Fri, 08/10/2012 - 13:32

Hastings: Herbie D just needs repeat of last to win Sunday feature

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Herbie D looks formidable in an allowance race restricted to nonwinners of $30,000 this year that headlines Sunday’s card at Hastings. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses and goes as the third race. There is also a $40,000 claiming option in the conditions of the race.

Fri, 08/10/2012 - 12:56

Northlands: Heavenly Chorus has good chance to end drought on Sunday

Trainer Greg Tracy hasn’t slowed down since Claresmiezie gave him his 1,000th winner in the Assiniboia Oaks at Assiniboia Downs last Monday. Tracy is up to 1,003 winners now and is looking to extend his lead in the trainer standings over Ron Grieves at Northlands Park when he runs Heavenly Chorus in a $15,000 claiming race that will serve as Sunday’s feature. The six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses and goes as race 4 on an eight-race card that begins at 1 p.m. Mountain.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 19:00

Suffolk: Victor Lazlow meets statebreds

Three weeks after helping his jockey reach a milestone, Victor Lazlow gets his own chance to make headlines as the favorite in Saturday's $50,000 Last Dance Stakes at Suffolk Downs.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 18:58

Charles Town: Silver Heart right at home

Silver Heart returns to her favorite racetrack for the $50,000 Sadie Hawkins Stakes for West Virginia-bred fillies and mares. A gray 7-year-old, Silver Heart has posted 13 of her 14 wins at Charles Town.That consistency makes her a major player despite a layoff since mid-April. She faces only five rivals in the seven-furlong race around two turns.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 18:54

Delaware Park: Cascabella can gain new status in Unbridled Belle

Cascabella has been a hard-knocking mare, a six-time winner closing in on $200,000 in career earnings.

Trainer Bret Calhoun would like to see the 5-year-old add the designation "stakes winner" to her résumé. Cascabella can take that step Saturday in the $60,000 Unbridled Belle for fillies and mares at Delaware Park. She faces nine rivals in the one mile and 70-yard race.

"She's been pretty consistent," Calhoun said. "She's just a cut below the better ones, and we've just been trying to find a good spot for her to win a stakes. She's run very well for quite a while now."

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 18:21

Saratoga: My Jopia scores in New York Stallion Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
My Jopia wins the Statue of Liberty under Ramon Dominguez.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - She had not raced in 102 days and showed only two workouts in the three weeks leading up to Thursday's $100,000 Statue of Liberty Division of the New York Stallion Stakes.

As it turned out, however, fitness was not an issue for My Jopia, who held off a late run from Manero to win by a nose the one-mile turf race restricted to 3-year-old fillies sired by New York-based stallions. It was a neck back to Halo Roo in third.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 17:49

Saratoga: Via Villagio coming for Alabama

Benoit & Associates
Via Villaggio, with Martin Pedroza riding, wins the Railbird at Betfair Hollywood Park.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - A week before he sends out Nonios in the Travers, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer will be represented in the $600,000 Alabama Stakes by Via Villaggio, winner of the Grade 3 Railbird Stakes in May who most recently finished second to Grace Hall in the Delaware Oaks in her first start on dirt.

[Complete coverage of racing at Saratoga: News, PPs, and video]

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 17:10

Saratoga: Winter Memories retired with bone bruise

Tom Keyser
Winter Memories retires with eight wins from 12 career starts, including her final race, the Grade 1 Diana on July 28.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Winter Memories, the popular multiple-Grade 1-winning turf mare, was retired Thursday due to bruising of the cannon bone in her right front ankle, trainer Jimmy Toner confirmed Thursday afternoon.

The injury is not deemed serious, but it would have sidelined her for the remainder of 2012 season and Winter Memories was to be retired at year’s end.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:46

Saratoga: Travers coming into focus

Barbara D. Livingston
Alpha worked four furlongs in 48.47 seconds over the main track at Saratoga on Thursday with Rob Massey riding.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Preparations for the $1 million Travers Stakes picked up on Thursday, with two major contenders putting in workouts at Saratoga and the announcement of a significant jockey change on a West Coast-based contender.

Alpha, the Jim Dandy winner, and Street Life, the Curlin winner, each breezed on a steamy Thursday morning in Saratoga looking to beat the rain that is forecast for Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, John Velazquez will replace Corey Nakatani aboard Haskell runner-up Nonios in the Travers.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:45

Del Mar: Super Derby possible for Rousing Sermon

Barbara D. Livingston
Rousing Sermon could make his next start in the Grade 2 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said he is eyeing the Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs on Sept. 8 as the next start for Rousing Sermon, who was second in the Real Good Deal Stakes on Aug. 3.

That was his second start since finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby. He finished fourth in the Swaps Stakes after the Kentucky Derby.

“He came out of his last race very well,” Hollendorfer said Thursday morning. “He’s been very consistent. We’ll look at the Super Derby and also consider the Pennsylvania Derby,” which is two weeks later at Parx Racing.