ELMONT, N.Y. – Grade 1 winning stablemates Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty completed preparations for their upcoming stakes engagements with half-mile workouts Sunday morning that were as impressive visually as they were by the stopwatch.
Sword Trick returned to sprinting on the main track and returned to the winner’s circle Saturday night, when he drew out to a 13 1/2-length win in the $100,000 colts and geldings division of the Texas Stallion Stakes at Retama Park near San Antonio.
The race was one of two stakes on the card. Cowgirl N Up crashed the $100,000 fillies division of the Texas Stallion Stakes when she won her maiden in the race at 35-1. She is a half-sister to four-time stakes winner Aces N Kings.
POMONA, Calif. – Longshot winners of the Pomona Derby and Las Madrinas Handicap on Saturday at Fairplex Park helped generate a pick-six carryover of $36,333 into Sunday, closing day of the 2011 Los Angeles County Fair meet.
Great Warrior ($9.40) won the Pomona Derby under Omar Berrio; Pure Class ($29.80) won the Las Madrinas under Anne Sanguinetti. The purse was $50,000 for both stakes, and the wins were memorable for both jockeys.
Amanecer de Oro was a sizzling stakes winner in his turf debut Saturday at Louisiana Downs, setting a brisk pace and holding on for a half-length win over Expressiano in the $150,000 A.L. “Red” Erwin.
The race was one of six restricted stakes on the penultimate card of the Louisiana Downs meet, which will close on Sunday. The races were worth a cumulative $600,000.
BENSALEM, Pa. - To Honor and Serve provided a not-so-subtle reminder why he entered the year ranked so high on many handicappers' Kentucky Derby lists with an authoritative victory, running stakes-record time, in Saturday's $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing.
FLORENCE, Ky. – D.H. Skaggs was the young’n in the exacta Saturday in the Grade 2, $170,000 WinStar Kentucky Cup. The 76-year-old owner-trainer sent out Future Prospect to beat General Quarters – owned and trained by 78-year-old Tom McCarthy – in the 17th running of the Turfway Park showcase, giving Skaggs the first graded stakes triumph of a 42-year training career.
Skaggs was near tears in the wild aftermath of the 1 1/16-mile WinStar. “This old horse has been really good to me,” he said.
BENSALEM, Pa. - The last time Royal Currier started in a dirt race at Parx Racing, he ran six furlongs in 1:07.62 and was in front by two lengths. The problem that day was the Philmont Stakes was seven furlongs. Royal Currier weakened in the final furlong and was beaten one-half length by Little Drama.
FLORENCE, Ky. – Continuing a phenomenal day for trainer Mike Maker while running another big race over the local Polytrack surface, La Gran Bailadora passed all six of her rivals when going on to a mild upset Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Kentucky Cup Distaff at Turfway Park.
FLORENCE, Ky. - On a day when favorites mostly ruled the day, Future Prospect proved a stunning winner of Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 WinStar Kentucky Cup at Turfway Park as the longest priced horse in the race at 18-1.
Although largely ignored by the betting public after competing in allowances and even one claiming race this year, Future Prospect proved he belonged in major stakes company.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Pomeroys Pistol ($6.10), who had settled for second-best in the Prioress and Test in midsummer, was a much-the-best winner over five older fillies and mares in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Park.
