Fri, 09/27/2013 - 16:29

Emerald Downs: Harwood holds strong pair for Gottstein Futurity

Erin Palmer/Emerald Downs
Noosito is among the favorites for Sunday's $75,000 Gottstein Futurity.

AUBURN, Wash. – Doris Harwood will try to cap an eventful Emerald Downs meeting Sunday with a victory in a race the trainer has dominated in recent years, the $75,000 Gottstein Futurity. The Gottstein, which attracted a field of 10, including four fillies, serves as Emerald’s traditional championship for 2-year-olds, and with likely favorites Noosito and Del Rio Harbor in her care, Harwood is positioned to win the race for the fourth time in seven years. First post for the 11-race card is 2 p.m. Pacific.

Fri, 09/27/2013 - 16:24

Remington Oaks softer spot for fresh Marathon Lady

Barbara D. Livingston
Fiftyshadesofhay (left) overtakes Marathon Lady in deep stretch of the Black-Eyed Susan.

Marathon Lady has hooked Princess of Sylmar, Close Hatches, and Fiftyshadesofhay in her last three starts. Her life gets easier on Sunday. Marathon Lady will be dropping from Grade 1 company for the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks, one of five undercard stakes supporting the Oklahoma Derby.

Fri, 09/27/2013 - 15:53

Hastings: Hopeseeker stands out in CTHS Sales Stakes

Four-Footed Fotos
Ruby’s Victory is the only stakes winner in the colts and geldings division of the CTHS Sales Stakes Sunday at Hastings.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The two divisions of the $50,000 CTHS Sales Stakes at Hastings on Sunday shape up completely different. In the colts and geldings division, which goes as the seventh race, Hopeseeker is going to be heavily favored to win his first stakes race. In the fillies division, it is hard to take a firm stand on any of the six horses entered.

Fri, 09/27/2013 - 15:52

Santa Anita notes: Quinonez waits on doctors for return to saddle

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

ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey Alonso Quinonez will learn in coming days how long he will be sidelined after suffering a fracture near his tailbone in a spill at Barretts at Fairplex on Sept. 21, the rider said Friday.

Quinonez said he plans to visit doctors Monday and Tuesday to assess his condition.

“I’ll learn how long it will be,” he said. “I don’t want to say next week or two weeks. It depends on the fracture.”

Fri, 09/27/2013 - 15:24

Belmont Park: Miss Behaviour and Gracer go at it again in Matron

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Miss Behaviour, ridden by Garry Cruise, wins the Sorority Stakes by 8 1/4 lengths Sunday at Monmouth Park.

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

ELMONT, N.Y. – On July 22, Phil Schoenthal walked into the paddock at Parx with his unstarted 2-year-old filly Miss Behaviour feeling pretty good about his chances. Well before the race, the filly had a sensational workout at Bowie, one that prompted many phone calls from friends and agents who had heard about it.

Fri, 09/27/2013 - 15:07

Remington Park: Departing streaking into Oklahoma Derby

Lou Hodges Jr.
Departing, winner of the Grade 2 Super Derby, is the likely favorite in Sunday's Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby.

Departing’s connections did not get caught up in Derby fever this spring and instead have employed a conservative campaign. The payoff has been a strong second half for Departing, who comes into Sunday’s Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park in search of his fifth stakes win of the year.

Departing, whose $1.3 million in earnings is greater than the combined bankrolls of his seven rivals, is the marquee horse on a special afternoon program of six stakes worth a total of $975,000. The most important card of the meet includes the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks.

Fri, 09/27/2013 - 14:58

Los Alamitos: Champion Flame N Flash targets repeat win in Mildred Vessels

In 2012, Flame N Flash won the Mildred N. Vessels Handicap at Los Alamitos against older fillies and mares in September, and was later was second by a head in the $750,000 Champion of Champions against older males in December.

Those results were enough for Flame N Flash to be named the champion 3-year-old Quarter Horse filly of 2012. Success in the same races this year could lead to the title of champion aged mare.

Fri, 09/27/2013 - 14:41

Gulfstream: Nicks eager to see how Speechify handles winners in sprint feature

With his stable split between Gulfstream Park and Saratoga this summer and now into the fall, trainer Ralph Nicks has logged a lot of miles overseeing his operation. He also has picked up some new clients and several promising young horses along the way, including the 3-year-old Speechify, who will put his unblemished record on the line in Sunday’s first-level optional $25,000 claiming feature at Gulfstream.

Fri, 09/27/2013 - 14:31

Santa Anita: John Henry rebound spot for Indy Point

Benoit & Associates
Indy Point, Richard Mandella’s best South American runner in years, wins his U.S. debut in the July 24 Wickerr. He runs next in the Arlington Million.

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

ARCADIA, Calif. – Six weeks have passed since Indy Point finished last of 13 as the favorite in the Arlington Million on Aug. 17, a race intended to showcase why he was a star in Argentina in 2012.

Indy Point grabbed both of his front feet when racing in traffic in the Arlington Million and never reached contention.

Fri, 09/27/2013 - 13:58

Churchill Downs notes: Catalano riding hot streak into Keeneland meet

Barbara D. Livingston
Wayne Catalano, whose horses won 10 of 15 starts at the recent Kentucky Downs meet, figures to be among the leading trainers at the upcoming 17-day Keeneland meet.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Wayne Catalano said a friend was curious about what he was doing in recent weeks when his horses went on an incredible 10-for-15 tear at Kentucky Downs.

“I told him, ‘I’m house hunting down there!’ ” joked Catalano. “I mean, I don’t know. We were just fortunate to have a meet like that. You don’t see something like that very often.”

No, you don’t, and not even from a trainer who perennially dominates his home Chicago circuit and generally wins his share wherever he travels, including Kentucky in the spring and fall and Florida in the winter.