GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - The up-and-coming Skip a Smile indicated his intent to be a player in the region's handicap ranks on Saturday, when he closed fast for a half-length win over favorite Lydia's Last Step in the $75,000 Assault Stakes at Lone Star Park.
"He's a very exciting horse," said Steve Asmussen, who trains Skip a Smile for the horse's breeder, Rose Mary Chandler.
Cold Cash 123 defeated two champions while setting the fastest qualifying time for the Grade 1, $899,523 Rainbow Derby for Quarter Horses during trials Saturday at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. The finale will be held July 23.
Cold Cash 123 ($14.80) was in the first of seven trials, which went as the third race. He broke out at the start and then closed with a flourish to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Cold Cash 123 covered 440 yards in 20.76 seconds, which was not far off the track record of 20.73 that Strawkins set winning the Ruidoso Derby in 2006.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The transformation of First Dude from consistent also-ran to major stakes winner is complete.
On Saturday, First Dude won his first Grade 1 stakes, and third consecutive race, in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup, earning a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs in November. Last year, First Dude finished second or third in six consecutive graded stakes for 3-year-olds and was eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Claresmiezie completely dominated the $50,000 Lassie for 2-year-old fillies at Hastings on Saturday.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Willcox Inn is two-thirds of the way to a sweep of Arlington's Mid-America Triple, and leg 2, Saturday's American Derby, was no contest.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Trainer Dan Peitz had been pointing Tajaaweed to the Arlington Handicap since last fall. His aim was true.
Tajaaweed finished strongly under James Graham and won the Grade 3, $150,000 Arlington Handicap by 1 1/2 lengths over Mister Marti Gras.
Freedoms Traveller stamped himself as the local favorite for the Grade 3, $300,000 Canadian Derby with a victory in the $50,000 Ky Alta at Northlands Park on Saturday.
Under a will-timed ride by Rafael Zenteno, Freedoms Traveller made up a 2 1/2-length deficit at the top of the stretch to edge favored Boomtown Brat by a neck in the one-mile feature. Boomtown Brat contested the early pace and held on well to finish a clear second over Call Me Later.
OCEANPORT, N.J. – Rattlesnake Bridge and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin were big winners Saturday at Monmouth Park.
The improving Rattlesnake Bridge earned an invitation to the $1 million Haskell on July 31 with his nose win over All of the Above in the $165,000 Long Branch Stakes for 3-year-olds.
MIAMI - With Zenyatta's regular rider, Mike Smith aboard and in a finish reminiscent of the champion mare herself, Sassy Image rallied from nearly 20 lengths off the lead down the center of the track to post an incredible neck decision over Musical Romance in Saturday's $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap at Calder on Saturday.
The Grade 1 Princess Rooney was the last and easily the most exciting of the four graded stakes on Calder's marquee event, the Summit of Speed.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Gio Ponti was denied an unprecedented third straight victory in the Grade 1, $600,000 Man o’ War Stakes by the Irish invader Cape Blanco, who took over from the pacesetting Mission Approved in midstretch and drew clear to a 2 1/4-length victory Saturday at Belmont Park.
