Sun, 05/29/2011 - 11:34

Remington: Favorites go down in richest races of Quarter Horse meet

Dustin Orona Photography
Rylee's Boy reaches the wire a head before favored Louisiana Senator in the Remington Park Invitational.

The nation’s top-ranked older Quarter Horse and its leading 2-year-old were both upset in major stakes Saturday night, with Rylees Boy holding for a head win over Louisiana Senator in the Grade 1, $250,000 Remington Park Invitational, and High Rate of Return scoring by a half-length over Mighty B Valiant in the Grade 1, $1,029,950 Heritage Place Futurity.

Sun, 05/29/2011 - 09:17

Monmouth: Christmas for Liam should be up front in Skip Away

Christmas for Liam will be tough to catch if speed is holding on the main track Monday at Monmouth Park.

The 4-year-old Christmas for Liam figures to be on, or just off, the pace in the supporting event, the $75,000 Skip Away Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.

He used those tactics to cruise to consecutive allowance wins at Gulfstream. They didn’t work as well last time when pushed into a blistering pace by Haynesfield in the Grade 3 Westchester Stakes at Belmont.

Sun, 05/29/2011 - 09:10

Lone Star Derby: Uncle Sam tries turf for the first time

Trainer Bob Baffert has had a stranglehold on the Lone Star Derby since winning its inaugural running in 1997 with Anet. But for the first time this year, the race will have a new look. The $200,000 Lone Star Derby has been moved to turf after losing its Grade 3 status for 2011.

“I wish it was dirt,” said Baffert, who has also won the race with Wanna Runner (2006), Mythical Power (2009), and Game On Dude (2010).

Sat, 05/28/2011 - 20:17

Hollywood Park: Talamo's lone ride pays big dividends for Ryehill Dreamer in American Handicap

BENOIT PHOTO
Ryehill Dancer, under Joe Talamo, rallies to narrowly defeat favored Sidney's Candy in the American Handicap.

INGLEWOOD, Calif.-Jockey Joe Talamo made the most of a very limited opportunity on Saturday.

Serving the first day of a three-day suspension for causing interference in the Milady Stakes last weekend, Talamo was eligible to ride only one race at Hollywood Park on Saturday – the $150,000 American Handicap for turf milers.

Sat, 05/28/2011 - 19:19

Arlington Matron a romp for Pachattack

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The stakes races Saturday at Arlington, the Arlington Matron and the Arlington Classic, were of the Grade 3 and listed variety, but the winner of each may be ready for bigger game.

Sat, 05/28/2011 - 19:10

Lone Star Park: McNeil and two sons all win on same program

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Jockey Tony McNeil and his sons, jockeys Bryan and Erik McNeil, each won a race on the Lone Star Park card Saturday.

Bryan McNeil, 27, won the first, with Donegal Gold ($16.20). Tony McNeil, 54, took the fourth with Jonesicula ($7), and Erik McNeil, 24, won the eighth with Holy Saint ($3).

“That’s the first time that all three of us won a race on the same card,” said Tony McNeil. “We’ve come so close before, all of us.”

Sat, 05/28/2011 - 19:05

Thistledown: Catlaunch does it again in Rowland

The amazing 10-year-old gelding Catlaunch won the $50,000 Michael F. Rowland Memorial Stakes for the sixth time in the last seven years on Saturday at Thistledown.

He was all out to beat Beau Mec by a neck at the end of the six furlongs, which was covered in 1:12.00 over the fast racing strip. Ramblin Mike finished third, three lengths farther back.

Sat, 05/28/2011 - 18:35

Monmouth: Crimson China comes through in Lamplighter

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Crimson China rallied from last in a five-horse field to win the $70,000 Lamplighter Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park. The favorite, Crimson China paid $3.

A stablemate of Animal Kingdom in H. Graham Motion’s barn at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, Crimson China made his second start on turf Saturday in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds on the turf. He raced twice last year in England, picking up a win and a second on Polytrack.

Sat, 05/28/2011 - 18:22

Belmont: Hibaayeb shows her class in stretch of Sheepshead Bay

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Hibaayeb, given a ground-saving ride by John Velazquez, takes the Sheepshead Bay.

ELMONT, N.Y. - As the only Grade 1 winner in the field, Hibaayeb was the class of the six fillies and mares entered in Saturday’s $150,000 Sheepshead Bay Stakes at Belmont Park. Hibaayeb transferred that class from the paper to Belmont Park’s inner turf course with a solid one-length victory in the Grade 2 stakes.

Sat, 05/28/2011 - 17:57

Churchill Downs: Keertana takes photo

Churchill Downs/ Reed Palmer Photography
Keertana rallies up the edge to win a three-horse photo over Bearpath and Guys Reward.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In an incredibly tight finish that nearly resulted in a triple dead-heat, Keertana was the narrowest of winners Saturday in the 74th running of the Grade 3, $111,200 Louisville Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Favored at 3-2 over her six male rivals, Keertana, a 5-year-old mare, prevailed by a nose over Bearpath, with Guys Reward another nose back in third. El Crespo was fourth, while Musketier, the 8-5 second choice, finished fifth.