Sun, 01/15/2012 - 17:43

Santa Anita: Reneesgotzip dominates Santa Ynez

Benoit & Associates
Reenesgotzip, under Corey Nakatani, coasts to a 7 3/4-length win in the Santa Ynez.

ARCADIA, Calif.- Reneesgotzip is almost too fast for her own good.

In Sunday’s $150,000 Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita, Reneesgotzip was running so quickly entering the stretch that jockey Corey Nakatani allowed her to drift several paths away from the rail. Reneesgotzip had such momentum that she only expanded her lead, going from a half-length lead on the turn to four lengths in the stretch and 7 3/4 lengths at the wire.

Trained by Peter Miller, Reneesgotzip ($4) ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.25.

Sun, 01/15/2012 - 17:15

Santa Anita: San Fernando may be start of huge year for Tapizar

Benoit & Associates
San Fernando winner Tapizar will be pointed to the Strub on Feb. 4.

ARCADIA, Calif.- Tapizar’s brilliant victory in the Grade 2 San Fernando Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday will make him the favorite in the $200,000 Strub Stakes for 4-year-olds on Feb. 4.

 Tapizar was the even-money favorite in the Grade 2 San Fernando Stakes and ran like it. He led throughout the 1 1/16-mile race, holding an advantage of 1 1/2 lengths on the backstretch and pulling away to win by 3 1/2 lengths over Balladry. That speed has proven to be a prime asset in a nine-race career that includes four wins, including two stakes at Santa Anita.

Sun, 01/15/2012 - 15:55

Santa Anita: Rosario suspended five days for careless ride

Barbara D. Livingston
Joel Rosario is accused of failing to put forth his best effort in a race at Del Mar.

ARCADIA, Calif.-  Leading jockey Joel Rosario has been suspended five days for causing interference in Saturday’s ninth race, the stewards announced in a ruling issued on Sunday.

Ron Ebanks, Rosario’s agent, said he was unsure whether Rosario might appeal the suspension.

Sun, 01/15/2012 - 15:36

Gulfstream: Long-idle Private Jet hardly looks rusty in Gulfstream Turf Sprint

Bob Coglianese
Private Jet, making his first start in 16 months, takes the Gulfsteam Park Turf Sprint under John Velazquez.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -  Sixteen months off?  No problem for Private Jet, who returned from the long layoff to win his U.S. debut when he rallied to a one-length victory over even-money favorite Great Attack in Sunday’s $60,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint.

Private Jet, a Group 1 winner in South Africa early in his career, had been training for his return with trainer Kiaran McLaughlin’s Belmont Park string and did not ship down from New York until just six days before the race. Now 7,  Private Jet had not started since Sept. 24, 2010 in South Africa.

Sun, 01/15/2012 - 14:52

Delta Downs: Devious Intent delivers as favorite in Genesis

Devious Intent became a stakes winner Saturday night at Delta Downs, when she prompted the pace in the $75,000 Genesis, and then went on two-length score over Storm’s Promise. It was another three lengths back in third to Gospel Gal.

Devious Intent ($3.60) tracked Storm’s Promise through fractions of 24.40 seconds for the opening quarter, 50.18 for the half-mile, and 1:14.94 for six furlongs. She then went on to cover the 7 1/2 furlongs run around two turns in 1:34.31.

Sun, 01/15/2012 - 11:28

Turfway: Lou's Angel uses speed to take Wishing Well

Patrick Lang/Lang Photography
Rodney Prescott guides Lou's Angel to victory in the Wishing Well.

Lou’s Angel drew off the also-eligible list and proceeded to lead practically every step of the way from her outside post in notching her first stakes victory Saturday in the $50,000 Wishing Well Stakes at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

Sat, 01/14/2012 - 21:41

Golden Gate Fields: Russian Greek goes from last to first in California Derby

Stacia Mumm/Vassar Photography
Russian Greek, ridden by Aaron Gryder, captures the California Derby, giving trainer Jerry Hollendorfer his fifth win in the stakes.

Russian Greek, last through the first six furlongs, rallied through the stretch to defeat longshot Cahill Chrome and win the $100,520 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

Russian Greek ($5.40), who rallied along the rail to win the Gold Rush Stakes in his previous start, moved up in the three-path on the second turn. Aaron Gryder steered Russian Greek wide into the stretch for clear sailing, and the Giant's Causeway colt came flying.

Sat, 01/14/2012 - 19:54

Santa Anita: Tapizar controls pace en route to San Fernando win

Shigeki Kikkawa
Tapizar, ridden by Corey Nakatani, sets comfortable fractions en route to winning the Grade 2 San Fernando.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Tapizar was allowed to set his own pace in Saturday’s $150,000 San Fernando Stakes at Santa Anita, a tactic that essentially dictated the outcome long before the field reached the wire.

Without a rival within 1 1/2 lengths at any point, Tapizar led throughout the Grade 2 San Fernando over 1 1/16 miles and proved impossible to catch. He pulled away in the final furlong to win by 3 1/2 lengths. Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Tapizar ($4.20) was timed in 1:41.94.

Sat, 01/14/2012 - 19:47

Sunland: Former claimer Garretsghostlygirl pays dividends in La Senora

Tommie Morelos/Coady Photography
Garretsghostlygirl, claimed for $10,000 last July, scores her first stakes win in the La Senora.

Garretsghostlygirl, who was claimed for $10,000 in July, became a stakes winner Saturday at Sunland Park in the $110,000 La Senora Stakes. She won the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies bred in New Mexico by 3 3/4 lengths over Hot For You.

Garretsghostlygirl ($17.80) set the pace through opening half-mile in 45.14 seconds and kept rolling, to cover the distance in 1:11.24. Miguel Hernandez rode the winner for M J Racing and trainer Justin Evans.

Sat, 01/14/2012 - 19:21

Turf Paradise: Saratoga Boot's nose hits wire first in three-horse Cotton Fitzsimmons photo

Shawn Coady/Coady Photography
Saratoga Boot (right) outfinishes runner-up Leroy's Dynameaux (middle) and Fast Track to win the Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Handicap.

Saratoga Boot, who was stepping up in class and had not finished in the exacta in four grass tries, picked the right day for his best race in some time as he posted a 14-1 upset in Saturday’s $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Handicap at Turf Paradise.