Sun, 03/03/2013 - 17:55

Aqueduct: Went the Day Well finishes fifth in comeback after breathing issue

Went the Day Well bombed as the 1-2 favorite in a second-level New York-bred allowance race at Aqueduct, finishing fifth in a six-horse field.

Afterward, Team Valor International, the primary owner of Went the Day Well, posted a release on its Twitter account that said jockey Junior Alvarado said the horse was having breathing issues.

The release further stated that a post-race examination showed the beginnings of possibly paralysis of the left vocal cord.

Sun, 03/03/2013 - 17:51

Aqueduct: Let Me Entertain U holds on in Beru Stakes

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Let Me Entertain U holds off Grand Mere to win the $75,000 Beru Stakes.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Let Me Entertain U had her backers singing and dancing to the mutuel windows Sunday as she disposed of odds-on favorite Kelli Got Frosty turning for home and then held off a late run from Grand Mere to win the $75,000 Beru Stakes by a neck at Aqueduct.

Grand Mere, running back just three days after winning a starter allowance here, finished second by four lengths over Kelli Got Frosty. Girl Code was fourth.

Sun, 03/03/2013 - 15:54

Santa Anita: Game On Dude being considered for Charles Town Classic

Emily Shields
Game On Dude pulls away in the stretch to win the Santa Anita Handicap by 7 3/4 lengths.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Game On Dude was not all there when he romped to a record win in Saturday’s $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap.

“He blew a front shoe,” trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday.

Baffert was not sure when Game On Dude lost the shoe in the race, but said the 6-year-old gelding did not suffer a bruise or any other negative effects.

Game On Dude won the Big Cap by 7 3/4 lengths, a record margin for the race over 1 1/4 miles. Carrying top weight of 125 pounds, Game On Dude led throughout under jockey Mike Smith, pulling away from eight rivals in the stretch.

Sun, 03/03/2013 - 13:40

Aqueduct: Gotham Stakes 1-2-3 set for rematch in Wood Memorial

Michael Amoruso
Vyjack, with Joel Rosario riding, wins the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Vyjack, West Hills Giant, and Elnaawi – the top three finishers from Saturday’s Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct – all came out of the race in good order and are expected to meet again in the Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial here April 6.

Sun, 03/03/2013 - 11:37

Sam Houston: Unstoppable U scores in Maxxam Gold Cup

Jack Coady/Coady Photography
Unstoppable U, with Chris Landeros up, wins the Maxxam Gold Cup by one length.

Unstoppable U overtook pacesetter Hurricane Ike in the stretch and went on to a one-length win in Saturday night’s $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston Race Park. Dreaming Blues rallied for second, with Hurricane Ike holding third in the richest of four stakes on the card.

In the $50,000 Texas Heritage, Departing remained undefeated in three starts in a win that could set him up for an appearance in the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby.

Sun, 03/03/2013 - 09:24

Kentucky Derby Future Wager: Field, Verrazano favorites heading into in final day of Pool 2

Barbara D. Livingston
Verrazano was 9-1 heading into the final day of wagering for Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Going into the final six-hour session of wagering Sunday, the mutuel field continued as a clear-cut favorite in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. The pool reopens at noon Eastern and closes at 6 p.m.

After Saturday wagering, the second of three days for Pool 2, the field – the 24th or “all others” option – was the 3-1 favorite, with Verrazano next at 9-1. They were followed by Orb (11-1), Revolutionary (12-1), Flashback (13-1), and Itsmyluckyday (13-1). The impressive win by Vyjack in the Gotham Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct lowered his price to 14-1.

Sat, 03/02/2013 - 20:04

Santa Anita Handicap: Game On Dude wins his second Big Cap

Barbara D. Livingston
Game On Dude, the heavy favorite under Mike Smith, sets a Santa Anita Handicap record with his 7 3/4-length front-running victory.

ARCADIA, Calif. - It was a subtle moment, but to Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith it meant everything.

When Game On Dude was rumbling down the backstretch of Saturday’s $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap with a lead of more than two lengths, Smith allowed his mount to pause for a few strides.

“I gave him a little breather,” Smith said. “He takes in a whole lot of air. When he does that, I feel like I’m loaded again.”

Sat, 03/02/2013 - 20:03

Santa Anita: Suggestive Boy takes Kilroe Mile for McAnally's 700th local victory

Barbara D. Livingston
Suggestive Boy (right), ridden by Joe Talamo, holds off Silentio to prevail by a nose in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ron McAnally joined the 700 club at Santa Anita on Saturday in the most-appropriate fashion, winning a Grade 1 race on Santa Anita Handicap Day,  and with an import from South America.

McAnally is best known for his work training two-time Big Cap winner John Henry, as well as with South American imports such as Bayakoa, Candy Ride, and Paseana. On the Big Cap undercard Saturday, he struck with Suggestive Boy, an Argentine import who won his second straight stakes race by capturing the Grade 1, $300,750 Kilroe Mile.

Sat, 03/02/2013 - 19:29

Fair Grounds: Up With the Birds, Gator Zone win over soggy turf

Hodges Photography / Lynn Roberts
Gator Zone (left), with Shaun Bridgmohan riding, wins the Allen Lacombe Stakes.

Up With the Birds and Gator Zone, both ridden to victory by Shaun Bridgmohan, won 3-year-old-restricted turf races on a soggy Fair Grounds turf course Saturday.

The Fair Grounds course record for 7 1/2-furlong races is 1:29.20. Up With the Birds’ winning time for the $75,000 Black Gold Stakes was 1:35.84, while Gator Zone captured the $75,000 Allen Lacombe Stakes in 1:36.78.

“Anytime you run them on a course like this for the first time, you wonder how they’ll handle it,” said trainer Steve Margolis, who sent Gator Zone out to win the Lacombe in her two-turn debut.

Sat, 03/02/2013 - 18:48

Oaklawn: King Henny shortens up to take Gazebo

Coady Photography
Ricardo Santana Jr. guides King Henny to a 1 3/4-length victory in the Gazebo for 3-year-old sprinters.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - King Henny overtook pacesetter Titletown Five in the late stages of the $60,000 Gazebo on Saturday for a 1 1/4-length win in the six-furlong stakes for 3-year-olds at Oaklawn Park. Titletown Five, making his first start since October, won a tight photo for second over Malibu High.

Get Happy Mister, who brought a 4-for-4 record into the Gazebo, dueled with Titletown Five through a half-mile and finished seventh in what was his first race since August.