Thu, 08/11/2011 - 17:24

Hessonite beats males in N.Y. Stallion Series

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Racing against males for the first time in her career, Hessonite came roaring down the center of the course, collared Freud's Honor near the wire, and beat Freud's Honor by a head on Thursday at Saratoga in the $100,000 Cab Calloway/Statue of Liberty Division of the New York Stallion Series, for 3-year-old New York breds on the turf.

Thu, 08/11/2011 - 17:11

Del Mar: Chiloquin eyes Cal Cup

Benoit & Associates
Chiloquin, with Martin Pedroza riding, wins the Real Good Deal.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Chiloquin, the winner of Wednesday’s $100,000 Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar for statebred 3-year-old sprinters, will race in sprints this fall with the $100,000 California Cup Sprint on Oct. 29 a long-term possibility, trainer Scott Hansen said.

Chiloquin led throughout the Real Good Deal Stakes, giving Scott Hansen his first stakes win in more than eight years. “I thought that’s how the race would go,” Hansen said. “I think we’ll keep him at one-turn.”

Thu, 08/11/2011 - 17:05

Del Mar: Jaycito back in optional claimer

Shigeki Kikkawa
Jaycito missed the Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbies because of foot trouble.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Jaycito, the winner of the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes last October, will make his first start since March in an optional claimer over 1 1/16 miles on Saturday.

Owned by Zayat Stables and trained by Baffert, Jaycito was second in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita in March but missed the Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbies because of foot problems.

“We’ve got to get him started,” Baffert said. “It’s time to go.”

Thu, 08/11/2011 - 17:03

Saratoga's Adirondack lacks Pletcher, not talent

Barbara D. Livingston
Millionreasonswhy, winning the Matron, will try to improve to 3 for 3 in Sunday's Adirondack.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. − Dating back to last year’s Adirondack, trainer Todd Pletcher has won the last three graded stakes run for juvenile fillies at Saratoga. That streak will come to an end Sunday for the simple fact that Pletcher does not have a starter in the Grade 2, $150,000 Adirondack, which is being run for the 95th time.

Thu, 08/11/2011 - 16:58

Saratoga: Fatality mars Scribner won by Cascadilla Falls

SARATOGA SPRINGS - Cascadilla Falls won the $75,000 Lucy Scribner Stakes for 3-year-old female sprinters at Saratoga on Thursday, a race marred by the fatality of Doing Great, who was leading at the three-furlong pole when she collapsed and fell heavily to the turf, unseating jockey Javier Castellano.

Doing Great died of "cardiovascular collapse," according to Dr. Anthony Verderosa, the chief examining veterinarian for the New York Racing Association.

Thu, 08/11/2011 - 16:57

Del Mar: Medaglia d’Amour set to return

Benoit & Associates
Medaglia d'Amour, with Alonso Quinonez riding, wins the 2010 Wilshire.

DEL MAR, Calif. - After a 15-month layoff, Medaglia d’Amour has been entered for Sunday’s $250,000 John Mabee Stakes for fillies and mares on turf, a race for which she is well prepared, trainer Ben Cecil said.

“She’s pretty fit but she’ll certainly benefit from a race,” Cecil said. “She’s had a lot of long workouts. I think she’s just getting to the point where she’s a bit bored – bored of working and needing to run.”

Thu, 08/11/2011 - 16:49

Arapahoe: Vannacide seeks to extend streak at age 10

Vannacide has won at least one race at Arapahoe Park every year since 2003. Saturday, she will be out to keep her streak alive in what could be the final race of her career. Vannacide is set to start in the $30,000 Spicy, and is seeking her first win at the meet, which closes next weekend.

Thu, 08/11/2011 - 16:46

Prairie Mile tops closing night card

Prairie Meadows concludes its Thoroughbred meeting Saturday evening with the $60,000 Prairie Juvenile Mile. A full field of 10 2-year-olds has been entered, all with connections wondering how their precocious runners will handle two turns on a dirt surface.

Thu, 08/11/2011 - 16:37

Arlington: Look beyond just size in Secretariat

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Treasure Beach, the most accomplished European 3-year-old ever to ship to Arlington Park for the Secretariat Stakes, will not be trembling to look at his main competition in the paddock here Saturday afternoon.

Stack Banned and Willcox Inn atop one another, and you’d just about come up with a single tall horse. But as far as turf talent is considered, size doesn’t matter.

Thu, 08/11/2011 - 16:28

Arlington: Spencer far better prepared for Million than he was in 2004

Tod Marks
Cape Blanco was impressive winning last month's Man o' War, but has had to travel back and forth from Ireland twice this summer.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The English jockey Jamie Spencer flew under the radar last summer when he returned to Arlington Park for the first time since 2004. Spencer rode Wigmore Hall to a second-place finish in the Secretariat Stakes, but Paddy O’Prado was the story of that race, and Spencer generally escaped attention.