Sat, 09/14/2013 - 13:46

Finger Lakes: Shades of Sugar taking on older males in Tuesday allowance

Tom Cooley Photography
Shades of Sugar carries Gabriel Suarez to his third victory on the card in the Niagara for 3-year-old New York-bred fillies.

After easily handling fellow New York-bred fillies in the Niagara Stakes and dominating older female sprinters in an allowance, Shades of Sugar is looking for a new challenge without having to leave her home at Finger Lakes. So, trainer Jonathan Buckley has chosen to allow Shades of Sugar to face older males in Tuesday’s $25,000 feature.

The 3-year-old filly Shades of Sugar, who has delivered four times in five lifetime starts as an odds-on favorite, will clash with five older New York-bred geldings in a six-furlong, third-level allowance.

Sat, 09/14/2013 - 13:15

Delaware Park: Vegas No Show at favorite venue for Ricci Tavi Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Vegas No Show, who has won two of 10 career starts, will be trying turf for the first time in Saturday's $60,000 Jersey Derby.

Vegas No Show has demonstrated his fondness for the main track at Delaware Park with two wins and a near-miss in three visits. So, it seems logical to expect another good performance when Vegas No Show ships in from his base at Monmouth Park for Monday’s $50,000 Ricci Tavi Stakes for 3-year-olds.

The race covers one mile and 70 yards and drew a field of 11, including the coupled entry of Vegas No Show and Kentucky Pie for trainer Kelly Breen and owners George and Lori Hall.

Sat, 09/14/2013 - 12:45

Churchill Downs notes: Wilkes remains confident in inconsistent Fort Larned

Barbara D. Livingston
Fort Larned, most recently fifth as the favorite in the Aug. 3 Whitney, is pointing to the Sept. 28 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – They’re on, then they’re off. Then they’re on . . . and now a lot of people are off the Fort Larned bandwagon again.

Ian Wilkes pays little heed. The trainer of Fort Larned is well aware that the 5-year-old horse has been inconsistent for the last year, mixing in superlative victories in such major races as the Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Stephen Foster Handicap with a handful of disappointments.

Fri, 09/13/2013 - 22:32

Remington: Okie Ride wins grass debut in Turf Sprint

Okie Ride overtook Pucker Up Pete approaching the wire for a 1 1/2-length win in the $50,000 Remington Park Turf Sprint on Friday night. It was Okie Ride’s first start on the grass, and his sixth career stakes win. Pucker Up Pete held second by a neck over Stickcrossmountain.

The Remington Park Turf Sprint was a five-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up bred in Oklahoma.

Fri, 09/13/2013 - 22:20

Barretts at Fairplex: Miss Scatalicious delivers as favorite in Phil Shepherd Stakes

POMONA, Calif. – Miss Scatalicious was not a surprise Friday at the Los Angeles County Fair.

One month after posting a 42-1 upset at Del Mar, Miss Scatalicious raced gate to wire as the even-money favorite in the $50,000 Phil D. Shepherd Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Barretts at Fairplex.

Fri, 09/13/2013 - 17:37

Belmont Park notes: Stakes purses increased

Barbara D. Livingston
Rydilluc, most recently 11th in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes, breezed a half-mile in 49.74 seconds on dirt Thursday at Saratoga.

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ELMONT, N.Y. – Thanks in large part to revenue from the casino at Aqueduct, purses at the Belmont fall meet were increased from last year, including stakes purses, which increased by $1.1 million.

Eighteen of the 31 stakes offered at the Belmont fall meet had their purses increased, most notably Saturday’s Grade 1 Garden City, which was originally worth $350,000 but was upped to $500,000.

Fri, 09/13/2013 - 17:19

Emerald Downs: E Z Kitty headed to Turf Paradise

Erin Palmer/Emerald Downs Photos
E Z Kitty (right), ridden by Anne Sanguinetti, wins the Pegasus Training Center Stakes on Sunday.

AUBURN, Wash. – Having turned back all challengers in her past two starts at Emerald Downs, E Z Kitty left the Pacific Northwest this week, shipping first to Barretts Racing at Fairplex Park in Pomona, Calif., and then on to Turf Paradise in Phoenix, where, if all goes according to plan, she will make her next start in the $35,000 Princess of Palms Stakes on Oct. 12.

Fri, 09/13/2013 - 16:40

Emerald Downs: Juveniles get final prep before closing-day stakes

AUBURN, Wash. – With a pair of season-ending stakes races just two weeks away, a field of five 2-year-old stakes hopefuls will compete Sunday at Emerald Downs in a no-conditions allowance at six furlongs, the featured event on a 10-race card that kicks off at 2 p.m. Pacific.

Fri, 09/13/2013 - 16:29

Florida notes: Trinniberg heading west early for Breeders' Cup

Barbara D. Livingston
Trinniberg will train and prep for the Breeders' Cup in California.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trinniberg’s long journey to defend his title in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint will begin just before midnight Friday, when he steps on a van bound for Ocala. From there, he’ll board a flight to the West Coast, taking up residence for the next six weeks at Santa Anita, where he cemented his championship 2012 campaign with a three-quarter-length decision over The Lumber Guy in the Sprint.

Fri, 09/13/2013 - 15:49

Louisiana Downs: Foster closes in on first training title

Lou Hodges Jr.
Joey Foster held an eight-win lead in the Louisiana Downs trainers' standings through Thursday.

Joey Foster started galloping horses at Louisiana Downs back in 1978. Next weekend, he is expected to win his first career training title at the Bossier City track, which closes its meet Sept. 22.

Foster was up by eight wins heading into Friday’s races. His stable had 39 wins from 205 starters at the meet that opened May 3. The success comes a year after Foster finished second in the trainers’ standings at Louisiana Downs.

“It would be good to get the title,” Foster, 51, said. “It would be an honor to have it.”