Sun, 09/30/2012 - 20:04

Hastings: Ruffy Joe survives erratic stretch run to win CTHS Sale Stakes

Four-Footed Fotos
Despite an inquiry for alleged interference in the stretch, Ruffy Joe remains the winner of the CTHS Sales Stakes.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Despite racing erratically in the stretch,  Ruffy Joe won the $50,000 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society  Sales Stakes for 3-year-olds at Hastings on Sunday. He paid $6.40 as the second choice in the wagering behind Alberta Breeze,  who finished second in the 1 1/16-mile  race.

Sun, 09/30/2012 - 19:12

Woodbine: Moonlit Beauty proves equally adept on Polytrack in Classy 'N Smart

Michael Burns
Moonlit Beauty, ridden by Eurico Da Silva, collects her second straight stakes win in the Classy 'N Smart.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Moonlit Beauty  put away favored Reconnect early in the stretch and kept on going to land her second stakes in a row Sunday at Woodbine in the $125,000 Classy ‘N Smart.

Moonlit Beauty ($6.70)was hounded by Reconnect through moderate fractions in the 1 1/16-mile route for Ontario-sired females, en route to a 4 3/4-length score over It’s Gail. Reconnect faded to third in a field reduced to six with the scratches of Grace Phil and Kay’s Grace.

Sun, 09/30/2012 - 19:03

Remington: Politicallycorrect runs down Willy Beamin in Oklahoma Derby

OKLAHOMA CITY - The talent trainer Wesley Ward and jockey Kent Desormeaux saw in Politicallycorrect emerged  at an opportune time on Sunday, when the horse roared down the middle of the track to win the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park and set himself up for a start in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

Politicallycorrect won the Oklahoma Derby by three-quarters of a length over 2-1 favorite Willy Beamin, while it was another head back in third to Called to Serve. The race was the richest of the meet, and it anchored a card of five stakes worth more than $1 million.

Sun, 09/30/2012 - 18:51

Remington: Sticks Wondergirl wires field in Remington Oaks

OKLAHOMA CITY - Sticks Wondergirl remained perfect around two turns on Sunday, when she won her stakes debut in the $250,000 Remington Park Oaks. She was a front-running, three-quarter length winner over even-money favorite Jemima’s Pearl, while it was another six lengths back in third to Yankee Union.

The Oaks was the richest of four undercard stakes supporting the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby. Together the five races were worth $1 million on what was the biggest day of the meet. 

Sun, 09/30/2012 - 18:39

Belmont: Overanaylze's win in Futurity gives Pletcher sweep of juvenile stakes

Tom Keyser
Overanalyze, under John Velazquez, ovecomes a bad start to score in the Futurity.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Overanalyze overcame a terrible start with a terrific finish to win Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Futurity at Belmont Park.

Away from the gate slow and then knocked sideways by the horse to his outside, Overanalyze had to rally from last under John Velazquez to run past Carried Interest in deep stretch and win by 3 1/4 lengths. Carried Interest, making his first start since a good-looking debut here in July, finished second by three-quarters of a length over Weekend Hideaway, the 9-5 favorite.

Sun, 09/30/2012 - 18:29

Belmont: Napravnik headed to Kentucky, then Louisiana

Barbara D. Livingston
Rosie Napravnik is interviewed after winning the first race of the Saratoga meet.

 ELMONT, N.Y. - Jockey Rosie Napravnik, who has spent the last five months riding regularly in New York, will move her tack to Kentucky this week and then New Orleans later this year, she said Sunday.

 Napravnik will ride at Keeneland when that meet opens Friday, then move on to Churchill Downs at the end of October before returning to Fair Grounds, when the meet opens on Thanksgiving Day. She will be represented by agent Derek Ducoing.

Napravnik, 24, has been the leading rider at the last two Fair Ground Thoroughbred meetings.

 

Sun, 09/30/2012 - 17:59

Santa Anita: Not even spill slows down Bejarano

Benoit & Associates
Jockey Rafael Bejarano and trainer Bob Baffert combined to win three Grade 1 stakes on Saturday's card at Santa Anita, including the Awesome Again with Game On Dude.

ARCADIA, Calif. - The first thing that jockey Rafael Bejarano wanted to do after he was unseated in a spill at Santa Anita on Friday was get back to work.

“I told the guys, ‘I’m fine,’ ” he said on Sunday, recalling his conversation with ambulance personnel. “I could have kept riding.”

Bejarano was not injured. He missed his final three rides on Friday and went home to rest. Saturday morning, he was back at the track for workouts. That afternoon, he showed why he is the leading rider in Southern California.

Sun, 09/30/2012 - 17:09

Belmont: Kauai Katie shows ability to rate in winning Matron

Barbara D. Livingston
Kauai Kate, ridden by Rosie Napravnik, could be headed to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies or BC Juvenile Sprint after her easy win in the Matron.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Kauai Katie proved she doesn’t have to be in front early to be in front at the end.

In dominating Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Matron Stakes by 7 1/2 lengths at Belmont Park, Kauai Katie sat off Baby J for more than three furlongs before taking over coming to the top of the stretch and running away from the field down the lane.

Baby J held second by 1 1/2 lengths over Seasoned Warrior. Unabashed and Doubled completed the order of finish.

Sun, 09/30/2012 - 13:51

Belmont: Mott in position to sweep Breeders' Cup Classic, Ladies' Classic again

Tom Keyser
Royal Delta earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 106 for her victory in the Beldame.

ELMONT, N.Y. - At the beginning of 2012, trainer Bill Mott thought it was possible he could get back to the Breeders’ Cup and attempt to duplicate his 2011 feat of winning the $5 million Classic and the $3 million Ladies Classic in the same year.

That possibility became even more realistic with the results at Belmont Park of Saturday’s major stepping-stones towards the Breeders’ Cup which will be held Nov. 2-3 at Santa Anita.  

Sun, 09/30/2012 - 12:07

Woodbine: Kissable, Forte dei Marmi tune up for major turf stakes

Michael Burns
Forte dei Marmi wins the Grade 2, $264,000 Sky Classic at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Kissable and Forte dei Marmi breezed five furlongs in company on a good turf training track here at Woodbine on Sunday for trainer Roger Attfield with respective eyes toward the Oct. 14 E.P. Taylor Stakes and Canadian International.

Exercise rider/assistant trainer Suzanne Lorimer was aboard Kissable, who broke off slightly behind her stablemate and heading into the stretch  established an advantage, which she held to the wire under no apparent urging while finishing in  59.20 seconds, breezing.