Wed, 09/15/2010 - 16:07

Two different paths to sales stakes victories

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The contrast between the winners of their divisions of last Sunday’s CTHS Stakes for 2-year-olds is striking and emblematic of the diversity of horse racing.

Wed, 09/15/2010 - 15:55

Card starts with stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – It isn’t often the best – and richest – race of the day is carded as the opener, but such is the case Friday at Belmont Park when eight 3-year-olds are scheduled to run in the $60,000 Fifth Marine Stakes at a mile over the Widener Turf Course.

The Fifth Marine is one of two overnight stakes on the program. The $60,000 Salute Me Sir for New York-breds on dirt, drew a field of five and will be run as the third race.

Wed, 09/15/2010 - 15:42

Giant Moon won't have to deal with Haynesfield

ELMONT, N.Y. – A six-day delay in the carding of the $60,000 Salute Me Sir Stakes may have worked out just fine for trainer Richard Schosberg and his 5-year-old Giant Moon. Initially scheduled to be run last Saturday, the race is now being run as the third race on Friday’s nine-race card.

Wed, 09/15/2010 - 15:27

McCanna closes in on his win record

AUBURN, Wash. – September is Tim McCanna’s time of year. The low-key trainer has all but secured his 10th championship in Emerald Downs’ 15-year history, and with seven racing days remaining, is closing in on a new record for victories in a single season.

After a slow start to the 90-day meeting, McCanna has been rolling, winning with 14 of his 51 starters over the past 11 racing days. He holds a comfortable 62-51 lead over Vann Belvoir and needs five victories to break the single-season record he set in 2008, when he saddled 66 winners.

Wed, 09/15/2010 - 15:13

Lady Golightly to tackle males in Gottstein

AUBURN, Wash. – Trainer Tom Wenzel is aiming high with Lady Golightly. After resounding victories in her first two stakes appearances at Emerald Downs, the speedy 2-year-old filly will try the boys Sept. 26 in the season-ending Gottstein Futurity.

Only nine fillies have captured the Gottstein in 72 runnings since the race’s inception in 1940, and only Smarty Deb has won it since Emerald Downs opened in 1996.

Wed, 09/15/2010 - 15:08

Odds figure shorter on Grand Adventure this year

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Frostad and owner Sam-Son Farm rarely miss a Woodbine Mile, having been represented in 11 of the first 13 runnings.

On Sunday, the outfit will be looking for its third win in the Woodbine Mile, with Grand Adventure set to go postward in Grade 1, $1 million turf feature for 3-year-olds and up.

Grand Adventure, a Kentucky-bred 4-year-old, will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Quiet Resolve, who won the 1999 running of the Woodbine Mile via a disqualification, and Soaring Free, who scored without an assist from the stewards in 2004.

Wed, 09/15/2010 - 14:57

Golden Gate jockey continues to improve

Severely injured jockey Michael Martinez continues to show improvement after the Sunday spill at Golden Gate Fields that severed his spinal cord.

On Tuesday, his lung function improved enough for him to be removed from a breathing machine and a chest tube was removed from his right side. Doctors at Highland Hospital in Oakland hope to remove the chest tube from his left side Wednesday, according to Golden Gate Fields’ track physician, Dr. David Seftel.

Wed, 09/15/2010 - 14:36

Apart has brisk work for Super Derby

BOSSIER CITY, La. – Super Derby Prelude winner Apart turned in his next-to-last workout for next weekend’s Super Derby last Sunday at Louisiana Diowns, and the results left trainer Al Stall Jr. generally pleased.

Wed, 09/15/2010 - 14:30

Shepherd Stakes may be right spot for Belleofhebridle to get second win

POMONA, Calif. – When first-time starter Belleofthebridle scored a 5 3/4-length blowout April 21 in the first 2-year-old race of the Hollywood Park meet, the sky was the limit. Five months and three starts later, Belleofthebridle is still looking for her second win.

It could happen Friday at Fairplex Park, where Belleofthebridle meets Hi Ho Yodeler in the $50,000 Phil D. Shepherd Stakes at seven furlongs.

Wed, 09/15/2010 - 14:10

Honey’n Roses back quick for optional claimer

Honey’n Roses paid decent prices while reeling off three straight wins for trainer Pam McDougall, but she should be favored when she runs in a $40,000 optional claimer for 3-year-old fillies that will serve as Friday’s feature at Northlands Park. The 6 1/2-furlong dash drew six horses and will go as race 4 on the eight-race card that begins an hour earlier than usual at 6 p.m.