SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - There won’t be a run-off to determine a sole winner of this year’s Travers Stakes, but there could be a rematch between Travers dead-heat winners Alpha and Golden Ticket in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Sept. 22.
Rita Haywood, back in with West Virginia-breds after three consecutive starts against open company, rolled to a 4 1/4-length win in Saturday night’s $51,000 Sylvia Bishop Memorial Stakes for 3-year-old statebred fillies at Charles Town.
Ridden by Matt McGowan, Rita Haywood ($6.40) stalked the pace while three wide, surged to the front approaching the far turn, and drew clear while completing seven furlongs in 1:26.38.
A daughter of Prized trained by Debra Ketterman for owner David Butts, Rita Haywood is now 4 for 14 lifetime.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Sunday’s Pacific Classic program, the richest day of the Del Mar meeting, will start with a rich two-day pick six carryover of $570,012.
A string of beaten favorites on Saturday, and a win by the longshots Hadfulastnight ($58.60) and Appealing Resume ($23.20) in the seventh and ninth races, ensured that the pick six would carry into Sunday’s 11-race program.
The bet was so difficult that the carryover was announced after Saturday’s ninth race, with one race remaining.
EDMONTON, Alberta – Under a perfectly time ride by Jorge Carreno, Toccetive rallied from well back to edge his front-running stablemate Dougs Buddy by a half-length in a thrilling finish to the Grade 3, $200,000 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park on Saturday. It was another half-length back to heavily favored Devil in Disguise ,who didn’t appear to have any noticeable excuses. Toccetive paid $12.70 as the third choice in the wagering
DEL MAR, Calif.- Casino Host won the longest race of his career in Saturday’s $200,000 Del Mar Handicap over 1 3/8 miles on turf.
The race was worth $120,000 to owners Gary and Mary West, but there were added financial benefits.
With the win, Casino Host earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf over 1 1/2 miles at Santa Anita on Nov. 3. The typical entry and starter fees for that race are $90,000.
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Handle and attendance on Saturday's 11-race Travers card was up significantly from 2011, according to figures released by the New York Racing Association.
Ontrack handle was $8,741,773, up 7 percent from last year's total of $8,172,452. All-sources handle was $36,597,173, up 10.8 percent from last year's total of $33,017,384.
The crowd of 46,528 was an 8.1 increase from the 43,050 in 2011.
A sloppy racetrack and an early speed battle led to a major upset in the $125,000 Affirmed Stakes after the 21-1 D’nied Permission outfinished the 25-1 maiden Joshua’s Comprise to win the middle leg of Saturday’s Florida Stallion Stakes at Calder. Two T’s At Two B, unbeaten and untested in three previous starts, finished a tiring third as the 2-5 favorite.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - A race that lacked significance in terms of year-end divisional honors became historic Saturday afternoon at Saratoga when favored Alpha and longshot Golden Ticket dead-heated for win in the $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga.
It was nearly a triple dead heat, as Fast Falcon, last of 11 through the first six furlongs, came with a flying finish to finish third, beaten only a neck.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Clare Skies Ahead stormed past Martita Sangrita on Saturday to win the $60,000 Omnibus Stakes for fillies and mares on the turf at Monmouth Park.
A 5-year-old trained by Flint Stites and ridden Horacio Karamanos, Clare Skies Ahead improved to 4 for 17 with her first stakes victory.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. turned a $25,000 claimer into a Grade 1 winner and did it on just two day’s rest after Willy Beamin rallied to a half-length victory over Fort Loudon in Saturday’s $500,000 King’s Bishop at Saratoga.
