OCEANPORT, N.J. - Gypsy's Warning edged Maram by a nose Monday in the Grade 3, $147,000 for fillies and mares on the turf, the first graded stakes of Monmouth Park's 50-day, $50 million summer meet.
In was impressive effort by Gypsy's Warning, a multiple Group 1 winner in her native South Africa making her United States debut while returning from a layoff of almost one year.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A return visit to Southern California for Monday's $250,000 provided jockey Corey Nakatani with his biggest win of the year aboard the longshot Victor's Cry.
Nakatani, who rode in Southern California until last October and has ridden in Arkansas and Kentucky earlier this year, scored his first graded stakes win of 2010 aboard Victor's Cry in the Grade 1 Shoemaker.
Nakatani needed a clear path in the final quarter-mile, and a willing closer in Victory's Cry ($44.40), to catch 9-5 favorite Karelian right at the wire and win by a head.
MIAMI - Turf or dirt, it just doesn't seem to matter these days to Mambo Meister.
Five weeks after winning the Grade 3 Miami Mile over the turf, Mambo Meister returned on the main track to dominate Monday's Grade 3 Memorial Day Handicap at Calder, drawing off through the stretch to an easy 7 3/4-length victory over Causeway's Kin .
By Mary Rampellini
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Redding Colliery looks like he might be an up and coming player in the handicap ranks after he put away a nice field of horses by 6 3/4 lengths Monday in the Grade 3, $300,000 .
The 1 1/16-mile race was the richest of seven stakes worth a cumulative $1 million. The program, known as Lone Star Million Day, is annually the most lucrative card of racing in Texas.
Mr. Windjammer came from far back to win the $50,000 George Barker Handicap for the second straight year on Monday afternoon at Finger Lakes.
Ninth of 10 older New York-bred sprinters with a quarter-mile remaining in the six-furlong sprint, Mr. Windjammer ($8.30) made up roughly 5 3/4 lengths in the final two furlongs and nailed pacesetter Pro's Pal at the wire to win by a neck.
The victory ended an eight-race losing streak for Mr. Windjammer, a 5-year-old gelding ridden by Gabriel Suarez for trainer Jonathan Buckley. The winning time was 1:11.17.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Handicappers have learned over the years to pay close attention when Florida-based trainer Marty Wolfson ships horses in to New York for graded stakes. Over the last 18 years - and not including You and I Forever in Monday's Metropolitan Handicap - Wolfson has won eight graded stakes in New York from just 41 starters.
This weekend, Wolfson will bring a mini-army of six to New York to compete in five of the eight stakes to be run Friday and Saturday.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Tuscan Evening, who extended her 2010 winning streak to five races in Saturday's Gamely Stakes at Hollywood Park, may become a Midwest girl this summer.
Monday, Dan Ward, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer's assistant, said the $200,000 Modesty Handicap at Arlington Park on July 17 may be Tuscan Evening's next start, designed as a prep for the $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes, also at Arlington Park, on Aug. 21. Both races are over 1 3/16 miles on turf.
The timing of the Grade 3 Modesty Handicap is why the race is being considered.
Givinitaroyaleffort won his maiden in the Grade 1, $1 million Heritage Place Futurity for Quarter Horses on Saturday night, when he won a photo over Knuckles O'Toole. The race was the richest of seven stakes worth a cumulative $1.9 million at Remington Park.
Givinitaroyaleffort ($52.80) covered 350 yards in 17.40 seconds. Stormy Smith rode the winner for LMR 2010 and trainer Ed Hardy. Llano Teller, the nation's top-ranked 2-year-old Quarter Horse, was third, a nose behind Knuckles O'Toole.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Southern Fireball was placed first in Sunday's at Hollywood Park after race winner Repo was disqualified from first to second for causing interference in the stretch.
Repo led by a half-length with a furlong remaining, but drifted to the inside, forcing Martin Garcia on Southern Fireball to check his mount. Repo finished a half-length in front of Southern Fireball ($6.80), finishing six furlongs on turf in 1:10.72. After a brief inquiry, the stewards demoted Repo and placed Southern Fireball first.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Zenyatta breezed six furlongs in 1:14.80 at Hollywood Park on Monday, a workout that was slower than some of her recent drills.
Zenyatta will make her next start in the $250,000 Vanity Handicap on June 13. Monday's work was her second-to-last workout before that race, when she will attempt to stretch her unbeaten streak to 17 races.