Sat, 07/23/2011 - 20:11

Ruidoso Downs: Cold Cash 123 finishes fast in Rainbow Derby

Cold Cash 123 improved his record at 440 yards to 5 for 5 on Saturday, when he was up for a neck win in the Grade 1, $899,534 Rainbow Derby for Quarter Horses at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. Bodacious Dash finished second, a nose in front of third-place finisher Dm Streakin Thru Fire.

Sat, 07/23/2011 - 19:48

Del Mar: Andina prevails in three-horse photo in Osunitas

Benoit & Associates
Andina (3) outfinishes Wild Mia (1) and City to City to earn her first stakes win in the Osunitas Handicap.

DEL MAR, Calif. -- Andina avenged a narrow loss to Wild Mia last month by scoring her own thrilling victory on Saturday at Del Mar, outdueling Wild Mia and holding off a furious late bid from City to City as those three came to the wire right together in the $91,640 Osunitas Handicap for older fillies and mares.

Andina ($8.40), under Garrett Gomez, prevailed by a head over Wild Mia, with City to City a nose farther back in third.

Sat, 07/23/2011 - 19:24

Arlington: Free Fighter's second Stars and Stripes win a new experience

Four-Footed Fotos
Free Fighter wins the Stars and Stripes for the second time, but on a new surface, after Saturday's 1 1/2-mile race was shifted from turf to the main track.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Free Fighter won the Stars and Stripes in 2009, but his second victory in the race, a two-length score over Winchester on Saturday at Arlington Park, came under much different circumstances. This Stars and Stripes was forced from turf to the main track by record-setting rainfall, and where Free Fighter was owned by Team Block and trained by Chris Block two summers ago, Mike Reavis trained him to victory for Frank Mancari on Saturday.

Sat, 07/23/2011 - 18:17

Abuela re-rallies to capture Ellis Park Turf

Abuela, cleverly rated by Jon Court, surrendered the lead down the backstretch before rallying back to pull a 9-1 upset Saturday in the $50,000 Ellis Park Turf Stakes in Henderson, Ky.

Trained by Vicki Oliver for her father, G. Watts Humphrey Jr., and St. George’s Farm, Abuela was victorious for the fourth time in 17 starts. She returned $20.40 after finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.46 over a firm turf.

Angelica Zapata finished second, a length behind the winner and another 2 1/2 lengths before Kiss Mine, the 3-2 favorite in a field of eight fillies and mares.

Sat, 07/23/2011 - 18:04

Saratoga: It's Tricky outfinishes Plum Pretty after long stretch duel in CCA Oaks

Barbara D. Livingston
It's Tricky edges away from Plum Pretty in deep stretch of Saturday's CCA Oaks.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The quirky habits that make It’s Tricky a well-named filly were on display Saturday morning when, according to her connections, she ran around her stall for 40 minutes before her handlers could get her corralled.

Sat, 07/23/2011 - 17:51

Calder: Wide trip can't stop Sweet Repent in Nancy's Glitter

Jim Lisa
Sweet Repent wins the Nancy's Glitter at Calder over Diosa Indian.

Sweet Repent solidified her position atop the Calder filly and mare handicap division with a popular but hard-fought, one-length victory over Diosa Indian in Saturday’s $75,000 Nancy’s Glitter Handicap.

Sat, 07/23/2011 - 16:48

River Downs: Motega stays perfect, pays $2.20

Patrick Lang/Lang Photography
The 2-year-old filly Motega improves to 3 for 3 by taking the Tah Dah.

Motega improved to a perfect 3 for 3 after besting six other Ohio-bred 2-year-old fillies in the $50,000 Kevin Goemmer Tah Dah Stakes at River Downs on Saturday afternoon.

Trained by Joe Martin, Motega was kept just off the early pace by Jareth Loveberry, her regular rider. Loveberry shook the reins at Motega at the top of the stretch and she responded, drawing off to win by 4 1/4 lengths. She paid $2.20 to win.

Sat, 07/23/2011 - 16:37

Woodbine: Weekend Romance relies on speed to take Passing Mood

Michael Burns
Heavy favorite Weekend Romance carries her speed to capture the Passing Mood.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Weekend Romance put away the other speed and kept on going to capture her first stakes under Luis Contreras in the $125,000 Passing Mood at Woodbine on Saturday.

Sat, 07/23/2011 - 16:22

Saratoga: Long-absent Ice Box nearly ready to return

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Nick Zito says he would like to find an allowance race for the first start in Ice Box's comeback.

Ice Box, idle since finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Monmouth Cup last October and winless since upsetting the 2010 Florida Derby, worked a half-mile in 49.80 seconds over the Oklahoma training track on Saturday and should not be long in making his 2011 debut.

Ice Box was sidelined after having a chip surgically removed from his right knee. He was close to returning this past winter in Florida but suffered a series of what trainer Nick Zito called “minor interruptions” which delayed his comeback.

Sat, 07/23/2011 - 16:15

Saratoga: Brilliant Speed, Alternation tune up for Jim Dandy

Tom Keyser
Brilliant Speed works five furlongs at Saratoga Saturday. He is pointing to next Saturday's Jim Dandy Stakes.

Travers hopeful Brilliant Speed will race next weekend in Saturday’s Grade 2 Jim Dandy. Brilliant Speed, trained by Tom Albertrani, has not started since finishing third in the Belmont Stakes.

Brilliant Speed got in his final prep for the Jim Dandy here on Saturday morning, going five furlongs in 1:02.56 immediately after the renovation break. Brilliant Speed posted splits of 12.91, 25.26, and 37.66 seconds before galloping out six furlongs in 1:16.46 over a track rated fast but dulled a bit by overnight rain.