Sun, 01/03/2010 - 00:00

Z.I. Zipp upsets Turfway Prevue

Z.I. Zipp went straight to the lead under Tommy Pompell and never looked back in posting a 17-1 upset Saturday in the for 3-year-olds at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

Bred and owned by Patricia and Michael Freeny and locally based with trainer Bill Connelly, Z.I. Zipp prevailed by 4 1/4 lengths over Fish in a field of eight. The City Zip gelding returned $36.80 as fifth choice after finishing 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:19.66 over Polytrack. The Prevue marked the second victory in four career starts for the winner.

Sun, 01/03/2010 - 00:00

Trainer Miyadi earns 1,000th win

ALBANY, Calif. - Trainer Steve Miyadi recorded the 1,000th winner of his training career, saddling Shesgoinghollywood for a 2 1/4 -length victory in Saturday's first race at Golden Gate Fields.

Russell Baze guided the favored Shesgoinghollywood ($5.20) to victory in the 1 1/16-mile starter allowance race.

The 52-year-old Miyadi saddled his first winner, Wachira, at Del Mar in 1987. He is best known as the trainer of Drag Race, winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity in 1989, and Music Prospector, fourth in the 1990 Preakness.

Sun, 01/03/2010 - 00:00

Aqueduct cancels due to cold

Sunday's nine-race card at Aqueduct was canceled due to extreme cold and high winds, but the facility was to remain open for simulcasting, featuring the opening-day card from Gulfstream Park.

The high temperature for Sunday was only forecasted to be in the low 20s, but with winds expected to be 30 miles-per-hour or stronger - with occasional gusts up to 50 miles per hour - the wind chill will feel close to zero.

Sun, 01/03/2010 - 00:00

New Orleans path to Oaks, Derby begins

NEW ORLEANS - The 3-year-old season begins in earnest Sunday at Fair Grounds, with two-turn allowance races scheduled for races 4 (fillies) and 10 (colts and geldings).

Both races have drawn 3-year-olds who are highly regarded by their connections.

Quiet Temper, who won her maiden by demolishing the field in the Grade 3 Delta Princess on Dec. 4, will begin her 3-year-old campaign in the fourth race, a first-level allowance going a mile and 40 yards.

Sat, 01/02/2010 - 00:00

Cat by the Tale gets perfect trip in San Gorgonio

ARCADIA, Calif. - Cat by the Tale won her first graded stakes in Saturday's at Santa Anita, giving trainer Neil Drysdale his first win in a race at that level since June.

Ridden by Joel Rosario, Cat by the Tale stalked pacesetter Century Park to the final turn and finished 2 1/2 lengths in front of an unlucky Treat Gently, whose saddle slipped early in the race over 1 1/8 miles on turf. Despite the saddle slipping, jockey Rafael Bejarano was able to keep control of the 5-year-old mare and outfinished Rosa Grace by a head for second.

Sat, 01/02/2010 - 00:00

Category Seven DQ'd into Furl Sail win

NEW ORLEANS - Though Never Retreat hit the wire first after a stretch duel with Category Seven in the at Fair Grounds, the stewards disqualified Never Retreat, handing victory to Category Seven.

Piloted by Richard Eramia, Category Seven went four wide into the turn, and was in front by a length in the stretch until Never Retreat, ridden by James Graham, ranged alongside and brushed her. Never Retreat hit the wire a neck in front, but was disqualified to second after a stewards' inquiry and a jockey's claim of foul.

Sat, 01/02/2010 - 00:00

Greenspring wins Native Dancer by six

Greenspring romped by six lengths under Jeremy Rose in the on Saturday at Laurel Park. Encaustic finished second, 1 1/4 lengths before third-place Ah Day.

The 7-5 favorite, Greenspring paid $4.80 and he ran the one mile in 1:38.18.

Owned by Our Chelsea Stable, Greenspring has won 5 of 7 starts. Trainer Chris Grove said he will point the 5-year-old by Orientate to the Grade 2 General George Handicap at Laurel Park on Feb. 15.

Sat, 01/02/2010 - 00:00

Perf gets up in time in Minaret

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Perf, next to last in the early going, swung to the rail in the drive and unleashed a powerful late rally to run down Rate of Exchange in the final strides and come away with a neck victory in the for fillies and mares at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday.

Under Luis Gonzalez, Perf posted her second straight local win and third in a row to take down the $39,000 winner's share, which raised her career earnings to $189,328.

Sat, 01/02/2010 - 00:00

O'Connell wins Tropical at Calder title

MIAMI - Kathleen O'Connell became the first female to win a training title at Calder on Saturday when she clinched the 2009-2010 Tropical at Calder crown.

O'Connell, 58, closed out the meet with 17 victories, two more than runner-up Steve Dwoskin. She ended the 47-day session in high style, with her final winner coming in Friday's Grade 3 Tropical Park Derby with Fly by Phil.

Sat, 01/02/2010 - 00:00

Rachel targets February work

NEW ORLEANS - After getting New Year's Day off, Rachel Alexandra went back to the track Saturday, resuming her routine of jogging a mile and then galloping a mile over the Fair Grounds main track.

The series of gallops is designed to lead to workouts in early February, training for a not-yet-decided 2010 campaign for Rachel.

"With the cool weather today and the off day yesterday, she felt very good," trainer Steve Asmussen said Saturday. "She's traveling great and did exceptional."