DEL MAR, Calif. – Almost by default, Dhaamer has risen to the top of the California turf marathon division in recent months.
In a division that lacks depth, Dhaamer has made the most of his opportunities, winning consecutive stakes over 1 1/2 miles on turf in May and July at Betfair Hollywood Park.
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She’s Regal, who suffered her first defeat of the season when she ran second to Northlands invader Claresmiezie in the open one-mile Assiniboia Oaks, is back with fellow Manitoba-bred 3-year-olds for Saturday’s $30,000 Jack Hardy Stakes at Assiniboia Downs.
While She’s Regal also was entered in Saturday’s $50,000 Distaff, a restricted one-mile stakes in which she would have to face the formidable older mare Golden Stripe, it would seem likely that her trainer, Chad Torevell, will opt for the $30,000 Jack Hardy at 1 1/16 miles.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Blue Heart will try to rebound from a hard-luck race in the Wonder Where Stakes on Saturday at Woodbine in the Grade 3, $150,000 Ontario Colleen Stakes. The one-mile grass route attracted a solid field of 3-year-old fillies, including the Maryland shipper Colonial Flag and a trio of Mark Casse-trained runners.
After finishing a close third in the June 3 Alywow Stakes, Blue Heart won her second start off a long layoff, traveling 1 1/16 miles on the Polytrack in the $250,000 Bison City Stakes.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Sunday’s seven-furlong Play the King is the local stakes stepping-stone to the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, the $1 million turf race which will be renewed on Sept. 16. But the Play the King itself is a prize well worth winning, with Grade 2 status and a purse of $200,000, and has attracted a competitive field of 11 with most looking to have a chance at reeling in the top prize.
One entrant who is overdue to land the big one is Big Band Sound.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Game On Dude, who won the Hollywood Gold Cup in his last start, drew post 9 and was installed as the 5-2 favorite when a field of 10 was entered and post positions drawn on Wednesday night for the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on Sunday at Del Mar. The draw took place at Burlap, a popular local restaurant a few miles from the track.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Willy Beamin made news late Wednesday morning when he was entered in the Grade 1 King's Bishop, not the Travers, as originally planned. The former claimer made even more news several hours later by drawing away to an easy 6 1/4-length victory over Zivo to post his fifth consecutive victory in the $150,000 Albany Stakes at Saratoga.
Trainer Todd Pletcher’s prowess with 2-year-olds stretching out following a maiden win continued Wednesday when favored Danalake cruised to a 1 3/4-length victory in the $51,500 Our Mims Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Delaware Park.
Over the past five years, Pletcher is now 8 for 12 (67 percent) with juveniles making their first start in a route following a maiden victory, including 5 for 9 in stakes.
Danalake ($4.40), ridden by Jose Caraballo, ran the mile on a fast track in 1:39.04
Summer Soiree, a Grade 1-winning 3-year-old filly of 2011, makes her 4-year-old debut in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Ballston Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.
In her first start since last November’s Matriarch, in which she was beaten one-half length, Summer Soiree will square off against Grade 1 winners Tapitsfly and Zagora, as well as Hungry Island and Ruthenia.
Winding Way, who scored a breathtaking victory Sunday by overcoming a poor star to capture the Rancho Bernardo Handicap, came out of the race in good condition and now will be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita, trainer Carla Gaines said.
Joan Scott has had bigger triumphs, having won the Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland in 2010 with a filly named Dr. Zic. But even without her being on the grounds, her Saturday afternoon at Arlington would have to rank among the best ever in her 10-year training career.
