Sun, 08/07/2011 - 12:03

Saratoga: Whitney one-two headed for Jockey Club Gold Cup clash

Barbara D. Livingston
Tizway and Rajiv Maragh pull away in deep stretch of the Whitney.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Tizway and Flat Out, the one-two finishers from Saturday’s Grade 1 Whitney Invitational Handicap at Saratoga, will likely renew acquaintances in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational at Belmont Park on Oct. 1. While Tizway will train up to that race, Flat Out is expected to run once before then.

WATCH REPLAY: Whitney Handicap

Sun, 08/07/2011 - 10:41

Santa Rosa: Goggles McCoy wins Jess Jackson on DQ

Goggles McCoy ($23.20), using a new strategy of not gunning for the lead early, won the $68,640 Jess Jackson Owners’ Handicap on Saturday at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa when favored Ain’t No Other was disqualified from first to third.

Sun, 08/07/2011 - 10:17

Travers: Shackleford pointing to rematch against Coil at Saratoga

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Coil and Martin Garcia uncork a late run to beat Shackleford and Jesus Castanon in Sunday's Haskell at Monmouth.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Preakness winner and Haskell runner-up Shackleford will most likely make his next start in the $1 million Travers Stakes here on Aug. 27, trainer Dale Romans said Sunday.

Following the Haskell, in which Shackleford was beaten a neck by Coil, Romans indicated he was also going to consider the Woodward against older horses here on Sept. 3.

"Right now I'm leaning strongly toward the Travers," Romans said. "Bottom line the Travers is the Travers. We can run in the Woodward next year."

Sun, 08/07/2011 - 10:09

Prairie Meadows: Von Hemel wins three on Iowa Classic Night

ALTOONA, Iowa - Trainer Kelly Von Hemel scored in three of the seven stakes races on Iowa Classic Night on Saturday at Prairie Meadows.

The Von Hemel-trained Peaks of Legend, a rallying 1 1/2 length winner of his lone maiden try on July 9 here, showed tactical speed in the $85,558 Iowa Cradle Stakes and dusted his 2-year-old rivals by five lengths.

Sat, 08/06/2011 - 21:35

Del Mar: Ultra Blend rallies for upset in Clement Hirsch Stakes

Benoit & Associates
Ultra Blend outfinishes Zazu by a neck to win the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch at Del Mar.

DEL M AR, Calif. – Beware of Ultra Blend when she rallies wide.

The 5-year-old California-bred mare rolled past four rivals to win Saturday’s $300,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes for fillies and mares at Del Mar. The Grade 1 Hirsch is by far the most prestigious win of Ultra Blend’s career.

Confidently ridden by Tyler Baze, Ultra Blend ($23.60) ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.28, outfinishing Zazu, the 3-year-old filly who made her first start against older fillies and mares.

Sat, 08/06/2011 - 21:34

Saratoga Spa Babies for August 7, Race 8

Welcome to Spa Babies! I'll break down the statistics for every juvenile contest at the meet and hope for a tidy profit.

In past years, I would list the stats for each horse before writing up my analysis, selections and wagering strategy.  In order to streamline the content, this year's Spa Babies will showcase written analyses of each juvenile race.  Each analysis will include relevant statistical information.  Following the analysis, top three selections and wagering strategy will be provided.

 

Sat, 08/06/2011 - 21:26

Saratoga Spa Babies for August 7, Race 2

Welcome to Spa Babies! I'll break down the statistics for every juvenile contest at the meet and hope for a tidy profit.

In past years, I would list the stats for each horse before writing up my analysis, selections and wagering strategy.  In order to streamline the content, this year's Spa Babies will showcase written analyses of each juvenile race.  Each analysis will include relevant statistical information.  Following the analysis, top three selections and wagering strategy will be provided.

***

Sat, 08/06/2011 - 20:24

Arapahoe: Mr. Barman gets first win in Silver Cup Futurity

Coady Photography
Mr. Barman gets his first win in the Silver Cup Futurity at Arapahoe.

Mr. Barman won his maiden in the $45,590 Silver Cup Futurity at Arapahoe Park on Saturday, when he overtook the pacesetting filly Natalie E for a half-length score. Natalie E held second, 1 3/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher End of Discussion.

Mr Barman ($8.40) was prominent throughout in the Silver Cup and covered 5 ½ furlongs in 1:04.08. Kenneth Street, the lone winner heading into the race, finished sixth as the favorite. Michael Ziegler rode Mr Barman for Jim Foxhoven and trainer Sharlot Martinez.

Sat, 08/06/2011 - 19:53

Northlands Park: Footprint edges clear in Westerner

Footprint paid $5.10 for his impressive win over Professor Pollard in the $50,000 Westerner for 3-year-olds and up at Northlands Park on Saturday.

Sat, 08/06/2011 - 19:48

Louisiana Downs: Trubs gives Stall a repeat in Prelude Stakes

Hodges Photography / Lynn Roberts
Trubbs, with Shane Sellers up, outduels Populist Politics to win the $100,000 Prelude at Louisiana Downs.

A year after winning the Prelude Stakes with Apart, trainer Al Stall Jr. was at it again Saturday when he sent out Trubs to a three-quarter-length score over favorite Populist Politics in this year’s running of the $100,000 race that serves as Louisiana Downs’ prep for the Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby.

Trubs earned a fees-paid berth into the Sept. 10 race, which Apart also won last year.