Hastings invader Arkhill looks like the one to beat in Wednesday’s featured seventh race at Northlands. The 1 1/16-mile race, open to horses who have not won a race other than maiden or claiming at a mile or farther this year, and $40,000 claimers, drew six horses.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Mark Frostad and Ian Black each fielded a pair of entrants in both the Toronto Cup and Nijinsky here at Woodbine last Saturday.
And while each trainer came away with a victory, Frostad had the upper hand by virtue of his one-two finish with Windward Islands and Grand Adventure in the Grade 2, $312,400 Nijinsky.
Windward Islands, a 6-year-old gelding, was making his first start in more than 13 months and just his 17th career appearance in the 1 3/8-mile Nijinsky over yielding turf.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Trainer Jim Cassidy completed a sweep of the opening weekend's graded stakes races at Del Mar when favored Evening Jewel captured the Grade 2, $150,000 San Clemente Handicap for 3-year-old fillies on turf on Sunday.
One day earlier, Cassidy sent out The Usual Q.T. to a victory in the Grade 1 Eddie Read.
"This is a little like hitting two grand slam home runs in the bottom of the ninth of the World Series," said Cassidy, a passionate New York Yankees fan.
Evening Jewel ($5.40), like The Usual Q.T., was ridden by Victor Espinoza.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.