Thu, 07/05/2012 - 15:31

Calder: Azalea pits Citizen Advocate and Another Romance once again

[bc_video_id:256472:]MIAMI – If Saturday’s $150,000 Azalea Stakes has a familiar look, it should. Five of the nine 3-year-old fillies slated to contest the Grade 3 dash on the Summit of Speed card are coming out of the Leave Me Alone overnight stakes here four weeks earlier, including Another Romance and Citizen Advocate, who finished first and second.

Thu, 07/05/2012 - 15:13

Calder: Trinniberg will be tough in Smile Sprint or Carry Back

MIAMI – Owner Shivananda Parbhoo did not submit Trinniberg’s entry for Calder’s Summit of Speed program until just minutes before the races were drawn Monday. But once he did, the nation’s premier 3-year-old sprinter suddenly became the key to not one, but two of the four graded stakes on Saturday’s card.

Thu, 07/05/2012 - 15:12

Hollywood Park: Game On Dude the natural choice in Gold Cup

Shigeki Kikkawa
Game On Dude, with Chantal Sutherland riding, romps in the Californian.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Can a horse win too well?

Game On Dude was vastly superior to three rivals in the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park on June 2, winning by 7 1/4 lengths as the pacesetter in his first start since a 12th in the Dubai World Cup in March.

[HOLLYWOOD PARK: Get PPs and watch Saturday’s full card live]

The win has left the 5-year-old gelding the 124-pound topweight for Saturday’s $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup over 1 1/4 miles.

Thu, 07/05/2012 - 14:58

Lone Star Park: Coyote Legend has edge in Stars of Texas headliner

Jack Coady/Coady Photography
Coyote Legend went wire to wire in the Star of Texas Stakes at Sam Houston in January.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Coyote Legend will be after his eighth stakes win on Saturday when he takes on the comebacking Texas-bred Horse of the Year, Skip a Smile, in the $50,000 Assault at Lone Star Park. The race is one of four restricted stakes worth a combined $300,000 on the Stars of Texas Day program.

Coyote Legend might have a tactical advantage in the Assault, a one-mile stakes for 3-year-olds and up bred in Texas. He appears to have more natural speed than most of his rivals in the seven-horse field, and also drew well in post 5.

Thu, 07/05/2012 - 14:37

Monmouth: Slim Shadey seeks first Grade 1 win in United Nations

Benoit & Associates
Slim Shadey scores an upset victory in the San Marcos Stakes on Feb. 11 at Santa Anita.

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Slim Shadey, a rising force in the turf ranks, and Simon Callaghan, his youthful trainer, both look for a breakthrough win on Saturday in the $500,000 United Nations Stakes.

The U.N. tops the second biggest day of the year at Monmouth Park. The U.N. and the $1 million Haskell Invitational are the meet’s two Grade 1 stakes.

[MONMOUTH PARK: Get PPs and watch Saturday’s full card live]

Thu, 07/05/2012 - 14:33

Northlands: Minutesandtouches drops from stakes to face Freedoms Traveller

Minutesandtouches will try to make amends for his loss as the favorite in the $50,000 Journal when he runs in a $40,000 optional claiming race at Northlands Park on Saturday. The one-mile feature for 3-year-olds and up drew seven horses, including the 2011 local horse of the year, Freedoms Traveller.

Thu, 07/05/2012 - 14:28

Woodbine: Casse shooting for third straight Ontario Damsel

Michael Burns
Dene Court holds on to win the Alywow Stakes in her last start.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Casse seeks his third straight win in the $150,000 Ontario Damsel Saturday at Woodbine. Casse saddles Dene Court, who should be favored in the one-mile turf route for Ontario-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Dene Court showed ample promise early last summer, when she graduated at first asking before running second to Judy the Beauty in the Shady Well Stakes. She earned a Beyer Figure in the high 70s on each occasion.

“We thought she was a real nice filly at 2,” said Casse, who won the Damsel with Bingo in 2011 and with Barracks Road in 2010.

Thu, 07/05/2012 - 14:09

Belmont Park: Suburban Handicap may set up perfectly for Hymn Book

Tom Keyser
Hymn Book is one of three Grade 1 winners in the field for Saturday's Grade 2 Suburban Handicap.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Hymn Book may not be the horse most people are talking about going into Saturday’s Grade 2, $350,000 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park, but those who back him at the windows could be singing his praises after the race.

One of three Grade 1 winners among the eight horses entered for the Suburban, Hymn Book, 6-1 on the morning line, comes into the one-turn, 1 1/8-mile race having lost his last two starts.

Thu, 07/05/2012 - 14:03

Pleasanton: First-timer Broken Sword looks dangerous in Juan Gonzalez Memorial

Saturday’s $50,000-added Juan Gonzalez Memorial for 2-year-old fillies at the Alameda County Fair may have come up tougher than it looks.

The field of seven has three first-time starters in it, yet they could be the ones to beat in the 5 1/2-furlong race on Pleasanton’s dirt track.

Topping the list is Broken Sword, a Jerry Hollendorfer trainee who brings three straight bullet works into the race, including a 59.20 five-furlong drill Wednesday. Island Frolic and Honest Desire are also preparing for their racing debuts.

Thu, 07/05/2012 - 14:02

Calder: Musical Romance star attraction in Summit of Speed's Princess Rooney

Bob Coglianese
Musical Romance figures to be favored in Saturday's Grade 1 Princess Rooney Handicap.

MIAMI – When Musical Romance walked into the starting gate for the 2011 Princess Rooney Handicap, she was just another nice Calder stakes horse on a bit of a roll at the time. Six months later, she was both a Breeders’ Cup and Eclipse Award champion.

When Musical Romance steps into the gate for Saturday’s Grade 1 Princess Rooney, she will do so as the starting highweight, favorite, and reigning division champion. What a difference a year makes!