Mon, 05/17/2010 - 00:00

Super Saver getting bit of a break

ELMONT, N.Y. - Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, whose Triple Crown hopes were dashed by an eighth-place finish in Saturday's Preakness Stakes, arrived at Belmont Park Sunday morning and will get a brief freshening before being pointed for a summer/fall campaign.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said Monday that Super Saver will be in light training for the immediate future with the idea of freshening him up for the $500,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga on July 31 or the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Aug. 1 at Monmouth Park.

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 00:00

Queen's Plate unlikely for Essence Hit Man

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Last Saturday's Queenston was billed as an important stepping-stone to the July 4 Queen's Plate.

But when the dust had cleared, it was Essence Hit Man, who currently is not nominated to the Queen's Plate and is not considered a likely participant, who stole the show in the $150,400 Queenston for Ontario-foaled 3-year-olds.

"He ran great, really," said Audre Cappuccitti, who trains Essence Hit Man and is his co-owner and breeder in partnership with her husband, Gord

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 00:00

Acclamation staying long on turf

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Acclamation's first stakes win in Saturday's Grade 2 Jim Murray Handicap may define the rest of his career.

Acclamation made his first start over 1 1/2 miles on turf in the Murray and took to the new distance easily, leading throughout and winning by 7 1/2 lengths. Jockey Christian Santiago Reyes was under strict instructions not to strike Acclamation with his whip. It was not a factor. The other runners never posed a threat.

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 00:00

Zenyatta works toward Vanity

Zenyatta, the undefeated two-time champion, worked six furlongs in 1:13.20 at Hollywood Park on Monday in preparation for the $250,000 Vanity Handicap over 1 1/8 miles on June 13.

Ridden by Mike Smith, her regular rider, Zenyatta started two lengths behind stablemate Aitcho and finished slightly in front. Zenyatta ran the last three furlongs of the workout in 35.80 seconds, according to Hollywood Park clocker Russell Hudak.

"I thought she worked very well," trainer John Shirreffs said. "Aitcho is a good work horse."

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 00:00

Rachel Alexandra breezes in slop

Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year, breezed a very easy five furlongs Monday morning at Churchill Downs, marking her second straight slow workout since the filly incurred her second straight defeat in the April 30 La Troienne Stakes at the Louisville, Ky., track.

With Shaun Bridgmohan aboard at about 6:30 a.m. Eastern, Rachel Alexandra went in 1:04.20 over a sloppy surface, with her clocking being the 12th fastest of 13 at the distance for the morning. Her gallop-out time for six furlongs was 1:17.80.

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 00:00

Noosa Beach ties track record in Seattle Cap

AUBURN, Wash. - Noosa Beach tied Atta Boy Roy's six-furlong track record of 1:07 and ran his sprint record to 6 for 6 with a one-length victory Sunday in the $50,000 Seattle Handicap at Emerald Downs.

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 00:00

Del Mar, Hollywood reach out to Oak Tree

Officials with Del Mar and Hollywood Park have informed the Oak Tree Racing Association that their racetracks are available for a race meeting in October if Oak Tree is unable to reach an agreement with Magna International Development on a lease at Santa Anita later this year.

Last week, MID, the parent company of Santa Anita's owner Magna Entertainment, voided its lease with Oak Tree, which hosts an annual fall meeting at Santa Anita.

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 00:00

Final Mesa remains perfect in two starts

Fans had a hard time separating fast fillies Twelve Pack Shelly and Final Mesa, betting them both down to even money in Saturday's Polly Drummond Stakes at Delaware Park.

But when Twelve Pack Shelly went to her knees coming out of the gate, the race belonged to Final Mesa.

A New York-bred daughter of Sky Mesa ridden by Jose Valdivia Jr., Final Mesa ($4.20) cruised to her second straight victory, drawing off to a 4 3/4-length victory in the 4 1/2-furlong sprint for 2-year-old fillies.

Sun, 05/16/2010 - 00:00

Blind Luck headed for Hollywood Oaks

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Kentucky Oaks winner Blind Luck, the nation's leading 3-year-old filly, will make her next start in the $150,000 Hollywood Oaks at Hollywood Park on June 6, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said on Sunday.

Hollendorfer considered sending Blind Luck to the $250,000 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park on June 26, but said he wants to keep the filly in California for her next start to reduce travel.

Sun, 05/16/2010 - 00:00

Ex-claimer Made for Magic wins Grade 2 Milady

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Mission accomplished with Made for Magic.

In recent months, trainer A.C. Avila has been angling to make Made for Magic a graded stakes winner, and finally did so in Sunday's $150,000 at Hollywood Park. Made for Magic ($21.60) rallied from third in a field of six fillies and mares and fought off a stubborn challenge from 6-5 favorite Wynning Ride to win the Grade 2 Milady by a half-length.