ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Points of Grace, Canada's champion female turf horse in 2009, is slated to make her first start since last Oct. 31 in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Nassau Stakes.
The Nassau, a one-mile turf race for fillies and mares, will be one of two stakes contested here Saturday along with the Grade 3, $150,000 Eclipse for 4-year-olds and upwards at 1 1/16 miles.
AUBURN, Wash. - No Flies on Doodle raced to a narrow victory Monday in the $50,000 Washington Legislators Handicap at Emerald Downs, her second consecutive stakes win and seventh victory in 10 career starts. The second favorite in the wagering, No Flies on Doodle ($6.60) defeated 7-5 favorite Hallelujah Trail by a neck, with Barbara's Love another half-length back in the field of six older fillies and mares.
Reachforthecastle, whose odds were nearly seven times as high as the next longest shot in a field of six fillies and mares, just reached the wire first in a three-horse photo to pull a shocking upset in Monday night's $75,000 Ohio Valley Handicap at Mountaineer Racetrack.
The 5-year-old Reachforthecastle's last two wins came for $5,000 claiming tags on the Polytrack at Turfway Park. Her substitute rider, Luciano Hernandez, was 0 for 21 in 2010, riding mostly at Thistledown.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Just Jenda extended her Monmouth Park unbeaten streak to three with a 1 1/2-length win over McVictory on Sunday in the for fillies and mares.
In the supporting event, Strike It Rich posted a front-running victory in the for 3-year-old fillies on the turf.
ALBANY, Calif. - History repeated in the at Golden Gate Fields on Monday when Run It scored a $41.60 upset in winning a photo over millionaire Bold Chieftain.
Bold Chieftain lost by a head after sticking his head in front in the lane. Last year, he also stuck his head in front in the lane before losing to Autism Awareness, also by a head.
Run It grabbed the lead in the paceless 1 1/16-mile race, going the opening quarter in 25.82 seconds, the half in 50.48, and six furlongs in 1:14.23.
ALTOONA, Iowa - She's Better Loud engaged in a speed duel with stablemate That'll Be the Day before pulling clear to a 4 3/4-length victory in the $60,000 Bob Bryant, a six-furlong sprint race for 3-year-old Iowa bred fillies on Monday at Prairie Meadows.
"After the quarter, I thought they were going to kill each other." said trainer Mike Natale.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Dubai Majesty easily defended her title Monday in the at Churchill Downs, gliding past favored Hot Dixie Chick approaching the eighth pole en route to a 4 1/2-length triumph in the seventh running of the Grade 3, $100,000 race.
"I never hit her," said Miguel Mena, who rode Dubai Majesty for trainer Bret Calhoun.
Heavily favored Moralist rallied to win the $35,000 Honor the Hero Turf Express for the second straight year on Monday at Canterbury Park.
A 5-year-old gelding ridden by Ry Eikleberry, Moralist ($2.80) was blocked as he entered the turn of the five-furlong sprint, but squeezed through on the rail and prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Bullet from Abroad.
Moralist's winning time of 56.26 seconds was close to the track record of 56.00 set by Rockhurst in 2005.
Illusive Crystals remained perfect against Colorado-bred rivals on Monday, when she overcame a 10-month layoff and favorite Vannacide to take the $30,000 Ingrid Knotts at Arapahoe Park.
Illusive Crystals ($6) is now 4 for 4 against Colorado-breds. She stalked the pace early in the Ingrid Knotts for fillies and mares at six furlongs, took over after a half-mile in 44.80 seconds, then went on to a 7 3/4-length win over Heaven's Prize. It was another head back in third to defending champ Vannacide.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Quality Road hadn't been out in 114 days and had just run six furlongs in 1:08.57 in the heat at Belmont Park. With a quarter-mile left to run in the 117th , Quality Road, the 1-4 favorite, had to be as good as advertised in order to win.
He was better.
With a spank or two from John Velazquez's whip, Quality Road pulled away from would-be challenger Musket Man in the stretch to record a 1 1/2-length victory in the Grade 1, $500,000 Metropolitan Handicap and confirm his status as the best older male horse in training.
