Thu, 06/27/2013 - 16:45

Churchill Downs: Ramseys set record for victories at a meet

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ken and Sarah Ramsey set another record at a Kentucky track when The Sixties won the fifth race Thursday at Churchill Downs under their familiar red and white silks, breaking the former mark set nearly 30 years ago during a much longer meet.

Thu, 06/27/2013 - 16:41

Emerald Downs: Harwood to run first-time starters Del Rio Harbor, Kenai King on Saturday

AUBURN, Wash. – While there is no stakes race this weekend at Emerald Downs, a band of potential stakes-caliber horses will be on display Saturday in the day’s fourth race, a 4 1/2-furlong dash for 2-year-old maidens. Harbor the Gold, the Northwest’s leading stallion, will be represented by four of the eight entrants, and the field includes the siblings of three recent Emerald Downs stakes winners.

Thu, 06/27/2013 - 16:32

Del Mar's Torrey Pines best summer option for Beholder

Barbara D. Livingston
Beholder (right), second in the Kentucky Oaks, will not ship to Saratoga for the Test in August, a plan trainer Richard Mandella had been considering.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Beholder, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2012, has resumed training after a second-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 3 and will make her next start at Del Mar this summer.

Trainer Richard Mandella said Thursday that Beholder is being pointed to the $100,000 Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over a mile on the synthetic main track Sept. 1. Mandella said he had considered sending Beholder to Saratoga for a race such as the $500,000 Test Stakes on Aug. 24, but is leaning against that plan.

Thu, 06/27/2013 - 16:32

Arlington Park: Aubby K prepping in Chicago Handicap

Barbara D. Livingston
Aubby K (second from right) wins the Humana Distaff.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Not to belittle the Chicago Handicap, but Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 race at Arlington Park merely is a means to an end for morning-line favorite Aubby K. Aubby K won the Grade 1 Humana Distaff on Kentucky Derby Day in her most recent start, and her connections have their eye on the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes on Aug. 23 at Saratoga.

Thu, 06/27/2013 - 16:14

History answers: Swaps the gold standard of the Golden State

Hollywood Park photo
Swaps wins the Hollywood Gold Cup in 1956, when he was named Horse of the Year.

See the questions HERE.

1. M. A. “Mesh” Tenney met Rex Ellsworth in 1915, when the Tenney family moved back to Arizona from Mexico and went to work for the Ellsworth Ranch.

Thu, 06/27/2013 - 16:10

Hollywood Park: Comma to the Top won't back down if challenged in Triple Bend

Benoit & Associates
Comma to the Top will try to carry his speed seven furlongs in the Grade 1 Triple Bend Handicap.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Comma to the Top earned a fan in jockey Edwin Maldonado when the gelding won the Tom Fool Handicap by a nose at Aqueduct on March 2.

Watching from Southern California, Maldonado was impressed the way that Comma to the Top fought off persistent challengers through the stretch.

“It was the way he did it,” Maldonado said. “He had horses inside and outside of him and fought back and won. He never had a chance to relax.”

Thu, 06/27/2013 - 16:10

Calder: Where's Sterling, Isutalkintome would benefit from rain in Saturday allowance

Coady Photography
Where’s Sterling, who has not raced since finishing eighth in the Pacific Classic last August, will run in Saturday's allowance only if it is rained off the turf.

MIAMI – The weather will go a long way in determining Where’s Sterling’s imminent future. It will go even further in determining the outcome of Saturday’s $40,000 allowance feature, which is scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Where’s Sterling, who has not started since finishing a distant eighth behind Dullahan in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic last August, will compete in Saturday’s headliner only if the race is switched to the main track due to inclement weather. If not, he also is nominated for the six-furlong, Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap here the following weekend.

Thu, 06/27/2013 - 15:57

Northlands Park: Commander gets more ground in Spangled Jimmy

Four-Footed Fotos
Commander will go three turns in Saturday's $50,000 Spangled Jimmy at Northlands Park.

Commander will appreciate getting a chance to go around three turns for the first time this year in Saturday’s $50,000 Spangled Jimmy at Northlands Park. The one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up attracted eight horses, but if Commander regains the form he had at Northlands last year, he is going to be tough to beat.

Thu, 06/27/2013 - 15:49

Belmont Park: Pletcher has three for Victory Ride

Barbara D. Livingston
Kauai Katie stumbled at the start of the Acorn, found herself behind a crowd of horses for the first time, and ran third.

Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Victory Ride Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park goes through the Todd Squad, as Todd Pletcher sends out the favored Stonestreet Stables entry of Kauai Katie and Teen Pauline, as well as second choice Fusaichiswonderful.

Fusaichiswonderful won four graded stakes in Puerto Rico, but otherwise Kauai Katie boasts all four of the field’s graded stakes wins on the mainland, having garnered the Adirondack and Matron as a juvenile, and the Old Hat and Forward Gal at Gulfstream Park in January.

Thu, 06/27/2013 - 15:44

Woodbine notes: Baker targets fifth Bison City Stakes win with Big Brown Brookski

Michael Burns
I’m a Kittyhawk will stretch out to two turns in Sunday’s Bison City.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Reade Baker has enjoyed some happy hunting in the Bison City Stakes, taking the 1999 renewal with Synchronized when the stakes was run at Fort Erie and winning the race here with Touchnow in 2005, Free Fee Lady in 2010, and Bear It’s Time in 2011.

On Sunday, Baker will be looking to become the first trainer to send out five Bison City winners when Big Brown Brookski goes postward in the $250,000 race for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Big Brown Brooksi, who races for Jim and Susan Hill, did not see action as a 2-year-old.