Sat, 06/29/2013 - 16:23

Parx Racing: Pianist tries to follow up breakthrough win in Penny Memorial

Barbara D. Livingston
Pianist wins the Gallorette under an aggressive ride by Mike Smith, giving trainer Chad Brown a repeat in the race.

One sees it regularly. Race after race, a horse takes strangely heavy betting action, going off at odds far below fair value. Race after race, the horse lets down its mysterious legion of backers. The money finally goes elsewhere – and that’s the day the horse finally breaks out.

Sat, 06/29/2013 - 15:56

Mountaineer Park: Russell Road might make turf debut in Independence Day Stakes

Mike Montgomery
Russell Road, under Luis Perez, collects his 23rd lifetime victory in the A Huevo for West Virginia-breds.

Independence Day arrives two days early at Mountaineer Park with a pair of $75,000 turf stakes.

Since the track is dark Wednesday and Thursday, the holiday celebration is set for Tuesday night, with a nine-race card starting at 7.

It kicks off with a bang, with the one-mile stakes occupying the first two races on the program: the Independence Day followed by the Firecracker for fillies and mares. Both proved popular at the entry box, with full fields of 12 for both and several more sitting on the also-eligible lists.

Sat, 06/29/2013 - 15:49

Hastings: Bluegrass Pride to make stakes debut in Chris Loseth on rich card

Four Footed Fotos
Evelyn's Dancer will try to bounce back from a disappointing effort in the Monashee Stakes on Monday at Hasings.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Bluegrass Pride will try to establish himself as the leader of the local 3-year-old division when he runs in the $50,000 Chris Loseth Handicap at Hastings on Monday.

The 1 1/16-mile Loseth drew eight horses and is part of a stakes-rich Canada Day card that includes the $50,000 Lieutenant Governors’ for 3-year-olds and up, the $50,000 Supernaturel for 3-year-old fillies, and the $50,000 Monashee for fillies and mares.

Sat, 06/29/2013 - 15:26

Northlands Park: Zippy Request should like shorter trip in Monday allowance

Zippy Request looks like the one to catch in a first-level allowance race for fillies and mares that will serve as the Canada Day feature at Northlands Park on Monday. The six-furlong sprint goes as race 7 on the eight-race card, which begins at 1 p.m. Mountain.

Trained by Rod Cone, Zippy Request was running above her conditions when she set an honest pace before tiring to finish fourth in a second-level allowance race going 6 1/2 furlongs June 22. She should appreciate the easier company and the slightly shorter distance Monday.

Sat, 06/29/2013 - 15:20

Woodbine: Alpha Bettor gets distance test in Dominion Day

Michael Burns
Alpha Bettor wins the Eclipse Stakes in his first start of the year on May 12. He will stretch out from 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/4 miles in the Dominion Day.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Alpha Bettor defeated the leading older Polytrack routers at Woodbine on May 12 in the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes. He will test his skills over 1 1/4 miles on the Canada Day holiday Monday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Dominion Day Stakes.

Alpha Bettor had been idle for six months when he won the 1 1/16-mile Eclipse over Delegation and James Street. At 13-1, he was the second-longest price in the five-horse field.

Sat, 06/29/2013 - 15:15

Hastings: Shrug out for another stakes win in Lieutenant Governors’

Four-Footed Fotos
Frank Fuentes rides Shrug to victory in the the George Royal Stakes.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Shrug will be looking for his third stakes win in his fourth start at the meet when he runs in the $50,000 Lieutenant Governors’ at Hastings on Monday. The Canada Day feature for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses and headlines a 10-race card that includes the Monashee for fillies and mares, the Chris Loseth for 3-year-olds, and the Supernaturel for 3-year-old fillies. All four races are worth $50,000 and will be contested over 1 1/16 miles.

Sat, 06/29/2013 - 15:03

Gulfstream Park summer meet dramatically alters Florida circuit

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The landscape of the south Florida racing circuit will change dramatically beginning Monday, when Gulfstream Park ushers in a new era and opens its 2013 summer meeting amid the turmoil of a dates conflict with neighboring Calder Race Course.

Sat, 06/29/2013 - 13:51

Assiniboia Downs: Lil Missknowitall stretching out in Canada Day

Lil Missknowitall has dominated her opposition in two starts at Assiniboia Downs, capturing the prep for the La Verendrye Stakes and the stakes itself by a combined 12 1/4 lengths.

Those wins at 5 1/2 and six furlongs were accomplished in front-running fashion, and on Monday, Lil Missknowitall will be trying a mile for the first time in the $30,000 Canada Day Stakes.

Lil Missknowitall will carry 123 pounds as she faces five rivals in the Canada Day, which goes as the seventh of eight races on a holiday Monday card that begins at 1:30 p.m. local time.

Sat, 06/29/2013 - 13:33

Churchill Downs notes: Groupie Doll has first workout of year

Tom Keyser
Groupie Doll worked three furlongs in 35.80 seconds at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Eclipse Award winner Groupie Doll had her first workout of the year when breezing three furlongs early Saturday in 35.80 seconds over a fast Churchill Downs track.

Trainer Buff Bradley said he was very pleased with the move, which came with jockey John McKee in the saddle. Groupie Doll, the top female sprinter of 2012, eased back into training in early May after getting almost three months off at Bradley’s farm.

Sat, 06/29/2013 - 13:14

Woodbine: Frostad, Casse send out Queen's Plate workers

Michael Burns
Pyrite Mountain, winner of the Wando Stakes, will make his next start in the Queen’s Plate on July 7.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Pyrite Mountain and County Lineman, both trained by Mark Frostad, breezed six furlongs in 1:12.20 on the main track here Saturday in preparation for next Sunday’s $1 million Queen’s Plate.

Trainer Mark Casse sent out two of his Queen’s Plate hopefuls to work five furlongs on the main track, with Dynamic Sky clocked in 1:01 and Spring in the Air going in 1:00.80.

Pyrite Mountain and County Lineman worked in company, with Luis Contreras aboard Pyrite Mountain and apprentice Nick Webb on County Lineman.