Mon, 08/02/2010 - 13:59

Haskell has record handle

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Interest in the Haskell Stakes on Sunday at Monmouth Park translated into strong business numbers across the board, most notably a record $4,463,736 being bet on the Haskell itself, a race that was won in impressive fashion by Lookin At Lucky against a field that included Super Saver, the Kentucky Derby winner, and Trappe Shot.

Mon, 08/02/2010 - 13:55

Midtown Bullet: Will he or won't he?

Midtown Bullet could go either way when he steps up in class in a second-level allowance race that will serve as Wednesday’s feature race at Northlands Park. The six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses, but if Midtown Bullet runs as well as he did when he won a first-level race by over seven lengths on July 7, the rest are running for second money.

Trained by Twylla Bensmiller, Midtown Bullet is a perfect candidate to bounce, however.

Mon, 08/02/2010 - 13:19

Free Fee Lady continues her ascent

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Free Fee Lady has come a long way in a short time.

After debuting here May 22, Free Fee Lady recorded her second consecutive stakes win when making her fourth career start here in Sunday’s $250,800 Wonder Where, a 1 1/4-mile turf race.

“I didn’t think it was her best race,” said Reade Baker, who trains Free Fee Lady for owner Dick Bonnycastle’s Harlequin Ranches.

Mon, 08/02/2010 - 13:13

Debutante, Grace coming up strong at Santa Rosa

This weekend’s two stakes at the Sonoma County Fair, the Wine Country Debutante for 2-year-old fillies on Saturday and the Joseph Grace on the turf for older horses on Sunday, attracted 14 and 11 nominees, respectively.

Perfect Curls, winner of Northern California’s only 2-year-old stakes for fillies, and Belleofthebridle, runner-up in the Willard Proctor at Hollywood and third in the Landaluce there, are the top nominees for the Debutante.

Mon, 08/02/2010 - 12:58

Migrated article

NOTEBOOK

By Steve Andersen

DEL MAR, Calif.-Zenyatta is likely to have six rivals in the $300,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on Saturday, if the undefeated two-time champion starts in the Grade 1 race.

While trainer John Shirreffs and owners Jerry and Ann Moss have yet to commit Zenyatta to the Grade 1 Hirsch, Shirreffs has mapped out a schedule for Zenyatta to be ready for the race.

Mon, 08/02/2010 - 12:16

Dance to the Star wins at Arapahoe

Dance to the Star relished the move back to two turns Sunday, when he rolled to a 4 3/4-length win in the $36,750 Mount Elbert Handicap at Arapahoe Park. It was the first route start for the horse since last summer, when he won the Colorado Thoroughbred Breeders Association Derby.

The Mount Elbert, a 1 1/16-mile race, was restricted to 3-year-olds and up bred in Colorado.

Mon, 08/02/2010 - 12:13

Fullofenergy makes it 4 years in a row at Ruidoso

Fullofenergy overcame a two-month layoff to win the $50,000 Land of Enchantment for the fourth consecutive year Sunday at Ruidoso Downs. The 7 1/2-furlong stakes was part of the Zia Racing Festival of 10 New Mexico-bred stakes for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses. Purses for the races totaled more than $1.1 million.

Mon, 08/02/2010 - 11:56

Rachel looks strong in Spa work

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Not many of the handful of backstretch onlookers on an overcast, humid Monday morning at Saratoga had nearly as much energy just before sunrise as Rachel Alexandra displayed.

Preparing for her next start in the $300,000 Personal Ensign Stakes here on Aug. 29, Rachel Alexandra drilled five furlongs in 1:02.38 under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan on the Oklahoma training track. Daily Racing Form timed Rachel Alexandra in fractions of 13.13, 25.44, and 37.57 seconds, and caught her galloping out six furlongs in 1:15.72.

Mon, 08/02/2010 - 11:50

Winslow Homer out with condylar fracture

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Winslow Homer, who won Sunday's $75,000 Curlin Stakes by nine lengths at Saratoga, came out of the race with a condylar fracture to his left foreleg and will have to miss the Travers and likely the remainder of the year.

The injury is not related to the fractured shin that Winslow Homer suffered in his right foreleg following his victory in the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park in January. Winslow Homer underwent surgery for that injury, and the Curlin was his second start since then.

Mon, 08/02/2010 - 09:49

Clair Annette proves uncatchable again

AUBURN, Wash. – Clair Annette raced to a front-running victory in the $50,000 Boeing Handicap for fillies and mares Sunday at Emerald Downs, her second consecutive stakes victory and her third win around two turns in as many starts.

Clair Annette ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.40 to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths. Gadget Queen was second, a neck ahead of Barbara’s Love. Kimmyv, the 5-2 favorite, finished fourth, followed by Pretty Katherine, and Cliff’s Secret.