Fri, 09/06/2013 - 13:32

Hastings: B.C. Derby runs through MacPherson duo

Four Footed Fotos
Bluegrass Pride, ridden by Richard Hamel, wins the Richmond Derby Trial by three-quarters of a length over Tracker on Sunday.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – There is an excellent chance trainer Craig MacPherson will win his second straight Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby at Hastings on Sunday. Last year, he won his first B.C. Derby with Second City. This year, he’ll saddle the 5-2 morning-line favorite Reporting Star and the 7-2 second choice Bluegrass Pride.

Fri, 09/06/2013 - 12:56

Presque Isle Downs Mile has sharp favorite in Hogy

Barbara D. Livingston
Hogy and jockey Joe Rocco Jr. win the Troy Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths Wednesday.

Hogy, who has won two of his last three starts, has been made the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the $250,000 Presque Isle Mile on Sunday evening at Presque Isle Downs. The Presque Isle Mile, a one-mile race on the synthetic Tapeta surface for 3-year-olds and up, highlights the first of the two biggest days of the meet, capped by the Grade 2, $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters on Monday.

Fri, 09/06/2013 - 12:44

Penn National: Otero collects 2,000th career victory

B&D Photography
William Otero celebrates as he crosses the finish line aboard favored Burst Away in a turf race at Penn National.

Jockey William Otero won the 2,000th race of his career aboard 7-5 favorite Burst Away in Thursday night’s second race at Penn National.

Otero, 38, grew up in Puerto Rico and came to the United States in 1995, riding initially at Tampa Bay Downs. He made an impact after moving his tack in 2003 to Penn National, where he was the leading rider in 2004, 2008, and 2009. Otero is 13th all-time at Penn National with 1,475 victories.

Fri, 09/06/2013 - 11:56

Churchill Downs: Irish Sea continues comeback in Sunday turf feature

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Turf racing at Churchill Downs will be limited at the new 12-day September meet, with an average of less than one race per card having been written into the condition book by racing secretary Ben Huffman.

Fri, 09/06/2013 - 09:03

Fort Erie: Buttigieg’s compact barn has gaudy win rate

FORT ERIE, Ontario – When Nootsie’s Party won Tuesday’s 10th race at Fort Erie, it capped off a great week for the 36-year-old trainer Kevin Buttigieg, which included an easy win by Catch the Luck in the Puss n Boots Cup Stakes last Sunday.

Buttigieg has a record of 5-2-2 in 11 starts at the Fort Erie meeting, a 45-percent win rate, and his small stable was certainly enhanced with the $8,000 claim at Woodbine of the 8-year-old gelding Catch the Luck.

Fri, 09/06/2013 - 08:36

Woodbine: Awfully Sinful looks solid in feature

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – An overnight stakes for Sunday at Woodbine failed to fill, leaving a first-level allowance race for fillies and mares as the nominal feature. Awfully Sinful could rule the roost in the 1 1/16-mile event, which is carded as race eight on a 10-race card.

Awfully Sinful went on a mini-roll in the spring, when she romped in both a $20,000 conditioned claimer and an open $25,000 claiming contest, both at 1 1/16 miles. Following a break of nearly two months, she rallied five wide from seventh Aug. 11 to finish second in an allowance race on a speed-favoring track.

Thu, 09/05/2013 - 17:37

Belmont Park: The Lumber Guy targets Vosburgh

Barbara D. Livingston
The Lumber Guy will try to win the Grade 1 Vosburgh for the second straight year Sept. 28.

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ELMONT, N.Y. – The Lumber Guy, who finished second in his return from a six-month layoff, worked a half-mile in 47.90 seconds Thursday over the training track at Belmont Park. He is preparing for a start Sept. 28 in the Grade 1 Vosburgh Invitational, a race he won last year before finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

On Thursday, The Lumber Guy went his first quarter-mile in 24.21 seconds and came through the lane in 23.69.

Thu, 09/05/2013 - 17:11

Churchill Downs: Locust Grove Handicap right in Flashy American's comfort zone

Barbara D. Livingston
Flashy American has been invited to the Grade 1 Personal Ensign, her trainer said.

Ten fillies and mares are entered in the Grade 3, $100,000 Locust Grove at 1 1/16 miles on the Churchill Downs main track – conditions that play to the strength of favored Flashy American.

A late-developing filly who did not win a maiden race until her 11th start last July at Saratoga for a $25,000 claiming tag, Flashy American has since steadily moved up in class with success, becoming a multiple stakes winner and graded-placed.

The reason for her development? Trainer Ken McPeek found her niche.

“Going two turns on the dirt, she’s hickory,” McPeek said.

Thu, 09/05/2013 - 17:02

Gulfstream Park new host for Florida Sire Stakes

The six races of the Florida Sire Stakes will be held at Gulfstream Park in 2014 after 32 years of being run at Gulfstream’s crosstown Miami rival, Calder Race Course, officials said on Thursday.