Sat, 08/28/2010 - 17:19

Rapport wires Victory Ride

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Had things worked out a little better, trainer Bob Baffert would have been at Saratoga on Saturday trying to win the main event, the Travers, with Lookin At Lucky. Instead, he had to settle for one of the minor prizes after sending out Rapport to a wire-to-wire victory under jockey Martin Garcia in the $100,000 Victory Ride Stakes.

Sat, 08/28/2010 - 17:10

Taptam leads throughout at Hoosier

Taptam led from start to finish to win the $104.900 Wigwam at Hoosier Park Saturday afternoon.

Trained by Bret Calhoun, Taptam dueled for the early lead before taking over after a half-mile. The 5-year-old had a 2 1/2- length lead coming into the stretch and jockey Francisco Torres kept the mare’s mind on business, winning by two lengths.

Afleet Deceit under Leandro Goncalves held on for second, 2 1/2 lengths in front of entrymate W W American in third.

Sat, 08/28/2010 - 16:30

Dynaslew digs in to win Ballston Spa

Barbara D. Livingston
Dynaslew (center) wins the Grade 2 Ballston Spa over Silver Reunion (right)

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Seth Benzel’s breakout meet hit a crescendo Saturday at Saratoga when Dynaslew overtook the pacesetting Silver Reunion outside the eighth pole, then outfinished that rival to the wire to win the Grade 2, $200,000 Ballston Spa Stakes by one-half length.

Sat, 08/28/2010 - 16:24

Vineyard Haven ready for Forego

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Vineyard Haven likely solidified his role as the favorite for Saturday’s Grade 1 Forego after working an impressive six furlongs in 1:12.39 under the cover of darkness here early Saturday morning.

Sat, 08/28/2010 - 16:01

For All Who Conga comes back quick at Presque Isle

For All Who Conga ran poorly six days ago at Presque Isle Downs but trainer Jamie Ness expects improvement when he sends out the 4-year-old in a fourth-level allowance at a mile and 70 yards Tuesday evening.

Last Wednesday, For All Who Conga finished fifth of six in a six-furlong allowance race.

“He just kind of ran around the track, we train him for a route.” Ness said.

Sat, 08/28/2010 - 14:44

Princess Taylor has Gallagher aiming high

DEL MAR, Calif. – After racing on three continents in the last year, Princess Taylor seems to have found a home in Southern California.

Friday, she won the first stakes of her career, and first race in nearly 23 months, in the $84,775 TOC and CTT Handicap at Del Mar. In winning the turf race for fillies and mares over 1 3/8 miles, she surprised trainer Paddy Gallagher by stalking pacesetter Gripsholm Castle, instead of leading. Princess Taylor rallied through the stretch to win by a half-length.

“I didn’t know she could do that,” Gallagher said.

Sat, 08/28/2010 - 14:44

Champagne d'Oro headed to Presque Isle

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The multiple Grade 1-winning 3-year-old filly Champagne d’Oro will make her next start in the Grade 3, $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes on Sept. 11, trainer Eric Guillot said Saturday.

The Masters, run at 6 1/2 furlongs, will be her final prep for the $1  million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.

Sat, 08/28/2010 - 14:15

Glenwood Canyon's last was sharp -- too sharp?

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There were not enough entries to card either one of the two overnight stakes scheduled for Monday at Saratoga, so the feature on a 10-race card is a second-level allowance race for older males going 1 1/8 miles on the main track.

Handicappers must decide whether Glenwood Canyon will bounce off his stellar second-place performance to Convocation last time at this level, or whether he can take a step forward. Al Stall, the trainer of Glenwood Canyon, sees all positive signs in the gelding since the race.

Sat, 08/28/2010 - 09:28

Golden Stripe romps in Distaff at Assiniboia

Golden Stripe, who had towered over her opposition on paper, lived up to that notice on the racetrack as she waltzed to an 18 1/4-length victory in the $50,000 Distaff Stakes at Assiniboia Downs on Friday evening.

A homebred who is owned by K-5 Stable and is trained by Shelley Brown, Golden Stripe had been running very well in open filly and mare competition and was facing fellow Manitoba-breds in the one-mile Distaff.

With Gary Baze along for the ride, Golden Stripe went to the front early and improved her position as the 1-5 favorite.

Sat, 08/28/2010 - 09:22

Harris just misses Challenge night hat trick

ALTOONA, Iowa - Bill Harris missed sweeping the Friday's Challenge Series races at Prairie Meadows by a head. The finals of the Challenge Championships will be held Nov. 20 at the Fair Grounds.

"We were very happy, we got two more qualified for New Orleans," said Harris.