OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Gary Contessa will get another shot at winning the Whirlaway Stakes next month at Aqueduct.
Preachintothedevil, trained by Contessa for owner Molly Vogel, earned his spot in the $100,000 Whirlaway on Feb. 5 with a solid 3 1/4-length victory over pacesetting Eminent Tale in Saturday’s $60,000 Champagneforashley Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds at Aqueduct. Sky Music, the even-money favorite, got up for third over stablemate Crea’s Law.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The first Saturday in January is a long way from the first Saturday in May, but the connections of Monzon can allow themselves to dream about a potential trip down the Triple Crown trail after their 3-year-old gelding rallied from last to win the $65,000 Count Fleet Stakes by one length over J.J.’s Lucky Train at Aqueduct.
It was 3 1/2 lengths back to Pants on Fire, who got third by a head over Arthur’s Tale. Tap Star and Rush Now, the 2-1 favorite, completed the order of finish.
Harissa, who was good enough to capture a $200,000 stakes and post top-three finishes in two graded stakes during 2010, is among four stakes winners from last season in Tuesday’s $75,000 Sleigh Ride Stakes at Parx Racing.
The Sleigh Ride, which will be contested at a mile and 70 yards, drew a field of eight older fillies and mares.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Racing on the south Florida circuit switches to Gulfstream Park on Wednesday, two days later than usual but none too soon for horseplayers eager to sink their teeth into another championship-caliber meeting this winter.
Gulfstream Park officials opted to push back the traditional Jan. 3 opening, which would have fallen on Monday, because Mondays and Tuesdays will be dark throughout the season. The 2011 meet runs through April 24.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Silver Medallion, a colt known for being a too playful at times in the morning, gave a glimpse of his ability with a win in Friday’s
at Santa Anita.
The victory was the colt’s first stakes win, and was the first career win at Santa Anita for trainer Steve Asmussen. Asmussen, 45, has a 30-horse stable here this winter.
A wet day in New Orleans turned the final turf stakes of the year for 3-year-olds into the final dirt stakes of the year for 3-year-olds, and that worked just fine for Max Me Out. Max Me Out had failed even to finish third in four turf tries, but he skipped over the muddy Fair Grounds surface and won an off-the-grass edition of the $60,000 Woodchopper Stakes late Friday afternoon.
Apparently moving to a route was what the doctor ordered for 3-year-old gelding Relatorre.
After romping over maidens going a mile at Turf Paradise on Nov. 26, Relatorre ($33.20) validated it with a handy victory in Friday’s $25,000 Luke Kruytbosch Stakes at the Phoenix track.
No Advantage, winless in 10 previous starts in 2010, closed out the calendar year with a bang by shipping into Parx Racing to upset Friday’s $75,000 Auld Lang Syne Stakes.
Based at Penn National with trainer Stephanie Beattie, No Advantage ($17.60) drew clear by 1 1/2 lengths under jockey Manuel Chaves despite drifting out in the first turn of the mile-and-70-yard race and drifting again during the stretch run. He completed the distance in 1:42.45 for his first victory since Dec. 15, 2009, ending a season in which he won 6 of 9 starts.
