Sat, 06/25/2011 - 17:54

Parx: Golddigger's Boy makes it five in a row

Equi-Photo
Golddigger's Boy, with Stewart Elliott riding, wins the Donald LeVine.

Golddigger's Boy got his fifth victory in a row Saturday, coming back just 11 days after his victory over Pennsylvania-breds in the Docent to win the $200,000 Donald LeVine Memorial Handicap over open company at Parx Racing.

Sat, 06/25/2011 - 17:47

Woodbine: Court of the Realm pays $26 in King Edward upset

Michael Burns
Court of the Realm (center) wins the King Edward by a half-length under Eurico Da Silva.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Court of the Realm upset a tough field under Eurico Da Silva to notch his stakes debut in the $269,200 King Edward at Woodbine on Saturday.
Fifty Proof set moderate fractions over a course labeled good, while being pressed along the inside by last year’s winner of the Grade 2 event, Grand Adventure. Court of the Realm ($26.10) raced in fourth through the turn of the one-mile turf event.

Sat, 06/25/2011 - 17:32

Delaware: Eve Giselle turns back Tar Heel Mom in Sweet and Sassy

When 2-5 favorite Tar Heel Mom stuck a head in front of the 4-1 Eve Giselle after a half-mile of the six-furlong Sweet and Sassy at Delaware Park on Saturday, it looked as if the bettors had gotten it right. But Eve Giselle, under Javier Santiago, came right back inside of Tar Heel Mom, put her away with a furlong to run, and drew off to win the $125,000 stakes for fillies and mares by 2 1/2 lengths.

Sat, 06/25/2011 - 17:02

Woodbine: Tu Endie Wei romps in debut in My Dear

Michael Burns
After winning the My Dear aboard Tu Endie Wei, jockey Jim McAleney called her, "More than special."

ETOBICOKE, Ontario—Tu Endie Wei, a half-sister to 2010 Canadian Horse of the Year Biofuel, was an ultra-impressive winner of her career debut in the $155,900 My Dear Stakes Saturday at Woodbine.

Hope for a Win, the 5-2 favorite, set a sizzling opening quarter of 20.70 in the five-furlong dash for 2-year-old fillies before fading in the stretch.

Sat, 06/25/2011 - 16:39

Belmont Park: Giants Play walks off with New York Stakes

Tom Keyser
Giants Play holds off Zagora to win the Grade 2 New York Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Jockey Rajiv Maragh masterfully slowed the pace, and Giants Play dug in when called upon to win the Grade 2, $150,000 New York Stakes for fillies and mares on the turf at Belmont Park on Saturday.

Pace, or lack thereof, made this race. Giants Play took charge at the start of the 1 1/4-mile race and proceeded to back down the clock.

The timer told the tale as fractions of 26.54 seconds, 52.99, and 1:17.65 flashed up as a very relaxed front-runner dictated a dawdling pace.

Sat, 06/25/2011 - 16:33

River Downs: Startin Something all the way in Cincinnatian

CINCINNATI - Startin Something led from start to finish to best four other 3-year-old Ohio-accredited fillies in the $50,000 Cincinnatian at River Downs on Saturday afternoon.

Sat, 06/25/2011 - 16:32

Woodbine: Upperline finishes fast to win Trillium

Michael Burns
Upperline runs away from her rivals in the stretch to win the Trillium at Woodbine on Saturday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Upperline, under a rousing rider by Emme-Jayne Wilson, took over through the final furlong and prevailed by a 3 1/2 lengths in Saturday’s $103,400 Trillium. The Trillium was one of four stakes run at Woodbine on a card topped by the Grade 2 Kingh Edward Stakes.

Sat, 06/25/2011 - 13:25

Here Comes Ben has Forego repeat on schedule

Churchill Downs/ Reed Palmer Photography
Here Comes Ben repeats in the Kelly's Landing Friday night at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It seems Here Comes Ben has this night racing thing down pat.

His Friday evening victory in $76,455 Kelly’s Landing overnight stakes before a crowd of 25,523 at Churchill Downs was his second straight win in the overnight stakes, which last year also came during a “Downs After Dark” card. Given the ease with which he won by 3 1/4 lengths Friday over the classy Captain Cherokee, perhaps a repeat in the Grade 1 Forego is in his future.

Sat, 06/25/2011 - 13:16

Hollywood Park: Victor's Cry to make return in Shoemaker Mile

Benoit & Associates
Victor's Cry was freshened for a month following his trip to Dubai.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Victor’s Cry’s month-long vacation following a springtime trip to Dubai ended in early May when the 6-year-old gelding resumed exercise for trainer Eoin Harty.

After a fifth-place finish in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free, Harty’s goals for Victor’s Cry’s comeback were clear – continue to dominate Hollywood Park’s major turf races for milers.

Sat, 06/25/2011 - 12:49

Plum Pretty will run in Hollywood Oaks

Barbara D. Livingston
An uncertain starter in the Hollywood Oaks earlier this week, Plum Pretty will run, trainer Bob Baffert said.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty will start in Saturday’s $150,000 Hollywood Oaks at Hollywood Park, trainer Bob Baffert confirmed on race morning.

“She runs,” Baffert wrote in a text.