Sat, 08/03/2013 - 18:26

Gulfstream Park: Black Diamond Cat springs $40 upset in Housebuster

Beth Arkin
Black Diamond Cat upsets the Housebuster under jockey Luca Panici.

Black Diamond Cat snapped a 19-race losing streak with his victory in the Ponche Handicap on June 8. Eight weeks and two starts later he was back in the winner’s circle after soundly beating a stellar field that included two Grade 1 winners in Saturday’s $100,000 Housebuster at Gulfstream Park.

Black Diamond Cat, a 6-year-old son of Wildcat Heir owned by Bluestone Thoroughbreds, benefitted from a perfectly judged ride by Luca Panici, who is now 2 for 3 aboard Black Diamond Cat since being teamed up with the veteran gelding for the first time by trainer Larry Bates in the Ponche.

Sat, 08/03/2013 - 18:10

Calder: Balino runs away from rivals in Naked Greed

Coady Photography
Balino, ridden by Orlando Bocachica, scores a front-running victory in the Naked Greed.

Balino dictated the terms throughout to take the $75,000 Naked Greed by six lengths Saturday at Calder Race Course. Statutorial was second in the 7 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds run over yielding turf, while it was another 4 1/2 lengths back in third to Midnight Cello.

Backseat Memories, the favorite off a dead-heat win in the $75,000 Showing Up at Gulfstream Park, was ninth. The Showing Up co-winner, Grand Tito, finished fifth.

Sat, 08/03/2013 - 18:07

Whitney: Cross Traffic holds off Successful Dan at Saratoga

Barbara D. Livingston
Cross Traffic scores a front-running Whitney win under John Velazquez.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - At the three-sixteenths pole of Saturday’s 86th Whitney Invitational Handicap, Cross Traffic had turned back Fort Larned and Mucho Macho Man - the 1-2 finishers from last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic - and opened up a two-length lead.

In the middle of the track, however, Successful Dan was continuing a bid that had begun entering the far turn.

Sat, 08/03/2013 - 17:54

Mountaineer: Taptowne survives inquiry to capture West Virginia Govenor's Stakes

Coady Photography
Taptowne, ridden by Calvin Borel, scores as the favorite in the $200,000 West Virginia Governor's Stakes.

CHESTER, W.Va. – Calvin Borel got a head start on an unforgettable week when he guided Taptowne to a two-length victory Saturday in the $200,000 West Virginia Governor’s Stakes, the richest undercard event on the all-stakes West Virginia Derby card at Mountaineer Racetrack.

Sat, 08/03/2013 - 17:02

Woodbine: Alpha Bettor repeats in Seagram Cup at 7-2

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Alpha Bettor won the Grade 3 Seagram Cup Stakes for the second year in a row Saturday at Woodbine, as a 7-2 overlay under Justin Stein.

Alpha Bettor stalked the leaders along the inside in the mile and a sixteenth route, as Ultimate Destiny set moderate fractions while being tracked by Awesome Overture. Alpha Bettor awaited room on the far turn, and then wore down Ultimate Destiny in the final furlong while closing along the rail to prevail by three-quarters of a length, in 1:43.63.

Sat, 08/03/2013 - 16:56

Finger Lakes: Talk Therapy earns first stakes win in Genesee Valley Breeders' Handicap

Tom Cooley Photography
The 7-year-old Talk Therapy, ridden by John Davila Jr., scores in the Genesee Valley Breeders' Handicap for New York-breds.

Talk Therapy, claimed as a 6-year-old last summer for $7,500, became a stakes winner Saturday when he drew clear in the stretch and held off a bid by heavily favored Fox Rules to win the $50,000 Genesee Valley Breeders’ Handicap for New York-breds at Finger Lakes.

Since he was taken by leading trainer Chris Englehart on behalf of My Purple Haze Stables last Aug. 24, Talk Therapy has 4 wins and 4 seconds in 11 starts. He tuned up for the Genesee Valley by winning an allowance by a neck on July 22.

Sat, 08/03/2013 - 16:52

Mountaineer: Ramseys win President’s Cup with Prissy

CHESTER, W.Va. – The hot streak for Ken and Sarah Ramsey and Mike Maker is not limited to Kentucky or New York.

The dominant owners were represented by another winner Saturday when Prissy held off a race-long challenge from Soft Whisper to capture the $100,000 West Virginia Senate President’s Cup, part of an all-stakes, nine-race card at Mountaineer Park.

Sat, 08/03/2013 - 16:46

Woodbine: On Rainbow Bridge takes Nandi for second stakes win

Michael Burns
On Rainbow Bridge (right), with Skye Chernetz riding, holds off her competitors in the Nandi.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - On Rainbow Bridge ($5.50) notched her consecutive second stakes Saturday at Woodbine in the $125,400 Nandi, a six-furlong dash for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies.

Skye Chernetz, riding without her apprentice allowance, had On Rainbow Bridge stalking the leaders in a three-wide position in third on the turn. She hit the front nearing the eighth pole, and then held off Paladin Bay to score by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:10.36. Lia’s Miracle finished another two lengths back in third in the nine-horse field.

Sat, 08/03/2013 - 16:13

Saratoga notes: King Kreesa gears up to take on Wise Dan

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
King Kreesa, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., led from start to finish in the Grade 3 Poker Handicap at Belmont Park on Thursday, winning by 1 1/2 lengths.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Jeremiah Englehart knows taking on Wise Dan is a tall task, but he also knows that his New York-bred King Kreesa deserves the opportunity to run in next weekend’s Grade 2, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga.