Wed, 08/07/2013 - 21:04

Del Mar pick six pays $22,000

DEL MAR, Calif. - The pick six paid $22,636 at Del Mar to 47 ticketholders on Wednesday for a sequence that had only one winning favorite.

The pick six began on Wednesday with a carryover of $265,129 from Sunday. Bettors added $1,486,696 to the pool.

[DEL MAR 2013: Complete meet coverage, schedule, race replays]

The winners of Wednesday’s pick six races were Spring Breeze ($8.60), Clenor ($3.80), Derek’s Girl ($7.20), Wednesday ($19.20), Concave ($8.60) and Suances Pride ($11).

Wed, 08/07/2013 - 21:00

Del Mar: Concave makes it 2 for 2 with Sorrento victory

Benoit & Associates
Concave and jockey Mario Gutierrez hold off She's a Tiger by a half-length to win the Grade 2 Sorrento on Wednesday.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Concave won her stakes debut and remained unbeaten after two starts with a smart win in Wednesday’s $150,500 Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar.

The victory left trainer Doug O’Neill planning a start in the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante over seven furlongs on Aug. 31 for Concave, an Ontario-bred by Colonel John who races for Paul and Zillah Reddam.

[DEL MAR 2013: Complete meet coverage, schedule, race replays]

Wed, 08/07/2013 - 17:30

Del Mar notes: Awesome Baby targets Debutante

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

DEL MAR, Calif. - Awesome Baby, a dazzling debut winner on Sunday for trainer Bob Baffert, will try to head right to the top of the local 2-year-old filly division in her next start, the Grade  1, $300,000 Del Mar Debutante on Aug. 31.

Awesome Baby, a daughter of Awesome Again, ran in Sunday’s race following a five-furlong gate workout earlier that week that caused Baffert to move up her debut.

Wed, 08/07/2013 - 17:12

Saratoga: West Hills Giant wins New York Stallion Series Stakes by DQ

Tom Keyser
West Hills Giant (No. 2) won the New York Stallion Series Stakes on Wednesday at Saratoga after Orino was disqualified.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – What appeared to be a courageous, game victory by Orino turned into a frustrating defeat after the lightly raced New York-bred was disqualified from first and placed second behind odds-on favorite West Hills Giant in Wednesday’s $100,000 New York Stallion Series Stakes at Saratoga.

Orino led throughout, then turned back a bid from the 3-5 West Hills Giant to cross the finish line 1 1/4 lengths clear in the one-mile Stallion Stakes, run on the inner turf course.

Wed, 08/07/2013 - 17:01

Del Mar: Delegation invading from Canada for Pacific Classic

Michael Burns
Delegation received a 110 Beyer Speed Figure for his 9 1/4-length win in the Dominion Day.

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

DEL MAR, Calif. - Delegation, winner of the Grade 3 Dominion Day Stakes at Woodbine in track-record time July 1, will run in the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 25, trainer Mark Casse said.

Owned by Southern California resident Gary Barber, Delegation, a 4-year-old gelding by Speightstown, won the Dominion Day by 9  1/4 lengths, leading throughout. He finished 1 1/4 miles on a Polytrack synthetic surface in 2:01.51.

Wed, 08/07/2013 - 16:57

Saratoga: Wise Dan draws rail again for Fourstardave

Tom Keyser
Wise Dan, with John Velazquez guiding him, wins the Fourstardave.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Wise Dan won the 2012 Fourstardave Handicap from post 1, and if he’s going to successfully defend his title Saturday, he’ll do it breaking from the rail once again.

Wise Dan drew post 1 in a field of seven turf specialists set to go one mile over the inner turf in the Grade 2 Fourstardave. The reigning Horse of the Year will carry a staggering 129-pound impost, conceding 11 to 14 pounds to his rivals.

The competition, in post-position order, is Skyring (118), Za Approval (118), Mr. Commons (117), Willyconker (115), King Kreesa (117), and Lea (117).

Wed, 08/07/2013 - 16:41

Saratoga: Contessa has eyes on the skies for Rydilluc

Barbara D. Livingston
Rydilluc is undefeated in four turf starts, including the Penn Mile.

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

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Gary Contessa was in a good mood Wednesday morning until someone brought up the weather forecast for Friday.

“I don’t read the newspaper and I don’t watch weather reports,” Contessa said as he was driving to Belmont Park to check on his string down there.

Wed, 08/07/2013 - 16:33

Del Mar: Freakin Rocket gets second chance in La Jolla

Benoit & Associates
The La Jolla at 1 1/16 miles on turf will be the longest race for Freakin Rocket.

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

DEL MAR, Calif. – Proven in sprints, Freakin Rocket will be given a second opportunity to show he can run around two turns in Saturday’s $150,000 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar.

Wed, 08/07/2013 - 16:30

Emerald Downs: Longacres Mile nominations list filled with Californians

Erin Palmer/Emerald Downs
Jebrica will try to find his way back to the winner's circle in the Muckleshoot.

AUBURN, Wash. – The Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile could have a distinct California flavor for its 78th running Aug. 18 at Emerald Downs.

Emerald Downs unveiled the list of 28 nominees this week, and track officials said they expect a full field of 12. The nominees include 14 graded stakes winners, three of whom – Fed Biz, Liaison, and Drill – are conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who captured the first Emerald Downs running of the Longacres Mile with Isitingood in 1996.

Wed, 08/07/2013 - 15:30

Saratoga: Stephanie's Kitten out of Beverly D. with hind-end problem

Stephanie’s Kitten, among the leaders of the older filly and mare turf division, will skip the Grade 1 Beverly D. on Aug. 17 at Arlington Park due to a hind-end issue, her connections said Wednesday.

Trainer Wayne Catalano was not pleased with how Stephanie’s Kitten trained on Wednesday in Saratoga. On Thursday, she was to be sent by van from Saratoga to the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky. for a nuclear scan.