Mon, 10/17/2011 - 08:55

Fresno: Baze sweeps stakes with Bold Chieftain, Longview Drive

The Big Fresno Fair’s richest day of racing in track history turned into the Russell Baze Show as he guided Bold Chieftain to the 14th stakes victory of his career in the $62,600 Bull Dog and 2-year-old Longview Drive to his second straight stakes victory in the $75,960 Charlie Palmer Futurity. Baze won four races on the 12-race card, which offered a Fresno record $248,100 in purses.

Mon, 10/17/2011 - 08:36

Zia Park: Im a Bear wins first stakes in Permian Basin

Im a Bear became a stakes winner on Sunday, when she overtook Runge by a neck in the $55,000 Permian Basin for 2-year-old fillies at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M.  It was another 6 1/2 lengths back in third to Affable Amy.

Im a Bear ($5.40), who had placed in two stakes prior to the Permian Basin, sat just off the pace in the six-furlong race Sunday. Amazing Miracle led the field through an opening quarter in 21.98 seconds, while Runge was in front after a half-mile in 45.06. Im a Bear rallied in the stretch to cover six furlongs on a track rated fast in 1:10.08.

Sun, 10/16/2011 - 21:58

Remington Park: Tourmaline stuns favorites in Remington Park Oaks

Dustin Orona Photography
Tourmaline springs a giant upset in the Remington Park Oaks under jockey Dean Butler.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Tourmaline ran the race of her life on Sunday, when she overtook Grade 3 winners Savvy Supreme and May Day Rose on the wire to win the $250,000 Remington Park Oaks. She paid $52, one start after finishing a troubled ninth in the $400,000 Charles Town Oaks.

Sun, 10/16/2011 - 21:00

Remington: Redeemed responds to new equipment by taking Oklahoma Derby

Dustin Orona Photography
Redeemed, equipped with blinkers for the first time, captures the Oklahoma Derby under jockey Edgar Prado.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Redeemed took his game to a new level on Sunday, when he closed with authority to win the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby over Grade 2 winners Alternation and Prayer for Relief. It was the first stakes win and first win at two turns for the rapidly improving  Redeemed, who added blinkers one start after finishing second in the $300,000 Smarty Jones at Parx Racing.

Sun, 10/16/2011 - 20:42

Santa Anita: Mile ideal distance for Up in Time in Harold Ramser

BENOIT PHOTO
Up In Time closes from fifth under jockey Martin Garcia to capture the Harold Ramser Handicap.

ARCADIA, Calif.- Race distance is key for Up In Time, who won her second stakes of 2011 in Sunday’s $100,000 Harold Ramser Handicap at Santa Anita.

At a mile, she has proven tough to beat. Past a mile, she’s vulnerable.

In the Ramser for 3-year-old fillies, Up In Time ($12.40) closed from fifth in a field of 11 to win by 1 1/4 lengths over 7-1 Celestial Kitten. Up In Time ran a mile on turf in 1:34.25.

Sun, 10/16/2011 - 20:33

Turf Paradise: Stablemates score as heavy favorites in divisions of ATBA Fall Sales Stakes

As expected,  Page Springs remained undefeated in five starts as she had no trouble dominating 10 other 2-year-old fillies in Sunday’s $98,230 ATBA Fall Sales Stakes at Turf Paradise.

Sun, 10/16/2011 - 18:40

Woodbine: French filly Sarah Lynx dominates Canadian International at 22-1

Michael Burns
Sarah Lynx, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, uses a powerful stretch kick to draw clear by four lengths in the Canadian International.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — French invader Sarah Lynx  became the first filly or mare to win the Grade 1 Canadian International since 1988 on Sunday at Woodbine, when she stormed home on top by four lengths over last year’s winner, Joshua Tree.

Sarah Lynx ($46.90) saved ground throughout under Christophe Soumillon before taking the lead early in the stretch, and then drew off to complete the 1 ½-mile  distance over yielding turf in 2:34.90. She earned $900,000 of the $1.5 million purse for owner Mrs. Robert Ehrnrooth and trainer John Hammond.

Sun, 10/16/2011 - 17:31

Woodbine: Miss Keller hits wire first in three-horse E.P. Taylor photo

Michael Burns
Miss Keller splits horses to narrowly get up over I'm a Dreamer (3) and Dream Peace in the $1 million E.P. Taylor.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Miss Keller, runner-up in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes last year, prevailed in a thrilling three-horse finish in Sunday’s running of the $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes for fillies and mares.

Trained by Roger Attfield and ridden by John Velazquez, Miss Keller was up in time for a head victory over I’m A Dreamer with the favored Dream Peace another nose back in the field of 11 fillies and mares for the 1 1/4-mile turf stakes.

Sun, 10/16/2011 - 16:01

Woodbine: Regally Ready holds off Bated Breath by neck in Nearctic

Michael Burns
Regally Ready, under Corey Nakatani, holds off favored Bated Breath by a neck in the Nearctic.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Regally Ready re-established himself as one of the leading turf sprinters on the continent with a front-running score in Sunday’s Grade 1, $511,600 Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine.

By capturing the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In event, Regally Ready received a fees-paid berth into the Grade 2 BC Turf Sprint on Nov. 5 at Churchill.

Sun, 10/16/2011 - 11:53

Remington: Tin Top Cat prevails in three-horse photo for Flashy Lady

Tin Top Cat won her eighth career stakes race in her Remington Park debut on Saturday night, when she closed fast to take a three-way photo over Leopard Rock and favorite Texas Country Doll in the $50,000 Flashy Lady.

The six-furlong race for fillies and mares continued the string of stakes Remington is running this weekend in the build-up to the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby on Sunday.