Sun, 10/21/2012 - 18:07

Santa Anita: Comma to the Top gives Nakatani happy birthday in Big Bear

Benoit & Associates
Corey Nakatani celebrates his 42nd birthday by winning the Big Bear Handicap aboard Comma to the Top

ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey Corey Nakatani celebrated his 42nd birthday in style on Sunday at Santa Anita by guiding favored Comma to the Top to a front-running victory in the $66,000 Big Bear Handicap, an overnight for older horses.

Comma to the Top ($4.80) just lasted to win by a half-length over Tres Borrachos, with Jaycito a neck farther back in third in the field of five. Shaun Washington and Riveting Reason were far back.

Comma to the Top completed one mile on the fast main track in 1:35.98 following splits of 23.48 seconds, 46.53, and 1:10.31.

Sun, 10/21/2012 - 18:00

Keeneland: Upperline closes out career by winning Dowager

Keeneland/Coady Photography
James Graham guides Upperline to a three-quarter-length victory in the 1 1/2-mile Dowager.

LEXINGTON, Ky.  – The 5-year-old mare Upperline went out a winner in what was most likely the final start of her career after wearing down the up-and-comer Ciao Bella in deep stretch of the 1 1/2-mile Dowager Stakes on turf on a sun-splashed Sunday at Keeneland.

Sun, 10/21/2012 - 17:47

Woodbine: Pender Habour repeats feat in Bunty Lawless

Michael Burns
Pender Harbour, ridden by Luis Contreras, scores as the even-money favorite im the Bunty Lawless.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — The favored Pender Harbour captured the $126,200 Bunty Lawless Stakes for the second year in a row under Luis Contreras on Sunday at Woodbine.

The popular Chantal Sutherland finished seventh on Pender Harbour’s full brother, Crushin Hard, and said after the race that it was the final ride of her career. Crushin Hard is owned in part by her father, Hugh Sutherland.

Sun, 10/21/2012 - 17:39

Woodbine: Sutherland abruptly calls it quits as jockey

Michael Burns
Chantal Sutherland, shown at Woodbine in November 2009, rode for the last time on Sunday in the Bunty Lawless Stakes.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario— Chantal Sutherland, who recorded her first career win at Woodbine on Oct. 9, 2000, was back here Sunday afternoon for what she says will be the final ride of her career.

The 36-year-old Sutherland, born in Winnipeg, guided Crushin Hard to a seventh-place finish in the $125,000 Bunty Lawless Stakes for her father, Hugh Sutherland.

“Woodbine has been an amazing place for me,” said Sutherland. “This is where I learned how to ride, and made me the rider that I am, to be able to go and compete in other places.”

Sun, 10/21/2012 - 13:04

Laurel: Pacific Ocean among top sprinters pointing to Frank De Francis Memorial Dash

Barbara D. Livingston
Pacific Ocean, ridden by Joel Rosario, captures the Grade 3 James Marvin on opening day at Saratoga.

Pacific Ocean, a Grade 3 stakes winner each of the past two seasons, is among the sprinters considered as probable starters for Saturday’s $350,000 Frank De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park.

The De Francis Dash is the feature on a Fall Festival of Racing Card that includes five $150,000 stakes scheduled for turf.

Sun, 10/21/2012 - 08:36

Golden Gate Fields: Halo Dolly much the best in Miss America

William Vassar/Vassar Photography
Halo Dolly, ridden by Russell Baze, collects her third stakes victory in her last four outings in the Miss America.

ALBANY, Calif. – Three weeks after finishing last in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl at Belmont, Halo Dolly  returned to her winning ways with an easy victory in the $64,300 Miss America Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

Sun, 10/21/2012 - 08:28

Delta Downs: Bern Identity points to Delta Jackpot after sharp Jean Lafitte score

Coady Photography
Bern Identify carries Paco Lopez to a three-length victory in the Jean Lafitte, the prep for next month's Delta Downs Jackpot.

Bern Identity will head to next month’s Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot after he easily won his two-turn debut Saturday night in the $200,000 Jean Lafitte. He was a three-length winner of the one-mile race that served as the local prep for the Jackpot, which is to be run Nov. 17.

Sat, 10/20/2012 - 22:47

Turf Paradise: Lewiston pulls 16-1 surprise in ATBA Fall Sales Stakes for colts and geldings

PHOENIX – Lewiston continued his progress as the 2-year-old son of El Roblar posted a 16-1 upset in Saturday’s $76,851 colts and geldings division of the Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders Association  Fall Sales Stakes at Turf Paradise.

Youbetshewon bounced back from a dull try here a few weeks ago to capture the $91,414 filly division later on the card.

Sat, 10/20/2012 - 22:41

Charles Town: Lucy's Bob Boy whips his elders in West Virginia Breeders' Classic

Mike Montgomery
The 3-year-old filly Rita Haywood gives jockey Matt McGowan the first of his two stakes wins on Saturday night's West Virginia Breeders' Classic card in the West Virginia Division of Tourism.

Neither the lack of experience racing beyond seven furlongs nor post 10 proved to be any real obstacle for the 3-year-old gelding Lucy’s Bob Boy.

Facing older horses for just the second time in his career, Lucy’s Bob Boy ($8.20) reeled off his sixth consecutive victory in the $500,000 West Virginia Breeders’ Classic, the richest race on Saturday night’s card devoted to West Virginia-breds at Charles Town.

Sat, 10/20/2012 - 20:22

Santa Anita: Broken Dreams scores repeat win in Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes

Benoit & Associates
Broken Dreams, ridden by Garrett Gomez, uses her late kick to win the Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes for the second time.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Broken Dreams is nearing the end of her career, but she has still got some racing left in her. For the second straight year on Saturday, she captured the Grade 3, $100,000 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes at Santa Anita, and earned her second stakes win in her last three starts, all in concert with Garrett Gomez.