Sun, 10/02/2011 - 18:53

Belmont: Pure Gossip scores at 23-1 in Miss Grillo

Barbara D. Livingston
The New York-bred Pure Gossip would have to be supplemented for $100,000 in order to run in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Pure Gossip surprised at 37-1 when she won her debut at Saratoga on the dirt. On Sunday, Pure Gossip pulled off another surprise at 23-1 the first time she ever ran on turf.

Sun, 10/02/2011 - 18:37

Belmont: Vexor connects as longest shot in Nashua

Barbara D. Livingston
Vexor could be headed to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint after his win in Sunday's Nashua.

 ELMONT, N.Y. - A difficult week for trainer John Kimmel ended on a high note Sunday when Vexor outfought the pacesetting Trinniberg to win the Grade 2, $150,000 Nashua Stakes, likely punching his ticket to the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint next month at Churchill Downs.

Sun, 10/02/2011 - 18:22

Santa Anita: Acclamation looks ready for Breeders' Cup after scoring in Clement Hirsch

BENOIT PHOTO
Acclamation, winning the Clement Hirsch, could remain on grass for the Breeders' Cup Turf or switch to dirt for the BC Classic.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Acclamation is bound for a Breeders’ Cup race at Churchill Downs next month on the strength of an increasingly impressive  five-race winning streak, all in graded stakes.

Sun, 10/02/2011 - 18:00

Belmont: Believe You Can could be Breeders' Cup-bound after Tempted victory

Barbara D. Livingston
The 2-year-old filly Believe You Can is under consideration for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies or BC Juvenile Sprint after her win Sunday in the Tempted.

 ELMONT, N.Y. - Larry Jones wasn’t content with one stakes victory this weekend in New York.

 One day after his 4-year-old filly Havre de Grace dominated the Grade 1, $350,000 Beldame Invitational at Belmont Park, his 2-year-old filly Believe You Can rolled to a 2 1/2-length victory in Sunday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Tempted Stakes.

Sun, 10/02/2011 - 17:51

Belmont: Maragh suspended for careless ride in Vosburgh

Emily Shields
Rajiv Maragh plans to appeal a seven-day suspension handed down by the Belmont Park stewards for careless riding in Saturday's Vosburgh.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The Belmont Park stewards suspended jockey Rajiv Maragh seven days for careless riding aboard Calibrachoa coming out of the gate in Saturday’s Grade 1, $350,000 Vosburgh Invitational.

 Maragh has appealed the suspension and will be permitted to ride until a hearing is held.

Sun, 10/02/2011 - 17:06

Woodbine: City Wolf fires fresh in Durham Cup

Michael Burns
City Wolf, ridden by Emma Jayne Wilson, wins his fourth straight race and first stakes in the Durham Cup.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — City Wolf rallied strongly from third under Emma Wilson to win  his stakes debut in the $151,800 Durham Cup at Woodbine on Sunday.

It was the fourth consecutive win for City Wolf ($8.10), who was returning from a layoff in the 1 1/8-mile  route. He banked $90,000 for Stronach Stable and trainer Reade Baker.

Sun, 10/02/2011 - 16:57

Santa Anita: Coil will bypass Breeders' Cup to await Strub

Barbara Livingston
Trainer Bob Baffert said he does not want the 3-year-old Coil to take on older horses in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

ARCADIA, Calif.- Coil, the winner of the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational and the third-place finisher in Saturday’s Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes against older horses at Santa Anita, will not start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.

Trainer Bob Baffert said on Sunday that he plans to rest Coil this fall and prepare him for stakes at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting.

“He’s not at that level yet, to take on older horses,” Baffert said of the BC Classic. “I think next year he’ll be able to.

Sun, 10/02/2011 - 16:43

Breeders' Cup focus shifts to Uncle Mo vs. Havre de Grace showdown in Classic

Tom Keyser
Uncle Mo earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 118 for his victory in Saturday's Kelso.

ELMONT, N.Y. – It’s rare when three stakes races run on the same day at the same track but at different distances and for different genders can produce three starters for the same race. But that’s exactly what happened Saturday at Belmont Park.

Sun, 10/02/2011 - 15:32

Monmouth: Sabercat dominates Garden State Stakes

Deja Puglisi/EQUI-PHOTO
The 2-year-old sabercat, ridden by Angel Serpa, romps by six lengths in the Garden State Stakes.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Sabercat swept past the dueling pacesetters on his way to a six-length victory Sunday in the $75,000 Garden State Stakes for 2-year-olds at Monmouth Park.

Jockey Angel Serpa perfectly positioned Sabercat third as Angel’s Tune and Purely Determined engaged in a prolonged battle for the lead. Once roused, Sabercat angled to the outside and blew by to earn a second straight win in his stakes debut.

Sun, 10/02/2011 - 13:27

No Breeders' Cup for Blind Luck

Shigeki Kikkawa
Nothing has been found physically wrong with Blind Luck, but owner-trainer Jerry Hollendorfer wants to give her a vacation.

In the aftermath of her shockingly dull effort in the Lady’s Secret Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, Blind Luck will be given a rest and will not compete in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, her trainer and co-owner, Jerry Hollendorfer, said Sunday morning.

Hollendorfer said Blind Luck is going to get a vacation, “whether she needs one or not.”