DEL MAR, Calif. - Shrug, making his first start at five furlongs on turf, won his first stakes in Wednesday’s $93,600 Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar.
Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Shrug ($21.40) finished a nose in front of 8-5 Lakerville in the field of seven. Sirocco Strike, a 6-1 shot, finished a neck behind Lakerville in third, and was a head in front of 7-5 favorite Koast. Koast was third with a furlong remaining but could not sustain the rally.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill - Out on the Arlington main track for the first time Wednesday stepped the pair of Marco Botti-trained horses here for two Million Day races, Crackerjack King, who runs in the Million, and Jakkalberry, who should be favored in the American St. Leger.
Crackerjack King, who is 4, is by Shamardal, and Jakkalberry, 6, by Storming Home, but both horses were produced by the mare Claba di San Jore, making them half-brothers.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The Mid-America Triple does not carry anything close to the prestige of the Triple Crown, but it's somewhat comparable, say, to the Canadian Triple Crown or the Triple Tiara for fillies in New York, in that trainers don't necessarily feel compelled to run in all three races, even when they have a chance of sweeping it.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Richard's Kid, who won the Cougar II Handicap over 1 1/2 miles here on July 27, and Rail Trip are 7, and share the role of senior candidates for the Pacific Classic.
Owned by Samantha Siegel and trained by Ron Ellis, Rail Trip worked seven furlongs in 1:29 at Hollywood Park on Tuesday. A gelding, Rail Trip won the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap over 1 1/16 miles here on July 28, his first stakes win since the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Hollywood Park in June, 2010.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Chantal Sutherland will ride Game On Dude in the Pacific Classic, having successfully asked for a deferment of a four-day suspension she received from stewards at Ascot Racecourse in England last weekend for excessive use of the whip.
The suspension was scheduled for four consecutive days from Aug. 25-28, but Sutherland applied to British racing authorities to defer one day of the suspension to ride on Aug. 26, according to Del Mar steward Tom Ward.
DEL MAR, Calif. - The expected absence of the champion Acclamation from the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 26 gives trainer Bob Baffert an even stronger chance to win the meeting's most lucrative race.
Baffert has three probable starters - Game On Dude, the winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup last month; Richard's Kid, who won the 2009 and 2010 Pacific Classic; and Jaycito, a Grade 1 winner in 2010 and the winner of an optional claimer here on July 22.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Tom Albertrani hopes the return to the Saratoga turf helps Brilliant Speed end his six-race losing streak when he takes on Turbo Compressor and Point of Entry in the Grade 1, $600,000 Sword Dancer at 1 1/2 miles.
Brilliant Speed hasn’t won since taking the Grade 3 Saranac here last Sept. 4. He finished second in the Grade 1 Jamaica and third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf to end his 3-year-old season. He is winless in four starts this year.
What began as a routine workout turned into a potentially disastrous situation Wednesday morning on the Oklahoma training track for two stakes horses, Ruthenia and Right One, from the barn of trainer Christophe Clement.
Ruthenia was working inside stablemate Right One when she ducked in suddenly and bounced off the temporary railing nearing the eighth pole. Fortunately, the nimble footed Ruthenia was able to regain her stride and completed the breeze albeit far behind her workmate.
AUBURN, Wash. – Awesome Gem drew post 3 and was installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite when entries were taken Wednesday for Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs.
Seeking to become the first horse since Simply Majestic in 1988-89 to win the Longacres Mile twice, Awesome Gem will carry high weight of 123 pounds and jockey David Flores when he starts in the Mile for the third time in four years. After finishing a fast-closing second behind upset winner Assessment in 2009, Awesome Gem returned last summer to defeat local hero Noosa Beach by 1 1/2 lengths.
