Sat, 05/21/2011 - 17:04

Pimlico: Apart outduels Colizeo to win Schaefer Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Apart (left) outfinishes Colizeo to win the Grade 3 William Donald Schaefer Stakes at Pimlico.

BALTIMORE – It was same time, next year on Saturday at Pimlico for trainer Al Stall Jr. and owner Adele Dilschneider. One year after winning the William Donald Schaefer Stakes with Blame, the eventual Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, they struck again Saturday at Pimlico with Apart, who tenaciously outfought Colizeo for a neck win in the Grade 3, $100,000 race for older horses.

Sat, 05/21/2011 - 15:52

Pimlico: No Explaining gets right trip to win Gallorette

Kim Pratt
No Explaining, John Velazquez up, leads Desert Sage home in the Gallorette Handicap.

BALTMORE – A six-month layoff, a demanding turf course and an exorbitant weight spread proved too much for defending Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Shared Account to overcome Saturday as she could manage no better than a fourth-place finish behind No Explaining in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Gallorette Handicap at Pimlico.

Sat, 05/21/2011 - 15:43

Mountaineer: Woodard always tough with shippers

When Kentucky-based trainer Joe Woodard brings a horse to Mountaineer Racetrack in West Viginia, he means business.

Woodard, a phenomenal 12 for 28 (43 percent) with his Mountaineer imports already this season, stands an excellent chance of improving on those impressive statistics when he sends out the 4-year-old Whatthecatdrugin for Tuesday night’s featured ninth race, a second-level allowance at a mile and 70 yards on the main track.

Sat, 05/21/2011 - 15:42

Pimlico: Ventana survives duel, inquiry to take Maryland Sprint Handicap

Barbara D. Livingston
Ventana (5), ridden by Martin Garcia, holds off Immortal Eyes in the Maryland Sprint Handicap as Garcia's whip falls to the ground.

BALTIMORE – Ventana not only survived a fierce challenge from longshot Immortal Eyes to prevail by a neck following a stretch-long duel, but also a stewards’ inquiry and a jockey objection in capturing the Grade 3, $100,000 Maryland Sprint Handicap on the Preakness undercard Saturday at Pimlico.

Ventana, the favorite in a field of nine older horses, returned $5.20 after finishing six furlongs in 1:09.88 over a fast track.

Sat, 05/21/2011 - 15:00

Pimlico: Chinglish continues improvement in Murphy Stakes

Debra Roma
Chinglish finishes strongly under John Velazquez to win the Murphy.

Trainer Mark Hennig calls his 3-year-old Chinglish a slow-learner. But, after watching him win Saturday’s $100,000 James Murphy Stakes for 3-year-olds at Pimlico, Hennig said the son of War Front is finally “getting it together.”

Sat, 05/21/2011 - 14:21

Pimlico: Vengeful Wildcat scores as 2-1 favorite in Chick Lang

Barbara D. Livingston
Vengful Wildcat, under Carlios Marquez, pulls away from Chipshot to win the Lang Memorial.

BALTIMORE – Vengeful Wildcat wore down Chipshot for a popular victory as the 2-1 favorite Saturday in the second running of the $100,000 Chick Lang Stakes for 3-year-olds at Pimlico Race Course.

Sat, 05/21/2011 - 12:53

Hastings: Teide merits slight edge over Senor Rojo in Longden 6000

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Senor Rojo, the local horse of the year in 2010, and Teide, who won the same honor the year before, headline the $50,000 John Longden 6000 for 3-year-olds and up at Hastings on Monday. The 6 1/2-furlong feature drew seven horses and it appears to be a wide-open event.

Sat, 05/21/2011 - 12:34

Pimlico: Super Espresso battles to Allaire duPont win

Barbara D. Livingston
Super Espresso and Ramon Dominguez win the Allaire DuPont Distaff at Pimlico.

BALTIMORE – On a day when Life At Ten showed she is still far away from her Grade 1-winning form of a year ago, trainer Todd Pletcher may have found someone to take her place in the distaff division as Super Espresso, an 11-1 outsider, rallied four wide in the stretch to win Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Allaire duPont Distaff Stakes by three-quarters of a length at Pimlico.

Sat, 05/21/2011 - 12:26

Preakness odds: Animal Kingdom and Dialed In both 3-1

Odds as of 2:30 p.m. Eastern

136th Preakness
Purse: $1 million, 1 3/16 miles; Grade 1
Post time: 6:18 p.m.

1. Astrology, 15-1
2. Norman Asbjornson, 35-1
3. King Congie, 17-1
4. Flashpoint, 21-1
5. Shackleford, 12-1
6. Sway Away, 14-1
7. Midnight Interlude, 12-1
8. Dance City, 11-1
9. Mucho Macho Man, 9-2
10. Dialed In, 3-1
11. Animal Kingdom, 3-1
12. Isn't He Perfect, 24-1
13. Concealed Identity, 24-1
14. Mr. Commons, 40-1

 

Sat, 05/21/2011 - 12:12

Northlands Park: Deja Vroom Vroom tough off his last

Trainer Tim Rycroft is off to a hot start, with five wins from his first nine starters at the Northlands Park meet that began May 6, and he could add to his totals Monday, when he saddles Deja Vroom Vroom in a $15,000 claiming race that will serve as the feature on the nine-race card holiday card. The six-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds attracted nine horses and goes as the eighth race.