Mon, 07/09/2012 - 15:44

Emerald Downs: Class Included runs off with Boeing Handicap

AUBURN, Wash. - Class Included solidified her standing as the top filly or mare at Emerald Downs with a runaway victory Sunday in the $50,000 Boeing Handicap.

Winning for the third time in four starts this year, Class Included cruised home with a 2 1/2-length cushion over fast-closing stablemate Sweet Nellie Brown, who was nearly three lengths clear of Carrabelle Harbor in the field of seven.

Class Included, the wagering favorite for the ninth consecutive time, ran one mile in 1:34.48 and paid $4.20.

Mon, 07/09/2012 - 15:36

Delaware Park: Inside spots hold edge

Considering that five of the eight 3-year-old fillies entered in Wednesday’s $50,000 Walking in Da Sun overnight stakes at Delaware Park finished first or second in their most recent outing, there’s no shortage of good form on dirt, turf, and synthetic surfaces. That also makes for a wide range of possibilities for handicappers trying to pin down the right horse.

The two strongest credentials belong to the fillies who will break from posts 1 and 2 in the 1 1/16-mile turf race, partly because inside posts are preferable in turf routes at Delaware that begin from a chute.

Mon, 07/09/2012 - 14:34

Northlands: Tempered Sapphire makes first start since 2011 stakes romp

Tempered Sapphire makes her seasonal debut in a first-level allowance race for fillies and mares that will serve as Wednesday’s feature at Northlands Park. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew five horses and goes as the fifth race.

Tempered Sapphire closed out her 2-year-old season in style, winning the $50,000, one-mile Freedom of the City by 10 1/2 lengths on Oct. 11. The British Columbia-bred Tempered Sapphire was a maiden going into the race, but wasn’t that big of a surprise because she had shown solid improvement in her two starts leading into the race.

Mon, 07/09/2012 - 14:16

Woodbine: Consolidated Joe drops to level where he's dangerous

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After a subpar showing, Consolidator Joe could rebound in the only non-claiming race at Woodbine on Wednesday, a six-furlong starter allowance for horses who competed for $40,000 or less in 2011-12.

Consolidator Joe had a fabulous 2011 campaign, during which he won 5 of 7 starts and nearly $180,000 under the guidance of trainer Norm McKnight. He did the bulk of his damage against $50,000 3-year-olds, and was bestowed the honor of claimer of the year by the Toronto Thoroughbred Racing Club.

Mon, 07/09/2012 - 14:02

Woodbine: Count on Marketing Mix returning for Canadian

Michael Burns
Marketing Mix, with Julien Leparoux up, wins the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Marketing Mix definitely has found a second home at Woodbine.

Trained by Tom Proctor, the 4-year-old Marketing Mix has been based mainly in Kentucky and Illinois but now has made six of her 13 career starts here.

And, after recording her second consecutive Grade 2 turf stakes win here in Sunday’s 1 1/8-mile Dance Smartly, Marketing Mix now has earned more than $1 million with $582,000 of that total coming via her 3-for-3 record over the local turf course.

Mon, 07/09/2012 - 09:18

Los Alamitos: El Aguila Real wins Vessels Maturity

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. - El Aguila Real strengthened his status as the leading older male at Los Alamitos with a convincing win in Sunday’s $200,000 Vessels Maturity.

Earlier this year, El Aguila Real won the Los Alamitos Winter Championship in February. Both races hold automatic berths for the winner to the $750,000 Champion of Champions in December, which could be El Aguila Real’s next start, according to trainer Francisco Vallejo.

Mon, 07/09/2012 - 09:10

Pleasanton: Anytime Magic makes it 2 for 2 in the Everett Nevin-Alameda County Futurity

Trainer Bob Hess gave jockey David Lopez a Plan A and a Plan B for Anytime Magic in Sunday’s $57,450 Everett Nevin-Alameda County Futurity at Pleasanton, Calif. Plan A was enough.

Sun, 07/08/2012 - 20:42

Hastings: Marketway gets perfect trip in Boulevard Casino Stakes

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Marketway got a perfect trip under Fernando Perez  to defeat Ten Thirty in the $50,000 Boulevard Casino Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Hastings on Sunday.

With Lady Henrietta setting pace from the three path, Marketway was biding her time while saving ground along the rail in the six-furlong sprint. Marketway made a strong move approaching the quarter pole, and after taking a half-length lead into the stretch, she increased her margin to 1 3/4 lengths over Ten Thirty, who had a wide trip. Lady Henrietta held on to finish third.

Sun, 07/08/2012 - 20:24

Hollywood Park: Parade of longshots yields $111,858 pick-six carryover for Thursday card

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – A string of longshot winners Sunday, and a loss by a heavy favorite, has led to a pick-six carryover of $111,858 for Thursday’s eight-race program at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Thursday’s program begins at 1 p.m. The pick-six races are the third through eighth, with the first leg of the pick six due off at approximately 2 p.m. Pacific.

Sunday, three consecutive winners in the fifth through seventh races paid $18, $18.40, and $44.60 before 4-5 Mile High Magic finished second to Don Tito ($14.80) in the eighth race.

Sun, 07/08/2012 - 19:25

Arapahoe Park: Lady Contender captures George Wafer Memorial

Coady Photography
Lady Contender wins the $40,000 George Wafer Memorial at Arapahoe Park.

Lady Contender has advanced rapidly during the course of the Arapahoe Park meet. She won her debut by eight lengths on June 2, ran second in two subsequent allowances, then became a stakes winner Sunday in the $40,000 George Wafer Memorial.

Lady Contender ($9) was prominent throughout the seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies, tracking Expeditiously through an opening half-mile in 45.64 seconds and then going on to win by 1 1/4 lengths. She covered the distance on a track rated sloppy in 1:24.02.