Sat, 04/16/2011 - 18:54

Gulfstream Park: Miss Blakely wins stretch duel in South Beach Stakes

Bob Coglianese
Miss Blakely outfinishes Bet on the Blue to win the South Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The $60,000 South Beach was the only one of eight scheduled turf races to survive the rain Saturday at Gulfstream Park. And it was Miss Blakely who survived a furious stretch duel over the yielding course to capture the South Beach by a head over Bet on the Blue, with Carem Crescent finishing another neck back in third.

Sat, 04/16/2011 - 18:12

Keeneland: Never Retreat holds off Fantasia in Jenny Wiley Stakes

Coady Photography/Keeneland
Never Retreat wins the Grade 2 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – At age 6, at a time many stakes-winning mares are retired and enjoying second careers as broodmares, Never Retreat is seemingly just now reaching her full potential as a racehorse.

On Saturday against a top-class field in the $200,000 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland, she scored the biggest victory of her career, picking up her first Grade 2 victory in the race by handily defeating Fantasia and favored Zagora.

Sat, 04/16/2011 - 18:10

Keeneland: Brilliant Speed a nose best in Blue Grass

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Brilliant Speed gets up in the last jump to win the Blue Grass.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Brilliant Speed, rallying down the center of the track under Joel Rosario, got up in the final stride to edge Twinspired by a nose in Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Toyota Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland.

The finish was so tight that it took several minutes for placing judges to determine the order of finish. The winning margin appeared to be an inch or two.

Sat, 04/16/2011 - 18:05

Pimlico: Former claimer Miss Fleetfoot relishes slop in Primonetta

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
The 6-year-old mare Miss Fleetfoot draws clear under Abel Castellano Jr. in the Primonetta.

Miss Fleetfoot, claimed for $7,500 in February, delivered the biggest performance of her 26-race career when she turned back a bid from 3-5 favorite Wind Caper to win Saturday’s $53,500 Primonetta Stakes at Pimlico.

Sat, 04/16/2011 - 17:43

Aqueduct: Nicole H hardly looks rusty returning in Distaff

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Nicole H, making her first start since New Year's Day, extends her winning streak to three stakes by taking the Distaff Handicap.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. -  Nicole H returned from her winter break as good if not better than she went into it, sailing through the wind and rain at Aqueduct to take Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Distaff Handicap by 2 1/2 lengths.

 Wild News, who set the pace under C.C. Lopez after breaking through the starting gate prior to the official start of the race, held second by two lengths over Kid Kate. Spacy Tracy and Qualia completed the order of finish.

Sat, 04/16/2011 - 17:34

Woodbine: Oh Canada comes running in Woodstock

Michael Burns
Oh Canada impressed with his win in the Woodstock Stakes.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Oh Canada became a viable prospect for the June 26 Queen’s Plate with a somewhat surprising score in the 113th running of the $168,800 Woodstock Stakes at Woodbine Saturday.

Oh Canada ($21.30) was making his season debut in the six-furlong sprint, which featured a fast pace set by the dueling duo of Bear Chocolated and Something Extra.

Sat, 04/16/2011 - 17:05

Santa Anita: Regally Ready holds off Camp Victory by nose in San Simeon

Benoit Photo
Regally Ready holds on to win the San Simeon.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Regally Ready held off a late rally from Camp Victory to win Saturday’s $100,000 San Simeon Handicap at Santa Anita by a nose, but jockey Mike Smith took no chances aboard the winner in the final strides.

“I rode past the wire,” Smith said. “Past the wire, [Camp Victory] got me. But at the wire, I wasn’t sure.”

Regally Ready ($3.80) ran about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:12.33, winning his third consecutive turf sprint and confirming his status as the division leader of the winter-spring meeting.

Sat, 04/16/2011 - 17:04

Keeneland: Aikenite powers home to win Commonwealth Stakes

Coady Photography/Keeneland
Aikenite wins the Grade 2, $175,000 Commonwealth Stakes at Keeneland.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Aikenite was terrific in winning a seven-furlong allowance race last fall over the Polytrack at Keeneland, so it was something of déjà vu Saturday when the 4-year-old colt powered to his first stakes victory in the Grade 2, $175,000 Commonwealth Stakes at Keeneland.

Sat, 04/16/2011 - 16:55

Keeneland: Stratford Hill outfinishes highly regarded rivals in Shakertown

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Stratford Hill, a son of  A. P. Indy out of Grade 1 Ballerina winner Harmony Lodge, is bred to excel on dirt. It just so happens that turf racing has proven his calling.

In the Grade 3, $100,000 Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday’s Bluegrass Stakes undercard, Stratford Hill won his fourth consecutive turf sprint in as many starts, defeating such standout turf horses as Grand Adventure, Silver Timber, and Breeders’ Cup Turf sprint winner Chamberlain Bridge.

Sat, 04/16/2011 - 15:47

Penn National cancels Saturday night live racing

Due to potential damaging winds, heavy rains, and extreme weather conditions forecast for central Pennsylvania, live racing has been canceled at Penn National Race Course for Saturday night. Racing is scheduled to resume on Monday night.