Thu, 09/13/2012 - 16:41

Emerald Downs: Wasserman cuts back in claiming sprint

Emerald Downs
Eight of Wasserman’s 12 victories have come around one turn.

AUBURN, Wash. – Wasserman, on the downside of his career, will meet some horses on the way up Saturday in the feature race at Emerald Downs, a $20,000 claimer at six furlongs. First post time for the eight-race card is 2 p.m. Pacific.

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 16:20

Northlands Park: Bond James Bond is peaking for the Alberta Breeders' Handicap

Bond James Bond and Shanghai Charlie look like the main players in the $50,000 Alberta Breeders’ Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at Northlands Park on Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile race headlines the annual Fall Classic Card that features seven stakes races restricted to horses bred in Alberta. Post time for the first race is noon Mountain. The Breeders’ drew 10 horse and is the last of 11 races.

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 16:16

Fairplex Park: Pure Indy has bigger targets after Barretts Debutante

Benoit & Associates
Pure Indy overcomes a slow start to win her maiden on Sept. 1 at Del Mar.

POMONA, Calif. – By the time the Breeders’ Cup rolls around in November, the 2-year-old filly Pure Indy may have perfected the art of playing catch-up.

It worked two weeks ago at Del Mar, where Pure Indy broke slow in a maiden sprint, spotted the leaders eight lengths, then blew past the entire field to win geared down.

Pure Indy wheels right back Saturday at Fairplex Park, where she is favored to win the $100,000 Barretts Debutante. Her connections hope the 6 1/2-furlong stakes is a stepping-stone to the Grade 1 Alcibiades on Oct. 5 at Keeneland and the Breeders’ Cup.

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 16:08

Santa Anita: Reneesgotzip to take on Amazombie in Santa Anita Sprint Championship

Benoit & Associates
Reneesgotzip will face Amazombie in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship.

POMONA, Calif. – The sprint division in California just got a lot more interesting.

Reneesgotzip, the 3-year-old filly who blazed to a 1:08.23 comeback win Sept. 5 at Del Mar, will step outside her division to face champion Amazombie on Oct. 6 in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, a six-furlong stakes formerly named the Ancient Title.

Trainer Peter Miller announced Thursday that Reneesgotzip would target the $250,000 Sprint Championship, with an eye toward the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 16:08

Monmouth Park: Hermosillo going for third Hesse win as statebreds take spotlight

Deja Puglisi/Equi-Photo
Hermosillo won the Charles Hesse III Handicap in 2009 and 2011 and was second in 2010.

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Javerre takes the next step in his impressive development, while Hermosillo tries to add another chapter to an already substantial history Saturday in the 10th annual New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival at Monmouth Park.

The 10-race card is devoted exclusively to statebreds, with a trio of stakes topping the program.

The $75,000 Charles Hesse III Handicap is the richest of the three, while the New Jersey Breeders and the Jersey Girl for fillies and mares both carry $60,000 purses.

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 16:07

Belmont: Speedy but long-absent Graydar returns in allowance

Tom Keyser
Graydar will make his first start since April in a first-level allowance at Belmont on Saturday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – While there are a pair of graded turf stakes at Belmont Park Saturday, one of the more intriguing races on the card comes in a first-level allowance on dirt earlier on the 10-race program.

The one-mile, $75,000 first-level allowance drew a field of 11 led by Graydar, a 3-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song who has not raced since winning his career debut at Gulfstream Park by 8 1/2 lengths on Easter Sunday in April.

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 15:56

Belmont Park: Dealbata dangerous in Noble Damsel off near-miss in last

Barbara D. Livingston
Dealbata (right) will have a chance to avenge her half-length De La Rosa loss to Julie's Love (left) when the two meet in Saturday's Noble Damsel.

ELMONT, N.Y. – In two rides aboard Dealbata, Ramon Dominguez has a win and a second aboard the 4-year-old Irish-bred filly. Dominguez said he was more impressed with Dealbata’s half-length loss in last month’s De La Rose Stakes at Saratoga than her one-length win in the Mohegan Sky here in June.

Saturday, Dealbata will get a chance to avenge her loss to Julie’s Love in the De La Rose when she faces that rival and seven others in the Grade 3, $150,000 Noble Damsel Stakes run at one mile over Belmont Park’s Widener turf course.

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 15:51

Woodbine: Northern Dancer represents imposing challenge for 3-year-old filly Irish Mission

Michael Burns
Irish Mission, winner of the Breeders' Stakes, is set to face older males in the Northern Dancer.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — In the brief history of the Northern Dancer, which dates back to just 2006, no 3-year-old and no filly or mare has gone up against the older males. But trainer Mark Frostad will be looking to break through both barriers on Sunday with the 3-year-old filly Irish Mission set to complete in the Grade 1, $500,000 Northern Dancer at 1 1/2 miles on the turf.

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 15:49

Hastings: Golden Triumph should be tough with race under his belt

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Golden Triumph figures to be a handful when he runs in a first-level allowance race for 3-year-olds and up that will serve as Saturday’s feature at Hastings. There is also a clause in the conditions of the race that makes B.C.-bred nonwinners-of-three eligible to the race. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew eight horses and goes as race 7 on the eighth race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 15:41

Delaware Park: Zucchini Flower looking sharp for Christiana

Barbara D. Livingston
Trained by Graham Motion, Zucchini Flower is 0 for 3 on grass.

Zucchini Flower, who missed by a nose coming off a freshening in the Twin Lights at Monmouth Park late last month, may be poised for a breakthrough in Saturday’s $50,000 Christiana Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on turf at Delaware Park.

Trained by Graham Motion, Zucchini Flower is 0 for 3 on grass, but produced the best race of her 10-race career on Aug. 26 when she lost in a photo to wire-to-wire winner Closing Range. Zucchini Flower came home her last three furlongs in the nine-furlong Twin Lights in an excellent 34.55 seconds.