SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Justin Phillip became a Grade 1 winner while further muddling the already wide-open picture in the sprint division when rallying for a decisive two-length victory over Bahamian Squall in Sunday’s $400,000 Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga.
Delaunay, the 8-5 favorite in a compact field of five, finished fourth after vying for the lead throughout.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Smartyfly ($13.40) led virtually all the way in Sunday’s $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes, which was marred by the fatal breakdown of Woodbine Oaks winner Nipissing.
Smartyfly was hounded by the favored Spring in the Air throughout the 1 1/4-mile turf route while setting moderate fractions of 25.90 seconds, 50, and 1:14.07 over firm ground. Spring in the Air drew alongside her in the stretch, but Smartyfly repelled her bid in the final furlong and draw clear to score by three lengths in 2:03.27.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Marketing Mix remains on schedule for the $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington Park on Aug. 17, but there is a chance she could remain in California and face males later this month.
After watching Marketing Mix work five furlongs in 1:00.20 on Sunday, trainer Tom Proctor said the $200,000 Del Mar Handicap on turf Aug. 24 or the Pacific Classic the following day are possibilities.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Lady of Fifty won her first Grade 1 race in the $300,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on Saturday, earning a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at Santa Anita in November and proving her status among California’s top older females.
The flipside is what awaits her this fall.
“Looks like we get to run into Royal Delta,” trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer said.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Royal Delta, the reigning older female champion, and Princess of Sylmar, the leader of this year’s 3-year-old filly division, topped a busy work tab Sunday at Saratoga.
In her first work since winning the Delaware Handicap by 10 3/4 lengths July 20, Royal Delta breezed four furlongs in 48.08 seconds over the Oklahoma training track. Royal Delta is pointing to the Grade 1 Personal Ensign here Aug. 25.
Yes I’m Lucky broke alertly from the No. 1 post and contested the pace every step of the way in the $59,200 Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday, surviving a stretch duel with stablemate Run for Logistics to win by 1 3/4 lengths and remain undefeated.
Yes I’m Lucky, with Paco Lopez aboard, finished the five-furlong test on good turf in 56.93 seconds. He paid $5.20 as the favorite in a field of five juveniles. The Yes It’s True colt stamped himself as a major contender for the Grade 3 Sapling Stakes for juveniles going six furlongs at Monmouth Park on Sept. 1.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Youcan’tcatchme, living up to her name, bounced out of the gate from her outside post and led her six rivals in a merry chase in Sunday’s $100,600 Etobicoke Stakes.
Trained by Sam DiPasquale and making her first start since Nov. 16, she was ridden for the first time by Justin Stein. Youcan’tcatchme prevailed by 2 1/4 lengths and stopped the clock in 1:09.28 in the six-furlong race for fillies and mares.
“I’d seen her race and worked in company with her,” Stein said. “She’s a beautiful filly. Sam just said, ‘Put her in the race,’ which is what I did.”
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Alpha Bettor won the Grade 3 Seagram Cup for the second straight time here Saturday. But the story of the race was Ultimate Destiny, owned and trained by Alec Fehr, who finished second but was declared a non-starter when the stewards ruled that his gate had opened prematurely, creating an unfair advantage.
All wagers were refunded, and Fehr was out $36,000 as a result of the decision.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Ian Wilkes, the trainer of beaten Whitney Invitational favorite Fort Larned, believes that if you ran the same horses back a month from now, there would be a different winner.
His theory may very well be put to the test in the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward on Aug. 31.
ALTOONA, Iowa – Cainam turned backed the clock when using a prolonged closing bid from the back of the pack to reel in the determined pacesetter Ice Hockey and take the $95,200 Ralph Hayes on Iowa Classic night Saturday.
Under jockey Terry Thompson, the 6-year-old Jon Arnett-trained Cainam ($15.80), who had won the 2011 Ralph Hayes, bided his time before circling six of his seven rivals around the far turn and taking aim at Ice Hockey as he reached the eighth pole. Ice Hockey proved a stubborn foe, as Cainam only managed to wear him down by a half-length in the last 40 yards.
