Sun, 10/02/2011 - 08:37

Hastings: With Council secures maiden victory in Ascot Graduation

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - With Council was a maiden going into the $75,000 Ascot Graduation for 2-year-olds at Hasting on Saturday, but he emerged a stakes winner with a strong late move to defeat Lord Henry by 1 1/2 lengths. He was no surprise, however, and paid $8.70 as the second choice in the wagering behind Heresomelucky, who finished third.

Sat, 10/01/2011 - 21:49

Santa Anita: Rosario completes Grade 1 triple aboard Dubawi Heights in Yellow Ribbon

BENOIT PHOTO
Joel Rosario collects his third Grade 1 win of the day aboard Dubawi Heights in the Yellor Ribbon.

ARCADIA, Calif. -- Hockey season is just days away, but it was jockey Joel Rosario who got the hat trick on Saturday at Santa Anita, winning three Grade 1 races, capped off by favored Dubawi Heights in the Yellow Ribbon for female turf horses.

After winning with Creative Cause in the Norfolk and Zazu in the Lady’s Secret, both of whom scored mild upsets, Rosario never looked in danger with Dubawi Heights, who won for the fifth time in her last six starts.

Sat, 10/01/2011 - 21:08

Turf Paradise: Rule by Force finishes fast in Bienvenidos

Local stalwart Rule by Force beat a number of talented shippers as the 6-year-old gelded son of Tribal Rule captured the $38,850 Bienvenidos, the feature event for Turf Paradise’s opening day.

Sat, 10/01/2011 - 20:33

Presque Isle Downs: Citizen Advocate takes Debutante

Coady Photography
Citizen Advocate, with Luis Jurado riding, wins the Presque Isle Debutante.

Citizen Advocate, under Luis Jurado, stalked the early pace before rallying in the stretch to win the $150,800 Presque Isle Debutante on Saturday evening at Presque Isle Downs. La Chiky set the early pace before giving way in the stretch in the six-furlong event. Trained by David Vivian, Citizen Advocate took over in the stretch and drew clear to 1 1/4-length victory, with Jurado having lost his whip inside the eighth pole.

Sat, 10/01/2011 - 20:29

Northlands: My Lucky Thirteen capitalizes on fast pace

My Lucky Thirteen  had a perfect trip from just off a hotly contested pace to win the colts and geldings division of the $50,000 Three-  and Four-Year-Old Sales Stakes at Northlands Park on Saturday.

Sat, 10/01/2011 - 19:58

Santa Anita: Blind Luck to undergo tests after last-place finish

Barbara D. Livingston
Blind Luck would be trainer Jerry Hollendorfer's third Kentucky Oaks winner and his first since 1996.

ARCADIA, Calif.- Nearly an hour after Blind Luck’s last-place finish in the Grade 1 Lady’s Secret Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer was at a loss to explain the performance and said the 4-year-old filly will undergo tests in coming days.

“She didn’t run a good race and I didn’t train her right,” he said. “Something must be bugging her. I don’t know what it is.

“I’ll watch her and get a scan on her.”

Sat, 10/01/2011 - 19:32

Santa Anita: Game On Dude gets back on track in Goodwood

Benoit & Associates
Chantal Sutherland guides Game On Dude to victory in the Goodwood Stakes.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Goodwood Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita did not unfold the way trainer Bob Baffert drew it up on paper, but the result was still what he desired. Game On Dude, returning to the scene of his greatest win, bravely held off Awesome Gem to win the Grade 1, $250,000 race despite an unexpected, torrid early pace.

Sat, 10/01/2011 - 19:27

Santa Anita: Zazu takes Lady's Secret; Blind Luck last

BENOIT PHOTO
Zazu rallies from last under Joel Rosario to take the Lady's Secret.

ARCADIA, Calif.- Zazu rallied wide through the stretch to win the $250,000 Lady’s Secret Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, beating a field that included Blind Luck, who raced at the back of the field throughout and finished last as the 6-5 favorite.

Blind Luck was sixth in the field of seven on the first turn and was last for the final five furlongs, a result that left trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and jockey Garrett Gomez stunned.

Sat, 10/01/2011 - 19:13

Hoosier Park: Glenwood Canyon sets track record

ANDERSON, Ind. - Before the Indiana Derby and Oaks, eight stakes were run Saturday at Hoosier Park on easily the state's richest program of racing each year. The last of those undercard races was the $104,050 Michael Schaefer Memorial Stakes, which was won in the final jumps by Glenwood Canyon in track-record time.

Sat, 10/01/2011 - 19:03

Santa Anita: Creative Cause defeats Drill in Norfolk

Benoit & Associates
Creative Cause, with Joel Rosario riding, wins the Norfolk.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Creative Cause regained command of the California 2-year-old male division on Saturday with an impressive win in the Grade 1, $250,000 Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita.

The victory led trainer Mike Harrington to plan for a start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.