ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Hollywood Hit ($3) gamely held off a rallying Tend to take the $100,400 King Corrie Stakes on Wednesday night at Woodbine.
Essence Hit Man broke on top in the six-furlong dash, and led through a sizzling quarter in 21.59 seconds, with Hollywood Hit pressing him along the inside. Essence Hit Man opened up a clear lead at the three-eighths pole, and got the half-mile in 44.35.
Del Mar will make a retroactive purse payment of approximately $850,000 to $900,000 this fall to owners who had horses earn prize money in overnight races for the recently concluded meeting, the track announced earlier this week.
The payment is expected to be distributed in November, according to director of racing Tom Robbins. He said the exact amount of the retroactive payment has yet to be finalized. The meeting ended on Sept. 8.
Presious Passion’s comeback race against token opposition didn’t exactly inspire confidence that the 7-year-old is ready to resume facing top-shelf competition.
Running for the first time since June in an optional claiming race on Wednesday at Delaware Park, Presious Passion finished fourth, beaten nearly 2 1/2 lengths as the 4-5 favorite.
His performance didn’t really answer many questions for trainer Mary Hartmann, who was on hand to watch the 1 1/16-mile race.
BOSSIER CITY, La. – Hurricane Ike touched down in Louisiana late Wednesday morning and shortly afterward was made the 9-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby. He is the speed of a six-horse field that also includes the undefeated Golden Moka and fellow Southern California invader Distorted Economy.
AUBURN, Wash. – Ricky Frazier will finish the 2010 Emerald Downs meeting Sunday with another riding title, his fifth in seven seasons. The Northwest’s preeminent jockey has made it look easy, building a 111-88 lead over runner-up Juan Gutierrez, but looks can be deceiving – there was nothing easy about it.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Angel Penna is hoping a drop in class and a return to Belmont Park helps reverse the fortunes of his graded stakes winning Baletti in Friday’s featured optional claiming race at 1 1/16 miles over the inner turf course.
Baletti, who won the Grade 3 Fort Marcy here in May, has struggled in his last two starts, finishing sixth in the Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes in June and fifth in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch at Saratoga on Aug. 27.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Convocation received an invitation to next Saturday’s Jockey Club Gold Cup, but trainer Jimmy Jerkens said the horse would most likely be pointed to the Grade 2, $250,000 Kelso Breeders’ Cup at a mile on Oct. 3. The Kelso will be run on the dirt this year, after having been previously run on the turf.
Pleasant Storm could be headed to the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby after winning last weekend’s allowance prep for the race to improve his Remington Park record to 3 for 3. Pleasant Storm was up for a half-length win in what was his first start since March.
“I liked his race,” said Joe Petalino, who trains Pleasant Storm for Vickie Fixley. “I think he had a little something left.”
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – There is a big contrast between the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby at Hastings on Sunday and Saturday’s $75,000 B.C. Oaks.
The 1 1/8-mile derby has a field of 11 3-year-olds who have combined to win a total of three stakes, and none of the entrants has won more than a single added-money event. Compare that to the Oaks, where Dearest Princess and Notoriously have been the leaders at their respective tracks, with three stakes wins apiece