Sat, 08/31/2013 - 21:47

Del Mar: Blinkers help She's a Tiger take Del Mar Debutante

Benoit & Associates
Gary Stevens guides She's a Tiger to her third win in four starts in the Del Mar Debutante.

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.”

Sat, 08/31/2013 - 19:32

Del Mar: Summer Hit proves uncatchable in Harry Brubaker Stakes

Benoit & Associates
Summer Hit, ridden by Edwin Maldonado, collects his third career stakes victory in the Harry Brubaker.

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.

Sat, 08/31/2013 - 19:14

Arlington: Willcox Inn's nose hits wire first in Washington Park Handicap

Four-Footed Fotos
Willcox Inn (5), with James Graham aboard, launches his winning rally to just beat Gallant Eagle in the Washington Park Handicap.

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.”

Sat, 08/31/2013 - 19:10

Saratoga: Alpha all the way in Woodward

John Bambury
Alpha, on the rail with rider John Velazquez, holds on to his lead to defeat Flat Out in the Woodward.

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.

Sat, 08/31/2013 - 18:36

Saratoga: Strapping Groom hangs on to win Forego

Tom Keyser
Strapping Groom, ridden by Junior Alvarado, gets a Grade 1 victory in the Forego.

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.

Sat, 08/31/2013 - 17:44

Saratoga: Silver Max goes gate to wire in Bernard Baruch

Barbara D. Livingston
Silver Max, under Robby Albarado, did just fine on Saratoga’s yielding turf.

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?

Sat, 08/31/2013 - 17:24

Gulfstream Park: Angelica Zapata strong in Wasted Tears win

Coglianese/Kenny Martin
Angelica Zapata, with Juan Leyva riding, wins the Wasted Tears for her eighth victory from 23 starts.

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.

Sat, 08/31/2013 - 17:06

Woodbine: Youcan’tcatchme leads throughout in Seaway

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.

Sat, 08/31/2013 - 17:01

Saratoga: Honor Code's impressive debut may send him to Champagne

Barbara D. Livingston
Honor Code comes from nearly 23 lengths behind under John Velazquez to win his career debut going seven furlongs.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Last year, trainer Shug McGaughey unveiled a good-looking 2-year-old who rallied from out of the clouds to finish a good third in his debut. That horse, Orb, would go on to win this year’s Kentucky Derby.

Sat, 08/31/2013 - 16:24

Saratoga: Hopeful has three making third start of meet

Tom Keyser
For Wired Bryan, the Hopeful will be his fourth start in 11 weeks.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In an era when horsemen prefer more time between races, a trio of 2-year-olds will be making their third start of the 40-day meet in an intriguing renewal of the Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga on Monday.