MIAMI – The $75,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint has traditionally been a part of the Summit of Speed undercard, as the five-furlong dash fits the theme of Calder’s marquee event just perfectly. But track management opted to break the race out on its own this year to anchor Monday’s special July 4th program, with the weather likely becoming a key component when it comes to both the final makeup and outcome of the race.
Deal Breaker, a 6-year-old whose 11 career wins have come on either synthetic surfaces or turf, will make his first start on dirt Monday in the $40,000 Front Range at Arapahoe Park.
The seven-furlong race is for 3-year-olds and up and it drew a field of eight runners.
OCEANPORT, N.J. – The margin kept widening, and the Beyer Speed Figure soared like a thermometer in the desert.
By the time he was done, Sean Avery had won the Longfellow Stakes last month by 11 3/4 lengths, earning a staggering 112 Beyer that eclipsed his previous best by 16 points.
“He wowed us all,” said trainer Allen Iwinski. “We knew he was doing very well, and we expected him to run well. No one expected him to do it the way that he did. He was doing that all on his own.”
FORT ERIE, Ontario – Bent Attorney won last year’s Rainbow Connection when the race was switched to the main track, and he will be looking to double up in this year’s version at Fort Erie Monday.
The $125,000 Rainbow Connection, a five-furlong turf race for Ontario-sired fillies and mares, headlines an 11-race card, which also includes a pair of stakes races for Quarter Horses.
AUBURN, Wash. – Emerald Downs will present two stakes races for 2-year-olds Monday on a special Fourth of July holiday card, but with its juvenile program off to a tenuous start – the first race was less than five weeks ago – the two stakes came up light in the quantity department. As for the quality, that remains to be seen – four of the 11 horses scheduled to compete are first-time starters, and four others are maidens after making at least one start.
A millionaire has never competed at the Alameda County Fair, but that will change when Bold Chieftain and Delightfull Kiss line up against five others in the $50,000 Alamedan Handicap, a 1 1/16-mile race for older horses at the Pleasanton, Calif., track.
Bold Chieftain has earned $1,578,291 and Delightful Kiss has earned $1,093,593. The 8-year-old Bold Chieftain won this race in 2007 and ran second in it in 2009 before he surpassed the million-dollar mark in earnings. The 7-year-old Delightful Kiss makes his debut over the Pleasanton dirt track.
Ain’t No Other ($4) broke sharply from the rail and was never headed as he scored an easy victory in the inaugural Livermore Valley Wines Stakes at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif., on Friday.
A Tommy Town Thoroughbreds homebred by Old Topper, Ain't No Other had won the Harry Henson on the turf at Hollywood Park and then ran third in the Grade 3 Laz Barrera.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Favored St Liams Halo, under a confident ride from Mario Gutierrez, never looked threatened winning the $50,000 Lieutenant Governors’ at Hastings on Friday.
SHAKOPEE, Minn. – Canterbury Park has canceled its Saturday card due to the ongoing shutdown of the Minnesota state government. This is the second consecutive race card that has been cancelled due to the budget impasse.
Although track representatives argued their case for continued operation through the shutdown in Ramsey County District Court on Friday, a decision has not yet been issued by Judge Kathleen Gearin.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Don Cavallo blew away a diverse field under Luis Contreras in the Grade 3, $201,600 Dominion Day Stakes, the feature on Canada Day at Woodbine on Friday.
