Sat, 09/22/2012 - 20:04

Penn National: Guam Typhoon takes eighth straight in Changing Times

Guam Typhoon stretched his winning streak to eight races Saturday night with a wire-to-wire victory in the $100,000 Changing Times Stakes at Penn National.

Ridden by Daniel Centeno, the 6-year-old Guam Typhoon ($4.20) set fractions of 22.40 and 44.49 seconds en route to running six furlongs in 1:09.09. He was 2 3/4 lengths clear at the finish.

Jamie Ness claimed Guam Typhoon on behalf of Midwest Thoroughbreds for $25,000 in mid-February and the gelding has proceeded to win six races since March for his new connections, including three stakes.

Sat, 09/22/2012 - 19:51

Parx: Well Spelled comes from last to win Gallant Bob

BENSALEM, Pa. - Trainer Ben Perkins wasn't thrilled to see his 3-year-old sprinter Well Spelled, under Pablo Fragoso, last and 13 lengths off the pace in the first part of Saturday's $300,000 Gallant Bob Handicap at Parx.

Until he saw that the first quarter was run in 21.41 seconds.

"I said at least he's going to have a shot, because it wasn't an easy 21-and-2," said Perkins, noting that there was a three-horse speed duel that included the multiple stakes winning Trinniberg.

Sat, 09/22/2012 - 19:36

Parx: My Miss Aurelia wins stretch duel with Questing in Cotillion

Barbara D. Livingston
My Miss Aurelia (left), under Corey Nakatani, manages to stay unbeaten by edging Questing by a head in the $1 million Cotillion.

BENSALEM, Pa. - My Miss Aurelia came up alongside Questing turning for home in Saturday’s $1 million Cotillion Stakes at Parx and the two-horse race that it appeared to be on paper was about to play out on the racetrack.

My Miss Aurelia, last year’s undefeated 2-year-old filly champion, and Questing, the pro tem leader of this year’s 3-year-old filly division, brushed each other a couple of times in the stretch, but in the end My Miss Aurelia, under Corey Nakatani, prevailed by a short head over Questing and Irad Ortiz Jr. in the Grade 1 Cotillion.

Sat, 09/22/2012 - 19:31

Louisiana Downs: Look At the Time romps in Erwin

Look At the Time relished the return to turf Saturday at Louisiana Downs, when he rolled to a 5 1/2-length win in the $150,000 A.L. "Red" Erwin. The race was one of six restricted stakes on the annual Southern Showcase card worth more than $600,000.

Sat, 09/22/2012 - 19:02

Arlington Park: Third Chance dominates in Addison Cammack

No one had a chance against Third Chance on Saturday at Arlington Park in the $66,400 Addison Cammack Stakes.

Third Chance, the 1-2 favorite, set solid pace while making a clear lead in the Cammack, but she did so while racing under no pressure at all. And while riders on her pursuers turning for home began vigorously encouraging their mounts, Third Chance was running completely on her own, jockey Cisco Torres a statue on her back. She drew away to win the overnight stakes race easily, beating Sir Applesolutely by 6 3/4 lengths in a performance befitting a 1-2 favorite.

Sat, 09/22/2012 - 18:51

Woodbine: No contest called after rider is unseated

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Saturday's 10th race at Woodbine was declared no contest after a fallen rider, Matt Moore, was carried off to the side of the track just past the wire after being unseated early in the 1 1/16-mile event.

Sat, 09/22/2012 - 18:47

Laurel: Pick Five jackpot pays $75,601.80

All five favorites were beaten, but one ticker holder had every winner in a Players’ Jackpot Pick Five payoff of $75,601.80 on Saturday at Laurel Park.

It was the first time since Laurel’s fall meet began on Sept. 5 that there was a single winner.

Under the rules of exotic wager, which has a 50-cent minimum bet and an 18 percent takeout, 60 percent of the daily pick five pool in paid out daily if there are multiple or best of five winners, with the remaining 40 percent carried over toward a jackpot payoff to a single, unique winning ticket.

Sat, 09/22/2012 - 18:41

Parx: Handsome Mike upsets Pennsylvania Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Handsome Mike pays $40.40 as the longest shot on the board in the Pennsylvania Derby.

BENSALEM, Pa. - A gambler at heart, horse owner Paul Reddam doesn’t mind taking chances.

 “We tend in our stable to try hit the ball over the fence,” Reddam said. “We strike out a lot, but every once in a while the ball does go over the fence.”

 Though he was 3,000 miles away Saturday afternoon, Reddam knocked one out of the park when Handsome Mike, the least accomplished of the seven runners in the field, ran away from the competition in the stretch to win the Grade 2, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby by two lengths at Parx.

Sat, 09/22/2012 - 18:32

Calder: Angelica Zapata returns from vacation to dominate Stage Door Betty

Coady Photography
Angelica Zapata, ridden for the first time by Luis Saez, collects her fourth straight stakes victory in the Stage Door Betty.

MIAMI -   Musical Romance may be the most notable older filly and mare stabled at Calder this summer but Angelica Zapata is quickly establishing herself as a star in her own right.

Angelica Zapata returned from an 11-week vacation to dominate six overmatched rivals in Saturday’s $75,000 Stage Door Betty Handicap, drawing off to an easy 7 1/2-length victory over longshot My Pal Crisy for her fourth straight stakes win.  Callmethesqueeze finished third.

Sat, 09/22/2012 - 18:27

Belmont Park: Dust and Diamonds sets stakes record in Gallant Bloom

A total lack of graded stakes experience was no problem at all for Dust and Diamonds, who dusted her more accomplished rivals in Saturday's 19th running of the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Park.