Mon, 11/07/2011 - 12:32

Woodbine: Future Surprise tries to bounce back in South Ocean Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Future Surprise can probably be forgiven for coming up empty in the open Mazarine Stakes. She should be more effective against Ontario-sired opposition Wednesday at Woodbine in the $125,000 South Ocean Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old fillies.

Future Surprise, a Minshall Farm homebred by Queen’s Plate winner Niigon, has started three times for trainer Barb Minshall. She got a six-week break after finishing a dull eighth in her debut over six furlongs July 23.

Mon, 11/07/2011 - 11:23

Santa Anita finishes meet strong

ARCADIA, Calif. – Santa Anita concluded its 24-day fall meeting on Sunday with an increase in business over the corresponding days from 2009 meeting, the last fall meeting at the track.

Track president George Haines said average all-sources handle increased 5 percent, average ontrack handle 6 percent, and average ontrack attendance 1 percent.

This fall was the first in which Santa Anita operated a fall meeting on its own. From 1968 to 2009, the Oak Tree Racing Association leased Santa Anita. Oak Tree ran its 2010 meeting at Hollywood Park.

Mon, 11/07/2011 - 11:21

Uncle Mo retired from racing

Barbara D. Livingston
Uncle Mo finished 10th in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic in his final career start.

No more Mo.

Uncle Mo, last year’s 2-year-old champion colt who finished 10th in Saturday’s $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs, has been retired from racing, owner Mike Repole said Monday.

Sun, 11/06/2011 - 19:43

Santa Anita: All Star Heart finishes fast to capture Las Palmas

ARCADIA, Calif.- Displaying the late rally that has defined her season, All Star Heart won her first graded stakes in Sunday’s $150,000 Las Palmas Handicap at Santa Anita.

Closing from last in a field of five fillies and mares, All Star Heart ($7.20) won the Grade 2 Las Palmas by two lengths over City to City. Sarah’s Secret was third in the field of five, followed by 7-5 favorite Malibu Pier and Ash Zee. Anniversary Girl, Private Affair and Turning Top were scratched earlier on Sunday.

Sun, 11/06/2011 - 18:39

Delaware: Vazquez repeats as meet's leading trainer

Juan Vazquez repeated as Delaware Park’s leading trainer, finishing the 2011 season which concluded Saturday afternoon with 61 victories, 10 ahead of runner-up Jamie Ness.

Vazquez, 36, won his first training title at the 2010 meet with 83 victories.

Joe Rocco Jr., 29, won his first riding title with 94 victories, 20 more than Abel Castellano. Defending champion Rosie Napravnik, who missed three months with a fractured wrist, tied with Ricardo Chiappe for third with 36 victories.

Sun, 11/06/2011 - 18:19

Churchill: Mott continues hot hand with Deluxe in Cardinal Handicap

Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography
Deluxe gives trainer Bill Mott his third graded stakes win of the weekend by taking the Grade 3 Cardinal Handicap.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Hey, Bill Mott – give somebody else a turn!

Mott, who famously swept the two Breeders’ Cup anchor events at Churchill Downs with Royal Delta in the Ladies’ Classic and Drosselmeyer in the Classic, sent out yet another winner here Sunday when Deluxe ran to a hard-fought score in the Grade 3, $109,900 Cardinal Handicap, the featured event on an 11-race post-BC card.

Sun, 11/06/2011 - 17:54

Hollywood Park: Rousing Sermon likely lone starter for Hollendorfer in Real Quiet

California Cup Juvenile winner Rousing Sermon starts in Saturday’s $100,000 Real Quiet Stakes at Hollywood Park, and is likely to be trainer Jerry Hollendorfer’s lone runner.

Sun, 11/06/2011 - 17:51

Santa Anita: La Brea next target for Turbulent Descent

Turbulent Descent, who finished a troubled fifth in Friday’s Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, will be pointed for the $250,000 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over seven furlongs at Santa Anita in late December, trainer Mike Puype said.

The date for the Grade 1 La Brea has not been finalized. Puype said that Turbulent Descent would start in the La Brea “without a question.”

Sun, 11/06/2011 - 17:46

Woodbine: Maritimer looks like Queen's Plate prospect winning Coronation Futurity

Michael Burns
Maritimer handles his first route assignment as the favorite in the Coronation Futurity.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — The favored Maritimer established himself as a contender for next year’s Queen’s Plate with a convincing score in the $250,800 Coronation Futurity at Woodbine on Sunday.

Sun, 11/06/2011 - 17:41

Weemissfrankie a possibility for Hollywood Starlet

Barbara D. Livingston
Weemissfrankie is one of four unbeaten fillies in the field for Friday's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Weemissfrankie, third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs on Friday, may start again this year, and has the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill on May 4 as a long-term goal, trainer Peter Eurton said on Sunday.

Weemissfrankie was beaten nine lengths by My Miss Aurelia in the Juvenile Fillies, the first loss of her four-race career. Earlier this year, Weemissfrankie won a maiden race and two Grade 1 races – the Del Mar Debutante and Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita