Anna Rose Napravnik, 22, became the first female in the 73-year history of Delaware Park to finish atop the jockey standings when she completed the 2010 meet that ended Saturday with 126 victories.
Napravnik, the runner-up in the Delaware standings in 2009 and fifth in 2008, finished 21 wins ahead of Jeremy Rose, the track’s leading rider in 2001 and 2007. It’s the fifth time in the last six years that Rose has been a top-three rider at Delaware. Gabriel Saez finished third with 100 victories.
Sunday Sunrise moved back to dirt and got back into the winner’s circle Saturday at Zia Park, when he closed from next to last for a 1 3/4-length win in the $55,000 Veterans . The race was the local prep for next month’s $200,000 Distance Championship.
Sunday Sunrise ($16.80) finished seventh, beaten just two lengths in the $150,000 Remington Park Green on turf in his last start Oct. 10. He returned Saturday to dirt, where he had won an allowance two races back, and closed well to cover 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.31.
Here’s how superior Steady Warrior was to his competition in Saturday night’s $122,475 Tri-State Futurity. He stumbled coming out of the gate and went to his knees, yet not only fully recovered but sped to a 1 1/4-length victory over stablemate Bumpy Road in the seven-furlong race at Charles Town restricted to 2-year-olds foaled in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It wasn’t quite Babe Ruth calling his shot, but trainer Al Stall Jr. definitely hit one out of the park. Nearly a year ago, he mapped out a plan to best get Blame to the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs. And on Saturday night, Blame hit a home run for Stall, scoring a dramatic victory over favored Zenyatta in the Classic.
“It’s rare for anybody,” Stall said at his Churchill Downs barn on Sunday morning. “But that’s what it takes to win these things. You have to hit every short-term goal as you go along.”
Cryptolight relished the return to Mountaineer’s main track after unsuccessful tries over a synthetic surface and turf to capture Saturday night’s 38th running of the $125,000 Mountaineer Mile Handicap.
Ridden for the first time by Ernesto Oro, the 5-year-old Cryptolight ($11) stalked a couple of lengths off the pace set by Shadowbdancing, then swung out to mount a challenge approaching the final turn, took command in midstretch, and drew clear by 5 ¾ lengths.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Zenyatta may have finished second in her final career start on Saturday in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but she remained first in the hearts of her fans here Sunday morning at Churchill Downs, literally stopping traffic on a public road adjacent to the barn area when motorists realized she was out grazing.
Caleb’s Posse established himself as the early favorite for next month’s $250,000 Springboard Mile for 2-year-olds at Remington Park when he pulled away to a 5 1/2-length win over Grant Jack in the $100,000 Clever Trevor on Saturday. It was another 4 ¾ lengths back in third to Chipshot.
Final thoughts: Crist: "That was a terrific horse race. Blame was courageous in victory and Zenyatta was excellent in defeat. Blame earned the Horse of the Year title on the track, but Zenyatta lost nothing but her undefeated record. Between the Classic finish, Goldikova's victory and Uncle Mo's emergence as the sport's newest star, this was quite a Breeders' Cup." Read More >>
Total commingled handle on the Friday and Saturday cards at Churchill Downs featuring the 14 races of the Breeders’ Cup increased 13 percent at a time when betting levels are dropping precipitously at many tracks across the country, according to figures provided by the Breeders’ Cup late on Saturday.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The former maiden claimer Comma to the Top won his first stakes in Saturday’s $100,000 Real Quiet Stakes at Hollywood Park, the gelding’s first start beyond seven furlongs.
Ridden aggressively by jockey Corey Nakatani, Comma to the Top ($10.20) led throughout the Real Quiet over 1 1/16 miles, setting a quick early pace and drawing off to win by 6 1/4 lengths in 1:43.56.
