Sun, 07/25/2010 - 20:57

Castellano wins five in a row at Saratoga

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Jockey Javier Castellano had a memorable - and perhaps historic - Sunday afternoon, riding five consecutive winners at Saratoga.

Horse racing records being incomplete, it is not known if five consecutive victories is a Saratoga record. On Sept. 3, 2001, John Velazquez set a Saratoga record with six wins on a card, though only four of those came consecutively. In 2004, Velazquez teamed up with trainer Todd Pletcher to win five races, four of them consecutively. Twice in a six-day period in 2003 Jerry Bailey won four consecutive races here.

Sun, 07/25/2010 - 20:57

Bruce's Dream nails longshot at wire in California Dreamin'

DEL MAR, Calif. - Bruce's Dream closed resolutely in the stretch and just did get up in the final jump to beat 19-1 shot Colgan's Chip in a thrilling edition of the $100,000 California Dreamin' Handicap for California-bred older turf horses on Sunday at Del Mar.

Sun, 07/25/2010 - 20:56

Jockey Tyler Baze out for at least three weeks

DEL MAR, Calif. - Tyler Baze is expected to miss at least three weeks and possibly as much as two months after suffering facial injuries when he was struck by the head of his mount before Saturday's fifth race at Del Mar, according to his agent, Vic Stauffer.

Baze was hospitalized on Sunday and was scheduled to meet with doctors to determine whether he would need surgery for fractures near his right eye, Stauffer said.

Sun, 07/25/2010 - 20:55

Rachel Alexandra likely to stay home next time

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Following another successful visit to the Jersey Shore, where she won the $400,000 Lady's Secret at Monmouth on Saturday, reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra returned to Saratoga just before 9 a.m. Sunday morning where she will be based for the remainder of the summer and, if all goes well, where she will most likely make her next start.

Sun, 07/25/2010 - 20:55

Panamanian import Golden Moka upsets Prince of Wales

Golden Moka, a Panamanian import making his first start in North America, sprung a stunning 10-1 upset in the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie on Sunday.

Ridden by the locally based Anthony Stephen, Golden Moka was prominent throughout the 1 3/16-mile Prince of Wales and went on to score by 2 3/4 lengths over Mobil Unit in 1:56.45. Queen's Plate winner Big Red Mike finished third.

Golden Moka dueled for the lead around the clubhouse turn and into the backstretch with Mobil Unit and Big Red Mike.

Sun, 07/25/2010 - 20:30

Hes Too Icy for Me by a nose at Ruidoso

Hes too Icy for Me upset American Runaway in Sunday's $625,000 Rainbow Futurity for 2-year-old Quarter Horses at Ruidoso Downs, ending American Runaway's chances for a sweep of the three major futurities at the New Mexico track this summer and the $4 million bonus attached to those races.

Sun, 07/25/2010 - 19:57

Maybesomaybenot too fast for Sanford foes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Maybesomaybenot outsprinted a field of fast 2-year-olds to the lead and never looked back en route to a 1 1/2-length victory over the late-running Nacho Saint in Sunday's $150,000 Sanford at Saratoga.

Bail Out the Cat, the 9-5 favorite, was among those expected to contest the early pace in the Grade 2 Sanford only to lose all chance when he broke very awkwardly and conceded more than a half-dozen lengths to the rest of the field.

Sun, 07/25/2010 - 19:56

Headache gets there in Claiming Crown Jewel

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Headache got a perfectly timed ride from Julien Leparoux to nail the race-long front-runner, Smarten Destiny, to post a neck victory Saturday in the $138,000 Claiming Crown Jewel, the anchor event of the 12th annual Claiming Crown series at Canterbury Park.

Leparoux, the 2009 Eclipse Award-winning jockey, lagged well back on the gray gelding before launching his winning rally down the center of the track.

"It set up very nice for us," said Leparoux.

Sun, 07/25/2010 - 16:59

Forego next for Vineyard Haven

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Vineyard Haven came out of his 1 3/4-length victory in the $75,000 James Marvin Stakes in good order and will now set his sights on the Grade 1 Forego here on Sept. 4.

Vineyard Haven, under Alan Garcia, went gate to wire, running seven furlongs in 1:22.30 and earning a 102 Beyer Speed Figure. Rick Mettee, assistant trainer for Godolphin Stable, said Vineyard Haven's effort was better than expected.

Sun, 07/25/2010 - 15:08

La Rocca shows grit in Ontario Matron win

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - La Rocca turned back a stretch bid from favored Simply Splendid to take the $150,000 Ontario Matron Stakes at Woodbine Sunday.

La Rocca set fractions of 25.75 and 50.17 in the 1 1/16-mile route while racing well off the rail. Simply Splendid came along the rail at the quarter pole to assume control until the sixteenth pole, but La Rocca battled back to prevail by a half-length in 1:45.63. Euphony nosed out the U.S. shipper Floating Heart for third.

Jim McAleney rode La Rocca for trainer Terry Jordan.