Sat, 06/09/2012 - 17:32

River Downs: Tsunaami Stu comes up hedge to win Gendleman Memorial Handicap

CINCINNATI – Tsunaami Stu went from last early to win the $50,000 Sydney Gendleman Memorial Handicap by a half-length at River Downs on Saturday.

Trained by Mike Rone, Tsunaami Stu trailed the field of 11 Ohio-bred older horses early before rallying under Albin Jimenez into the stretch. Jimenez took the 5-year-old gelding to the hedge in late stretch and got through to win the 1 1/16-mile turf event.

Shakeyogroovething ran a huge race to settle for second, a half-length in front of post-time favorite Pyrite Personal in third.

Sat, 06/09/2012 - 17:13

Belmont: Trinniberg gets back to winning in Woody Stephens

Barbara D. Livingston
Trinniberg, with Willie Martinez riding, outruns his rivals in the Woody Stephens.

ELMONT, N.Y. - A day that owner Shivananda Parbhoo described as "bittersweet, more bitter than sweet," ended up on an upbeat note when the speedy Trinniberg led from start to finish in the Grade 2, $400,000 Woody Stephens Stakes, which was run two races after Parbhoo's older sprinter Giant Ryan suffered a serious injury in the True North Handicap on Saturday at Belmont Park.

[BELMONT DAY: Full stakes results and video replays]

Sat, 06/09/2012 - 17:13

Finger Lakes: Pretty Cozzy takes Susan B. Anthony with help from stablemate

Pretty Cozzy took advantage of a speed duel caused in part by her stablemate Sweet Hot Toddy, and came home strongly to win the $50,000 Susan B. Anthony Handicap at Finger Lakes on Saturday.

Nicole’s Miss El led into the stretch of the six-furlong Susan B. Anthony and ended up second, two lengths behind Pretty Cozzy and 2 ½ lengths in front of third-place finisher Clean Jean.

Sat, 06/09/2012 - 16:26

Belmont: Tapitsfly gets first Grade 1 in Just a Game

Justin N. Lane
Tapitsfly, with Ramon Dominguez aboard, holds off Winter Memories to win the Just a Game Stakes at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Dale Romans has spent a lot of time trying to teach Tapitsfly how to relax. But as he handicapped Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Just a Game Handicap, he threw those lessons out the window.

Sat, 06/09/2012 - 15:59

Hollywood Park cuts overnight purses

The purse cut announced by Betfair Hollywood Park officials Saturday erased a purse increase that had track officials optimistic earlier this year about the prospects for the spring-summer meeting.

In April, before the start of the meeting on April 26, officials announced that purses for maiden special weight and allowance races would be raised $2,000, and that purses for some claiming races would be increased by $1,000 over 2011 levels. Saturday’s purse cut essentially nullified those gains.

Sat, 06/09/2012 - 15:57

Belmont: Teeth of the Dog best in Easy Goer

Barbara D. Livingston
Teeth of the Dog, with Joel Rosario riding, wraps up victory in the Easy Goer.

ELMONT, N.Y. -  Despite the absence of I'll Have Another, the Preakness produced a stakes winner when Teeth of the Dog took Saturday's $100,000 Easy Goer Stakes in decisive fashion.

Sat, 06/09/2012 - 15:50

Hollywood Park: My Gi Gi rallies strong to win Honeymoon Handicap

Benoit & Associates
My Gi Gi, with Rafael Bejarano up, rallies to win Saturday’s $150,000 Honeymoon Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – My Gi Gi won the first stakes of her career in Saturday’s $150,000 Honeymoon Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park, a victory that trainer Peter Eurton credited to jockey Rafael Bejarano.

My Gi Gi ($8.40) closed from fourth in a field of five to win the Grade 2 Honeymoon by a nose over 1-2 favorite Lady of Shamrock, who displayed a remarkable rally late to just miss. Trained by John Sadler, Lady of Shamrock won three turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies during the winter-spring meeting at Santa Anita.

Sat, 06/09/2012 - 15:33

Belmont Park: Caixa Eletronica comes from rear to win True North Handicap

Barbara D. Livingston
Caixa Eletronica (left) runs down Justin Phillip to score by three-quarters of a length in the Grade 2 True North Handicap.

ELMONT, N.Y. - At the three-eighths pole of Saturday's $400,000 True North at Belmont Park, trainer Todd Pletcher admitted even he was a little worried his Caixa Eletronica had fallen too far off the leaders to possibly win the Grade 2 dash. But when the torrid pace finally took its toll in deep stretch, Caixa Eletronica became the major beneficiary, charging down the center of the course to register a three-quarter-length victory over a game but weary Justin Phillip.

Sat, 06/09/2012 - 15:23

Churchill Downs: Wise Dan, Royal Delta assigned top weights in Foster, Fleur de Lis

Coady Photography/Keeneland
Wise Dan (above) will face Ron the Greek and Alternation in the Foster.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Wise Dan and Royal Delta have been assigned high weight of 123 pounds apiece for their respective handicaps, the Stephen Foster and Fleur de Lis, this coming weekend at Churchill Downs.

Sat, 06/09/2012 - 15:20

I'll Have Another's team shows no bitterness

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Doug O'Neill leads I'll Have Another away from Friday's press conference announcing the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner's retirement.

ELMONT, N.Y. – On the day after, the connections of I’ll Have Another expressed gratitude for what they did achieve, not remorse for what they didn’t.

Trainer Doug O’Neill and jockey Mario Gutierrez were still somber and subdued Saturday, 24 hours after their Triple Crown dreams were dashed when I’ll Have Another was found to have a tendon injury that not only forced him out of the Belmont Stakes, but prompted owner J. Paul Reddam to retire the colt.