Mon, 09/10/2012 - 15:35

Woodbine: Europeans arriving for Woodbine Mile

Michael Burns
From left to right, Dance And Dance, Worthadd, and Cityscape enter the track Monday morning at Woodbine to train for Sunday's Woodbine Mile.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Cityscape, Dance And Dance, and Worthadd checked in from Europe late Saturday night with an eye toward Sunday’s Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile.

Arriving on the same flight were Wigmore Hall, who will be seeking a repeat in Sunday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Northern Dancer; Barefoot Lady, a candidate for Sunday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Canadian; and Fearless Jacq, whose target is Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Natalma for 2-year-old fillies.

Mon, 09/10/2012 - 15:21

Belmont Park: Turf sprint fillies clash in Smart 'n Fancy

Tom Keyser
Anna Sophia will be making her first start since winning an allowance race on June 28.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Anna Sophia hopes to pick up where she left off nearly 11 weeks ago while Madame Giry hopes to continue her streak of success running back on short rest when the two meet in Wednesday’s $80,000 Smart ’n Fancy Stakes at Belmont Park.

Mon, 09/10/2012 - 15:10

Woodbine notes: Attfield barn fully loaded for huge day

Tom Keyser
Hollinger will take another shot at the Woodbine Mile after finishing eighth last year.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The big guns will be out in full force here Sunday with the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, Grade 1 Northern Dancer, Grade 2 Canadian, and listed Ontario Derby all on tap.

And the one trainer with bullets for all four stakes is Roger Attfield, with Hollinger set for the $1 million Woodbine Mile, Musketier and Forte dei Marmi for the $500,000 Northern Dancer, Smart Sting for the $300,000 Canadian, and Colleen’s Sailor for the $150,000 Ontario Derby.

Mon, 09/10/2012 - 14:40

Kentucky Downs: Cohen, McPeek in solid alliance

David Cohen made something of an abrupt move this fall, leaving what had been his home circuit for the better part of the last three years – the New York racing circuit – almost as soon as he posted one of his biggest career victories in the Travers Stakes.

Cohen, 27, has hitched his proverbial wagon to Ken McPeek, trainer of Golden Ticket, the colt Cohen rode to a dead heat with Alpha in the Aug. 25 Travers at Saratoga. The men will team up repeatedly throughout the fall in Kentucky, including during the Kentucky Downs meet that began last weekend.

Mon, 09/10/2012 - 13:23

Marquis Downs: Average daily handle rises 6.7 percent at meet

Marquis Downs, located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, showed a 6.7 percent increase in daily average handle from all sources for its 30-day meeting that ended last Saturday.

This year’s daily average of $36,253 compared to $33,971 in 2011.

This year’s total of $1,087,612 was up from $951,201 in 2011 when the meeting spanned 28 days. Only six more races were run this year, however, with totals of 239 compared to 233.

Mon, 09/10/2012 - 11:12

Woodbine: Eternal Rule retired with suspensory injury

Lori Zelepsky/Coady Photography
Eternal Rule (above) will face Essence Hit Man in Wednesday's Grade 3 Bold Venture at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Eternal Rule, who recorded the biggest win of his career in last Friday’s $250,400 Presque Isle Mile, was vanning out to the New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania on Monday after suffering a career-ending suspensory injury.

“That’s where they say they have the best chance to save him,” said Sid Attard, who trained the homebred 4-year-old gelding for Don Myers.

Eternal Rule returned to Ontario late Friday night and had been under the care of Dr. Darryl Bonder at the nearby Toronto Equine Centre.

Sun, 09/09/2012 - 21:39

Hastings: Second City upsets British Columbia Derby, stays unbeaten

Four-Footed Fotos
Second City wins the British Columbia Derby to remain undefeated in four races.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Second City remained undefeated with an upset win in the Grade 3, $200,000 British Columbia Derby at Hastings on Sunday.

He paid $13.80 as the second choice in the 11-horse field of 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles.

Second City also showed a new dimension by coming from well off the pace to beat Devil in Disguise by 2 3/4 lengths. Devil in Disguise was part of a heavily favored three-horse Troy Taylor-trained and Glen Todd-owned entry that included Hoist who forced the pace and finished third and Taylors Deal who rallied to finish fourth.

Sun, 09/09/2012 - 20:41

Fairplex Park: Explain upsets Jim Kostoff Stakes; triple pick-six carryover of $214,764 awaits Wednesday

POMONA, Calif. – The first jackpot of the Los Angeles County Fair race meet will be up for grabs when racing resumes Wednesday for a twilight card at Fairplex Park.

An upset victory by Explain ($12.40) in the $50,000 Jim Kostoff Stakes on Sunday clinched a pick-six carryover of $214,764 before the final race was run.

Explain reeled in 2-5 favorite Mile High Magic in deep stretch of the Kostoff, winning by one length under jockey Jorge Carreno. Explain was making his first start for trainer Robertino Diodoro, who claimed Explain for $32,000 on Aug. 26 at Del Mar.

Sun, 09/09/2012 - 20:11

Zia Park: Safe Trip stalks hot pace, gets up in Premiere Cup Handicap

Safe Trip, who spent his summer racing in New Jersey, became a stakes winner in New Mexico on Sunday when he overtook Streakin’ Mohican by a head in the $100,000 Premiere Cup Handicap at Zia Park. The six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up was the first stakes of the season at the Hobbs, N.M., track. 

Sun, 09/09/2012 - 19:20

Emerald Downs: Kooky Saluki wins first stakes in Mukleshoot Tribal Classic

AUBURN, Wash. – Kooky Saluki raced to a mild upset Sunday in the $37,836 Mukleshoot Tribal Classic at Emerald Downs. In winning Emerald’s showcase event for statebreds, Kooky Saluki recorded his first career stakes victory while leaving multiple stakes winners Couldabenthewhisky and Jebrica in his wake.