Thu, 09/20/2012 - 15:10

Belmont: Awesome Feather boosts Breeders' Cup stock with blowout win in Nasty Storm

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Awesome Feather, under Jeffrey Sanchez, coasts to an easy in the Nasty Storm Stakes, her first race since January.

ELMONT, N.Y. – It’s not that Awesome Feather won Thursday’s $85,000 Nasty Storm Stakes at Belmont Park that was surprising. It was the way she did it that had jaws dropping.

In her first start since January, Awesome Feather rolled to an 11 1/4-length victory in the Nasty Storm, running a mile in 1:33.47 over a Belmont main track that was playing fast.

Still, jockey Jeffrey Sanchez was far from all out on Awesome Feather, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2010 who remained undefeated in 10 starts.

Thu, 09/20/2012 - 15:00

Charles Town: Amie's Dini, Book Review look to rebound in Oaks

[bc_video_id:263376:]Five fillies who chased Contested home in last month’s Grade 1 Test at Saratoga will face each other again in Saturday night’s $400,000 Charles Town Oaks. Among that group, trip handicappers may have their eyes focused on two of the also-rans who raced far back throughout the seven-furlong Test.

Thu, 09/20/2012 - 14:48

Suffolk: Adahai back from layoff

Adahai is the clear standout in Saturday's $50,000 African Prince Stakes at Suffolk Downs, but the early leader of the 3-year-old class of Massachusetts-breds missed some training this summer and Saturday's start is just the second of his career.In his debut July 2, the gelding looked very much like a finished product, dashing to the lead in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race and building momentum from there. He won by four lengths and earned a 61 Beyer Speed Figure - relatively gaudy for a young horse at Suffolk.

Thu, 09/20/2012 - 14:47

Parx Racing: Well Spelled looks for upset in Gallant Bob Stakes

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Well Spelled, winner of the Grade 3 Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth Park, will try to upset Saturday's Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing.

Currency Swap and Trinniberg are expected to garner most of the attention – and a large chunk of the wagering dollars – in Saturday’s $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing.

But given their most recent performances and the fact neither has won at six furlongs, perhaps it is an opportunity to find value in this sprint restricted to 3-year-olds.

With a solid pace expected, Well Spelled looks like a potential upsetter from off the pace for trainer Ben Perkins Jr.

Thu, 09/20/2012 - 14:43

Penn National: Nicole H taking on males in Changing Times

Barbara D. Livingston
Nicole H has not won in her last six starts

The multiple stakes-winning mare Nicole H is avoiding some of the heavy hitters in her division running in the Gallant Bloom Handicap by shipping from New York to central Pennsylvania to challenge male sprinters in Saturday night's $100,000 Changing Times Stakes at Penn National.

The six-furlong sprint drew a field of eight and goes as the fifth race at 7:52 p.m. Eastern.

Thu, 09/20/2012 - 14:37

Woodbine: Welloiledmachine will test versatility in Overskate

Michael Burns
Welloiledmachine, winning the Halton Stakes on turf earlier this month, will switch to Polytrack for Saturday's Overskate..

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Welloiledmachine, winner of two stakes on the turf, will be looking for his first Polytrack stakes victory in Saturday’s $125,000 Overskate, a seven-furlong race for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds and upward.

“He’s in good order,” said assistant trainer Robbie Martin, who is running the show here while Mike Keogh takes a short vacation in England to attend a niece’s wedding and visit his ailing father, Norman Keogh. “He came out of that last race so good.”

Thu, 09/20/2012 - 14:37

Delaware Park: Lucky Chappy will be helped by soft ground in Kent

Tom Keyser
Despite running well, Lucky Chappy is winless in six starts in the U.S.

Just a tad more than 2 1/2 lengths separate Lucky Chappy from becoming a three-time graded stakes winner this season. But since he came up shy in one photo finish and was narrowly beaten in his two most recent starts, the Irish-bred Lucky Chappy will still be seeking his first North American win when he makes his seventh start in the U.S. in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Kent Stakes for 3-year-olds at Delaware Park.

Thu, 09/20/2012 - 14:33

Charles Town: Moonlit Malibu must overcome an outside post in Pink Ribbon

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Michael Trombetta has Moonlit Malibu in the Pink Ribbon Stakes and A Lover's Question in the Miss Shenandoah on Saturday's all-stakes card at Charles Town.

With four wins and a second in five starts at Charles Town, Moonlit Malibu owns the best local record of any of the fillies and mares entered in Saturday night’s $70,000 Pink Ribbon Stakes. But is she good enough to overcome an outside post position?

Thu, 09/20/2012 - 14:28

Belmont: Musical Romance appears bigger, stronger for Gallant Bloom

Coady Photography
Musical Romance, who hasn't run since winning the Princess Rooney, is scheduled to make her next start in the Gallant Bloom.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Bill Kaplan doesn’t see any reason Musical Romance can’t have as good a fall campaign this year as she did last year when she upset the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and was named champion female sprinter.

Musical Romance, away from the races for two months, will have her final prep for this year’s Breeders’ Cup on Saturday when she runs in the Grade 2, $200,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Park.

Thu, 09/20/2012 - 14:11

Hastings: Reyes establishing himself as rider to be reckoned with

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – It is never easy for an unknown jockey to break in after a meet has begun, but Antonio Reyes has made a strong impressions since he arrived at Hastings in late June, and he should do well here when he returns next year.

Reyes has won 23 races from 123 mounts, and seven of his wins have been for trainer Jim Brown, who is his biggest supporter.

“He is the best rider here,” said Brown. “He’s won races for me that nobody else could have. Watch his ride on Nata Loca and you’ll see what I mean.”