Fri, 10/14/2011 - 15:39

Santa Anita: Sarah's Secret the one to beat in Ramser

Benoit & Associates
Sarah's Secret will make her first start since July 24 in Sunday's Grade 3 Harold C. Ramser at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Five races into her career, previously unbeaten Sarah’s Secret is no longer perfect. Pardon the interruption – the 4-for-5 filly had a valid excuse for the first loss of her career.

“She couldn’t breathe,” trainer Kathy Walsh said.

Sarah’s Secret won her first four starts, including the Grade 2 Honeymoon Handicap in June at Hollywood Park. She was poised for a big summer, but everything unraveled in the Grade 2 San Clemente on July 24 at Del Mar.

Fri, 10/14/2011 - 15:23

Remington Park: Prayer for Relief may have company out front in Oklahoma Derby

Shigeki Kikkawa
Prayer for Relief figures to be out front early in Sunday's Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park.

Prayer for Relief’s tactical speed coupled with his ability to adapt to a variety of racing surfaces has helped the 3-year-old compile a perfect record in 2011. On Sunday, he will be seeking his fifth straight win in the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park.

Fri, 10/14/2011 - 15:09

Woodbine: Two fillies take aim on Nearctic

Michael Burns
Jenny's So Great, with Jesse Campbell riding, wins the Royal North.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Last year, European invader Serious Attitude became the first filly to win the Nearctic Stakes in the race’s modern era.

On Sunday, two fillies from different sides of the pond will be looking to follow that blueprint in the Grade 1, $500,000 Nearctic at six furlongs on the turf course.

Bewitched, an Irish-bred 4-year-old, has raced in Ireland, England, and France and will be making her North American debut for trainer Charles O’Brien, son of the famed Vincent O’Brien.

Fri, 10/14/2011 - 15:06

Los Alamitos: All eyes on Separate Fire in Golden State Million trials

With runners in all 10 divisions, trainer Paul Jones will have a busy evening during the Golden State Million trials at Los Alamitos on Sunday.

None of the runners will be as heavily scrutinized as Separate Fire, winner of the Ed Burke Memorial Futurity in June. Separate Fire is eligible for a $1 million bonus, if she can win the Golden State Million on Oct. 30 and the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity on Dec. 11.

“She’s ready,” Jones said last weekend. Jones said he was pleased with the filly’s recent training, specifically a 350-yard workout in 17.70 seconds on Sept. 20.

Fri, 10/14/2011 - 14:57

Belmont: Hockley back on turf, in with tag

ELMONT, N.Y. – After a dirt experiment provided mixed results, Hockley returns to the turf Sunday at Belmont Park in what is essentially a $60,000 claiming race that serves as the nominal feature on the 10-race program.

Carded as a second-level allowance/optional claiming race, eight of the nine horses entered for the 1 1/16-mile turf affair are in for the $60,000 claiming tag. Only Break Up the Game is running under the allowance condition.

Fri, 10/14/2011 - 14:27

Woodbine: Regally Ready needs to regain best form if he is to take Nearctic

Barbara D. Livingston
Regally Ready disappointed in his last start but may not have cared for the Parx turf course.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Regally Ready established himself as the leading turf sprinter on the continent early in the year, but his last two efforts were forgettable. He will try to rebound Sunday at Woodbine in the $500,000 Nearctic Stakes, a six-furlong Win and You’re In dash where the winner gains inclusion into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Fri, 10/14/2011 - 13:30

Woodbine: Joshua Tree looks for repeat victory in Canadian International

Michael Burns
Joshua Tree wins the 2010 Canadian International at Woodbine by a head over Mores Wells and Redwood.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The top three finishers from last year’s $1.5 million Canadian International, a trio of Europeans, are all back for another go in Sunday’s renewal at Woodbine, and Joshua Tree will be looking to double up in the 12-furlong event that has lured a record 16 horses from four different countries.

Fri, 10/14/2011 - 13:19

Woodbine: Dream Peace looks solid in E.P. Taylor off last out

Barbara D. Livingston
Miss Keller ran second in the 2010 E.P. Taylor.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Dream Peace, coming off a game victory in the Group 2 Prix de la Nonette at Deauville, heads a plentiful and formidable European contingent for Sunday’s $1 million E.P Taylor Stakes.

The E.P. Taylor, a 1 1/4-mile turf race for fillies and mares, attracted a field of 11, with locally based Miss Keller and Mekong Melody and the U.S. shipper Dyna Waltz the only North American representatives. The Taylor is a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Fri, 10/14/2011 - 12:21

Keeneland: Five Star Fun going a little longer on Polytrack

LEXINGTON, Ky. – It was a year ago that Al Stall Jr. was spending a lot of time at Keeneland, tightening the proverbial screws on a horse who would make racing history by dealing the great Zenyatta her only career defeat in 20 starts.

Blame was the horse that Stall would send out to that unforgettable win in his career finale, the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic, and although a dropoff in business can be steep following such heady times, that hasn’t really been the case for Stall.

Fri, 10/14/2011 - 11:52

Turf Paradise: Page Springs should roll in ATBA Fall Sales Stakes

PHOENIX – The brightest light on the Arizona racing stage figures to shine again Sunday as the unbeaten, untested 2-year-old filly Page Springs figures to dominate as an overwhelming favorite in the $59,144 ATBA Fall Sales Stakes filly division at Turf Paradise. The six-furlong race for juvenile fillies has a field of 11.

The boys take their turn in the spotlight as 12 go postward in the $59,756 ATBA Fall Sales Stakes colt-and-gelding division, led by dazzling 12-length trial winner Az Ridge.