ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The applause began, politely, near his box, then quickly spread throughout the entire section towering above the Arlington Park finish line Saturday. By the time 88-year-old Richard Duchossois disappeared on his way to the winner’s circle, there was whistling, raucous cheering, and maybe even a tear or two in heartfelt recognition of what had just transpired on the Arlington turf.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – After Gio Ponti blew to the lead in deep stretch and appeared poised to win the Arlington Million for the second straight year, 11-1 shot Debussy surfaced from nowhere to nail him in the final few strides in a dramatic conclusion to the 28th Million.
With William Buick riding for Darley Stud and Princess Haya of Jordan, Debussy, an Irish-bred 4-year-old trained by John Gosden, returned $24 after finishing the 1 1/4-mile distance in 2:03.01 over a good turf course.
Ben’s Cat proved to be just as effective on turf as he has been on the main track.
A 4-year-old colt making his turf debut after beginning his career with four consecutive sprint victories on dirt, Ben’s Cat ($7.20) remained undefeated when he came from o ff the pace to win Saturday’s $50,000 Mister Diz Stakes for Maryland-breds at Laurel Park.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. -- Trainers do not make a habit of comparing star horses that have passed through their barn. Bad politics. But after Paddy O’Prado had won his third straight graded turf stakes, capturing the $400,000 Secretariat by 1 1/4 lengths over English invader Wigmore Hall on a steamy Saturday at Arlington Park, trainer Dale Romans did not hesitate to bring up a standout from the past.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Jacally assumed command shortly after the start and led virtually throughout en route to capturing Saturday’s $126,200 Eternal Search for Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies here at Woodbine on Saturday.
The 1 1/16-mile Eternal Search was far from uneventful, however, as Venus Bay had rallied from last place in the field of eight and loomed a solid threat to the front-runner before going very wide coming into the stretch.
Chris Englehart, the leading trainer at Finger Lakes, knew what he was doing when he risked $50,000 to claim Be Bullish at Saratoga last month.
Englehart got a quick return on his investment when the 5-year-old Be Bullish drew clear in the stretch to win Saturday’s $50,000 Leon Reed Memorial Handicap at Finger Lakes.
Sent off as the 2-1 second choice in a field of seven older New York-bred sprinters, Be Bullish ($6.40) and jockey John Davila Jr. sat in third as Wicked Climb and Pro’s Pal dueled through fractions of 21.82 and 45.11 seconds.
Startin Something made it back-to-back stakes wins when she assumed command after a half-mile and drew off to a handy six-length-win over her six Ohio-bred 2-year-old rivals in the 43rd running of the $50,000, six-furlong Miss Ohio Stakes on Saturday at Thistledown.
Throws It Down set the pace for a halmile and finished second, one length in front of Mini Reward.
Startin Something is owned by his breeder Blazing Meadows Farm and trained by Tim Hamm, who saddled five of the seven starters in the race. Hamm's runners finished first, second, third, and fifth.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Part of the reason Todd Pletcher lost last year’s Saratoga trainer’s title to Linda Rice may have been that he didn’t have enough turf sprinters in his barn. In Rose Catherine, he has one of the best turf female sprinters in the country.
Monday, Rose Catherine will get to strut her stuff over Saratoga’s outer turf course in the $70,000 Bennington Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs. Originally slated to be run Friday, the Bennington was not carded by the racing office until Monday.
Witt’s Halo and Julie C, both impressive maiden winners at this meet, head a field of six 2-year-olds set to go six furlongs in the $10,000 Club House Special at Columbus on Sunday afternoon.
Witt’s Halo, from the barn of leading trainer Dudley Graham, won a maiden race here opening weekend by a widening 10 lengths. He had already tried stakes company at Lincoln in the Capitol City Futurity, where he tired to finish fifth. Before that he was second in a maiden race to the talented Alert the Press, who would go on to win the Capitol City.
Bernell Rhone is in good position to capture a pair of sales stakes at Canterbury Park on Sunday. The two $25,000 stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs are restricted to 3-year-olds who are progeny of stallions whose service was sold at the 2006 Minnesota Thoroughbred Association’s stallion service auction.
Rhone starts Rustic Road in the Laddie division, for either sex, and She’s Better Loud in the Lassie division, for fillies.
Rhone has been rehabilitating Rustic Road, who will be making his first start in four months in the Laddie division.