Sun, 08/05/2012 - 22:03

Del Mar: Reddam first-time starter takes Grade 2 Best Pal

Benoit & Associates
Know More, an unraced maiden ridden by Garrett Gomez, captures the Best Pal.

DEL MAR, Calif. – One of the reasons owner Paul Reddam has been such a success in business and in racing is that he will do what appears to be unconventional, but there are sound methods to what appears to be madness.

His derring-do was on display earlier this year, when I’ll Have Another returned from a five-month layoff and won the Robert Lewis Stakes, propelling the colt to a journey that resulted in victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 20:28

Santa Rosa: Santa Rosa: Shudacudawudya improves second time on turf in Jess Jackson

Vassar Photography
Shudacudwudya outfinishes favored Ain't No Other by a neck in the Jess Jackson Owners' Handicap.

Shudacudawudya, eased in his only other turf start, unleashed a strong rally to finish a neck in front of odds-on favorite Ain’t No Other in the $66,850 Jess Jackson Owners’ Handicap on Sunday at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa.

Shudacudawudya  ($6.80) was taken off the pace by jockey Julien Couton, who was willing to sit patiently in sixth, ahead of only one rival.

After setting the pace for the opening quarter in a five-way battle, longshot Barrel Knot was overtaken by Starboardlights and Ain’t No Other, who continued to fight for the lead into the stretch.

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 19:28

Saratoga: Poseidon's Warrior pulls off 36-1 upset in Vanderbilt

Barbara D. Livingston
Poseidon's Warrior, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., gives trainer Butch Reid his first career Grade 1 victory

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Based in the Mid-Atlantic region, trainer Butch Reid certainly makes his presence felt when he comes to New York.

Reid picked up his sixth career graded stakes victory - and third in New York - when Poseidon’s Warrior outgamed Justin Phillip to the wire to win Sunday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga. He was the second-longest shot in the eight-horse field, returning $74.50.

It was the first Grade 1 victory for the 56-year-old Reid, who began training in 1983.

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 18:26

Woodbine: Irish Mission holds off Aldous Snow in Breeders' Stakes

Michael Burns
The filly Irish Mission, ridden by Alex Solis, prevails by a half-length in the Breeders' Stakes.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — The filly Irish Mission  gamely held off a charging Aldous Snow to capture Sunday’s $507,400 Breeders’ Stakes, the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown at Woodbine.

With Alex Solis aboard, Irish Mission ($11.80) bided her  time near the rear of the large field on the backstretch of the 12-furlong turf marathon. She loomed four-wide into contention on the far turn, and was joined on the lead by a wide-closing Aldous Snow around the three-sixteenths pole.

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 17:51

Monmouth: Rip Roarin Ritchie uncatchable in Tyro

Bill Denver/Equiphoto
Elvis Trujillo rides Rip Roarin Ritchie to a half-length victory in the Tyro for 2-year-olds at Monmouth Park.

Rip Roarin Ritchie, heavily favored on the basis of a fast maiden win in mid-June at Churchill Downs, shot to the lead and withstood stretch threats from I’m Boundtoscore and Itsmyluckyday to capture  the $60,000 Tyro Stakes for 2-year-olds  at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 17:07

Del Mar: Cambina seeks to end skid in John Mabee

Shigeki Kikkawa
Cambina (4), with Martin Garcia riding, dead-heats for first with Nereid in the American Oaks.

An eight-race losing streak may end for the 4-year-old filly Cambina in the $250,000 John Mabee Stakes next Sunday at Del Mar.

Second by a nose in the Grade 3 Beverly Hills Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park on June 24, Cambina has left trainer Jeff Bonde confident about her current ability. He was particularly jazzed about her five-furlong on turf in 59.80 seconds on Sunday morning.

“It was the best work of her life,” Bonde said.

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

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 16:58

Del Mar: Game On Dude appears primed for Pacific Classic

Shigeki Kikkawa
Game On Dude, ridden by Chantal Sutherland, wins the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup by 1 1/2 lengths over his stablemate Richard's Kid.

DEL MAR, Calif.- Game On Dude is fit and ready for the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 26.

After Game On Dude worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 on Sunday, trainer Bob Baffert said he wished the race was sooner.

“He’s staying in the groove,” Baffert said. “He really likes this track. I’ve got to keep him on that track for three weeks.”

The winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup on July 7, and two other stakes earlier this year, Game On Dude is the likely favorite for the Pacific Classic, which is run over 1 1/4 miles.

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 16:21

Saratoga: Data Link sharpens for Fourstardave

Barbara D. Livingston
Data Link had a sharp four-furlong workout in 46.39 seconds Sunday in preparation for Saturday's Fourstardave at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The Oklahoma turf course is normally closed for training on weekends throughout the summer at Saratoga although it was open on Sunday morning to allow horses preparing for upcoming stakes to work.  Perhaps the word didn’t get out.

Only one trainer took advantage of the special session, Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, who sent out his Grade 1 winner Data Link to work a very sharp half-mile in 46.39 seconds in preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 2 Fourstardave.

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 13:19

Charles Town: Lucy's Bob Boy takes third straight in Robert Leavitt

Mike Montgomery
Gustavo Larrosa guides Lucy's Bob Boy to his third straight win.

Lucy’s Bob Boy ran down pacesetter Paco Smart in deep stretch to collect his third straight victory in the $51,150 Robert Leavitt Sakes for 3-year-old West Virginia-breds Saturday night at Charles Town.

Ridden by Gustavo Larrosa for trainer Sandra Dono and owner Michael Furr, Lucy’s Bob Boy ($4.20) is now 5 for 7 lifetime after completing the seven furlongs on a fast track in 1:27.10. He was coming off a win in the 4 1/2-furlong Coin Collector on June 30.

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 13:06

Prairie Meadows: Top owner Moss collects two Iowa Classic stakes victories

ALTOONA, Iowa -- Perennial leading owner Maggi Moss, on the verge of her 10th consecutive title at Prairie Meadows with a resounding 42 wins, swept a pair of Iowa Classic night stakes when reformed sprinter Hes Not You took the $86,683 Iowa Breeders' Derby and veteran Cresco Direct Hit proved best in the $77,575 Iowa Classic Sprint.