Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:43

Del Mar: Acclamation puts in sharp workout

Shigeki Kikkawa
Acclamation is being pointed to a defense of his title in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic.

Acclamation, the defending champion in the Pacific Classic, turned in another sharp workout Thursday morning at Del Mar, when he went six furlongs on turf in 1:11.20, around orange cones, known as dogs.

Bud Johnston, who bred Acclamation and owns him in a partnership, reiterated that the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 26 at 1 1/4 miles on Polytrack remains his first choice, but he is keeping the Grade 2, $200,000 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf on Aug. 25 as a backup plan.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:37

Saratoga: Wise Dan returns to turf in Fourstardave

Barbara D. Livingston
Wise Dan has good turf form with a win in the Grade 2 Firecracker and a fourth in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Charlie Lopresti’s big three may be down to just one for the time being, but that one is the imposing Wise Dan, who will attempt to show he is a force to be reckoned with on either turf or dirt the remainder of the year when he returns to the grass for Saturday’s $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:18

Saratoga: Pletcher has chance to sweep Sunday 2-year-old stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Stablemates Shanghai Bobby (right) and Drum Roll work five furlongs on Aug. 6. They are both entered in Sunday's Grade 2 Saratoga Special.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – For as well as things have gone for trainer Todd Pletcher here this summer, he will enter the second half of the Saratoga season without a graded stakes victory, having gone winless with 12 starters in eight graded events.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:17

Del Mar: My Best Brother goes for fourth straight win in La Jolla

Benoit & Associates
My Best Brother won a division of the Oceanside on Del Mar's opening day.

DEL MAR, Calif. – After My Best Brother won a division of the Oceanside Stakes on opening day July 18 at Del Mar, trainer Julio Canani took a wait-and-see approach as to whether he would come back in the Grade 2, $150,000 La Jolla Handicap on Saturday, or simply await the Grade 2, $300,000 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 2.

The wait is over, and Canani likes what he has seen.

“He’s eating good and everything,” Canani said. “He didn’t back up, so . . .”

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:15

Arlington Park: Illinois Owners Stakes next up for Hooh Why

Barbara D. Livingston
Now 6, the well-traveled Hooh Why will be making her eighth start of the year in the Illinois Owners Stakes.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – It gets old seeing horses not yet into the prime of their career rushed off to retirement. That’s one way of doing things. And then there’s the Hooh Why way.

Hooh Why won the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes in April 2009 but more than three years later still is going strong. At age 6, she’s won 11 of 42 starts while earning more than $1 million. The mare has ventured to nine different racetracks from California to Florida to Canada, and even at this late stage of her career has made seven starts at five different venues already in 2012.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:09

Del Mar notes: Executiveprivilege targets Del Mar Debutante

Benoit & Associates
Executiveprivilege, winning Wednesday’s Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar, is being pointed to the Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 1.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Sorrento Stakes winner Executiveprivilege came out of the race Wednesday in good shape and will seek to run her unbeaten streak to four in the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Debutante for 2-year-old fillies on Sept. 1, trainer Bob Baffert said Thursday morning.

“It was a nice race for her,” Baffert said. “We’ve been going easy with her down here.

“She got a lot out of it, so it will set her up for the Debutante.”

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:45

River Downs: Ohio-breds vie for two $50K purses

CINCINNATI – Ohio-bred horses take center stage Saturday at River Downs with a pair of $50,000 stakes. The Hoover will be contested at six furlongs for 2-year-old Ohio-registered horses, and the Vivacious will be contested at 1 1/16 miles on the turf course for older fillies and mares.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:32

Emerald Downs: Washington Oaks a tough one to figure

Erin Palmer/Emerald Downs
Champagneandcaviar beats Exclusive Diva in the Kent Handicap at Emerald Downs last month.

AUBURN, Wash. – Champagneandcaviar and Exclusive Diva, first and second in the Kent Handicap last month, will try to turn back a talented invader from British Columbia on Saturday in the $65,000 Washington Oaks at Emerald Downs. The meeting’s traditional championship for 3-year-old fillies, the nine-furlong Oaks attracted eight entrants, with Exclusive Diva likely to start as a short-priced favorite.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:18

Remington Park: Alternation, Prayer for Relief square off in Governor's Cup

Tom Keyser
Alternation starts in the Governor’s Cup off an eight-week rest for trainer Donnie Von Hemel.

Alternation, who established himself as one of the nation’s top older horses last spring, and Prayer for Relief, a multiple graded winner a year ago who recently returned to the Midwest, lead a field of five in Saturday night’s $200,000 Governor’s Cup at Remington Park.

The 1 1/8-mile stakes for 3-year-olds and up is the highlight of opening weekend. It shares a card with the $100,000 David M. Vance, a six-furlong race and stepping-stone to the $200,000 Remington Park Sprint on Sept. 30.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 14:37

River Downs: Ohio-breds vie for two $50K purses

CINCINNATI – Ohio-bred horses take center stage Saturday at River Downs with a pair of $50,000 stakes. The Hoover will be contested at six furlongs for 2-year-old Ohio-registered horses, and the Vivacious will be contested at 1 1/16 miles on the turf course for older fillies and mares.