Wed, 07/17/2013 - 16:04

Northlands Park: Tell Me Lies, Canaveral Leader renew rivalry in Sales Stakes

Tell Me Lies and Canaveral Leader will renew acquaintances in Friday’s $50,000 Three and Four Year Old Fillies Sales Stakes at Northlands Park. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew five horses and features a rematch between the 3-year-old fillies Tell Me Lies and Canaveral Leader, who were lapped onto each other for the whole six furlongs in the $50,000 Chariot Chaser on June 15. Tell Me Lies began to edge away approaching the wire and won by three-quarters of a length.

Wed, 07/17/2013 - 16:03

Delaware Handicap: Royal Delta seeks repeat vs. five challengers

Barbara D. Livingston
Royal Delta is the 123-pound highweight and defending champion in the 1 1/4-mile Delaware Handicap.

Defending champion Royal Delta was assigned post 3 among a field of six fillies and mares entered to run Saturday in the Grade 1, $750,000 Delaware Handicap, the annual showcase event at Delaware Park.

Royal Delta, with Mike Smith to ride, will carry high weight of 123 pounds as a solid favorite in the 1 1/4-mile race when she tries to rebound off a disappointing comeback in the June 15 Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs, where she finished a distant second.

Wed, 07/17/2013 - 16:03

Monmouth Park: Haskell next stop for Golden Soul

Barbara D. Livingston
Kentucky Derby runner-up Golden Soul skipped the Virginia Derby for the Haskell.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Golden Soul, the longshot runner-up in the Kentucky Derby, was withheld from the Virginia Derby on the grass at Colonial Downs last weekend to run instead in the July 29 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.

Trainer Dallas Stewart said early this week before leaving Louisville for Saratoga that he did not want to risk a second straight subpar race for his stable star. The colt ran ninth in the June 8 Belmont Stakes in his only start since the Kentucky Derby.

Wed, 07/17/2013 - 16:02

Del Mar: Sprouts targets second stakes win in CTBA

Shigeki Kikkawa
Sprouts wins the Cinderella at Hollywood Park by 3 1/2 lengths.

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DEL MAR, Calif. – With a stakes win at the Betfair Hollywood Park meeting last month, the diminutive Sprouts has already outgrown expectations for the first months of her 2-year-old season.

“She’d be lucky if she goes 950,” trainer Edward Freeman said. “She’s not big.”

Wed, 07/17/2013 - 15:58

Saratoga: Princess of Sylmar well rested for Coaching Club American Oaks

Tom Keyser
Princess of Sylmar, training at Saratoga, will use Saturday's Coaching Club American Oaks as a stepping-stone to next month's Alabama.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Away from the races since her 38-1 upset in the Kentucky Oaks 11 weeks ago, Princess of Sylmar returns to action Saturday against just four rivals in the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga, the first of 18 Grade 1 races to be run at the meet.

Wed, 07/17/2013 - 15:58

Monmouth: Tap It Easy tries two turns, turf in allowance co-feature

OCEANPORT, N.J. – There are several intriguing 3-year-old fillies in the co-featured $42,000 first-level allowances on Friday at Monmouth Park.

First up comes the 1 1/16-mile race on the turf, where Tap It Easy makes her first start for trainer Ben Perkins Jr.

One race later, the action shifts to the main track at one mile, 70 yards as Lucky Rag Doll, a blowout maiden winner, stretches out for the Pat McBurney barn.

Tap It Easy started twice in Florida earlier this year for trainer Chad Brown, both times on dirt against statebreds at seven furlongs.

Wed, 07/17/2013 - 15:50

Saratoga: Asmussen has strong contender in Schuylerville

Barbara D. Livingston
Bahnah, who won her career debut at Churchill Downs going 4 1/2 furlongs for trainer Bret Calhoun, will face the Steve Asmussen-trained Brazen Persuasion in the Schuylerville.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Coming off a Churchill Downs meet in which he won 11 races restricted to juveniles, trainer Steve Asmussen comes to Saratoga with a strong hand to play in the sextet of 2-year-old stakes.

[SARATOGA 2013: Complete meet coverage, exclusive DRF videos]

Wed, 07/17/2013 - 15:47

Louisiana Downs notes: Burress beginning to gain momentum

BOSSIER CITY, La. – For someone just six months removed from back surgery, jockey Beverly Burress is getting around pretty good these days. So good in fact, that the 28-year-old Shreveport, La., native is starting to win at the rate that produced a top-10 finish in the rider standings at Louisiana Downs in 2012 when she made 27 trips to the winner’s circle.

“I feel great,” Burress said. “I’ve got my legs back now and my timing is getting better every day.”

Wed, 07/17/2013 - 15:44

Hastings: Ole's Miss impresses in Boulevard Casino victory

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Ole’s Miss made the kind of sweeping move to win the $50,000 Boulevard Casino Stakes not seen very often at Hastings, especially by a 2-year-old filly.

Wed, 07/17/2013 - 15:19

Saratoga: Souper Speedy one to beat in James Marvin Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Souper Speedy (left) was placed first in the Jaipur Stakes after stablemate Big Screen was disqualified for interference.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – He may not be quite as hot as the weather will be on opening day at Saratoga, but Souper Speedy has been hot enough of late to be considered the one to beat in Friday’s Grade 3, $100,000 James Marvin Stakes.