A mix of 2-year-olds from Iowa, Kentucky, and Southern California have gathered in Colorado for the $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity, the richest Thoroughbred race of the Arapahoe Park meet that closes on Sunday. Awaiting the shippers is local favorite Get Happy Mister, a winner of all three of his starts by a combined margin of 22 lengths.
“He’s sure been beating them awfully handily,” said trainer Randy Morse, who will counter with He’s a Rockstar.
Alternation and Prayer for Relief, who put on a show when finishing a nose apart in last weekend’s $200,000 Governor’s Cup at Remington Park, both were in Oklahoma City on Friday with their next races still being determined by their connections. Alternation won his fifth stakes of the year when he edged Prayer for Relief, a shipper who held his ground along the rail as the two horses raced as a team from the final turn to the wire.
“That was a good horse race,” said Donnie Von Hemel, who trains Alternation.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - After his top New York-bred filly Hessonite dropped three consecutive decisions to Gitchee Goomie earlier this season, trainer David Donk said it was important to get one back in Friday’s $150,000 Yadoo at Saratoga.
And that’s exactly what Hessonite did, rallying to a 1 1/2-length decision over longshot Mystic City with Gitchee Goomie finishing a disappointing fourth in the turf fixture for statebred fillies and mares.
AUBURN, Wash. − The definition of “big horse” is open to interpretation, and how could it not be? Frank Lucarelli figured he had a big horse, Ebony Spirit, back in 1979, but she was also his first horse and, for a time, his only horse. Lucarelli lived near Portland Meadows in a trailer that, according to a friend, was so comically small that Lucarelli and his black lab, Ebony, could barely fit inside.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.– Centre Court was overshadowed by the presence of the reigning Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies turf winner Stephanie’s Kitten going into last month’s Grade 2 Lake George Stakes. And despite winning the Lake George, Centre Court may be slightly overlooked once again despite returning against virtually the same field in Sunday’s $200,000 Lake Placid at Saratoga.
[Complete coverage of racing at Saratoga: News, PPs, and video]
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Paco Lopez scored his 1,000th win on Friday, guiding Whitey’s Gold, the 3-5 favorite, to the victory in the second race at Monmouth Park.
Many members of the Monmouth’s riding colony gathered in the winner’s circle to congratulate Lopez, 26, who rode Quarter Horses in Mexico before moving to south Florida to ride Thoroughbreds five years ago.
“It is really exciting,” Lopez said. “I am so happy to have this accomplishment. I hope to keep winning races while getting to do what I love.”
ETOBICOKE, Ontario − Juanita, who was scratched from last Saturday’s Gardenia at one mile at Ellis Park, is shipping to Woodbine from Kentucky for Sunday’s Belle Mahone at 1 1/16 miles.
The Gardenia was a Grade 3 race, and the Belle Mahone is an overnight stakes. Both are $100,000 races for fillies and mares.
Juanita last raced May 28, when she finished last of five in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Handicap over 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park. One race before, she won the Grade 2 La Troienne at Churchill Downs over 1 1/16 miles May 4.
Anybody who might have jumped off the Trinniberg bandwagon after he was upset as the 1-5 favorite in the Grade 3 Carry Back last month at Calder may have second thoughts after the multiple graded sprint stakes winner blew out three furlongs in 35.42 seconds from the gate here at Saratoga on Friday in preparation for next Saturday’s King’s Bishop.
OCEANPORT, N.J. – Howe Great cruised to victory in the Jersey Derby as the 3-10 favorite.
Fire Alarm, the only horse to unleash a meaningful stretch rally behind Howe Great that afternoon, gets his chance to shine Sunday in the $60,000 Restoration Stakes for 3-year-olds on the turf at Monmouth Park.
Racing four wide into the stretch, Fire Alarm came on to get second, only 1 1/4 lengths behind Howe Great.
Van rides are an integral part of Little Bit of Baja’s season, and may continue to be.
Already this year, the 8-year-old gelding has raced at Sunland Park and Remington Park in divisions of the Bank of America Challenge Championship series, finishing sixth and fourth.
