkis Smartypants. Favored Roxy Gap took up the chase early in the stretch, but Youcan’tcatchme drew clear in the last eighth to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths, in 1:22.95.
Justin Stein rode Youcan’tcatchme for owner Murray Stroud and trainer Sam DiPasquale.
