LOUISVILLE, Ky. - WinStar Farm strengthened its position for the 2010 classics and Calvin Borel salvaged a tie for the jockey crown at the Churchill Downs fall meet when Super Saver rolled to a front-running romp Saturday in the Grade 2, $191,250 .
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - WinStar Farm strengthened its position for the 2010 classics and Calvin Borel salvaged a tie for the jockey crown at the Churchill Downs fall meet when Super Saver rolled to a front-running romp Saturday in the Grade 2, $191,250 .
The Penn National-based colt Turbo Speed remained undefeated in three starts by capturing Saturday s $81,450 Pennsylvania Nursery at Philadelphia Park.
Ridden by David Cora for trainer Bernie Houghton, Turbo Speed ($5.40) was carried extremely wide turning for home in the seven-furlong race for Pennsylvania-bred 2-year-olds, but managed to overtake tiring pacesetter El Rocco with about a furlong remaining and drew clear by 1 1/2 lengths. The winning time on a fast track was 1:26.03.
Jockey Jeremy Rose made his road trip to Laurel Park worthwhile Saturday when he guided Regal Solo to a 2 1/4-length victory in the $50,000 Jennings Handicap.
It was the fourth track Rose had ridden at within the past week. After riding for top trainers Tony Dutrow and Mike Trombetta at Philadelphia Park last Monday and Tuesday, Rose finished second aboard Greenspring in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight at Aqueduct on Thanksgiving Day, then went to Churchill Downs, where he rode Bullsbay, who was seventh in the Grade 2 Clark Handicap on Friday.
Disco T and Global Winds, two of the prime contenders in Monday's featured ninth race at Philadelphia Park, both are trained by Ramon Preciado.
But since the stablemates will race uncoupled, bettors may have a difficult time determining which of Preciado's pair is the better win candidate in a second-level allowance worth $47,000 and carded for a mile.
The past couple of months haven't been particularly productive for trainer Mark Shuman's stable. Since Oct. 1, Shuman has gone 0 for 15 at Laurel Park and 2 for 19 at the Meadowlands.
Shuman's statistics, however, are much brighter when he ships into Penn National. Over the same time span where he has been ice-cold in Maryland and New Jersey, Shuman shows a 4-for-8 record and a profitable $2.60 return on investment at the central Pennsylvania oval.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Joey's Best ($10.10) graduated in style at Woodbine Saturday, taking the $125,800 Kingarvie Stakes under Patrick Husbands in his first try around two turns.
Victory Launch set a quick pace in the 1 1/16-mile test for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds, while being tracked by favored Bold Canadian and second choice Ring My Surprise.
Trainer David Duggan will begin serving a seven-day suspension on Monday after one of his horses tested positive for a banned substance. Duggan, who was also fined $1,000, had the suspension reduced from 15 days for declining to appeal.
The Duggan-trained Lyke a Hurricane was found to have the presence of the medication Flunixin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, in his system following a second-place finish in a $25,000 claiming race on Sept. 30 at Belmont Park. Lyke a Hurricane was disqualified and unplaced in the order of finish.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Buddy's Saint stamped himself as a legitimate contender for next year's Kentucky Derby with a stylish-looking 4 3/4-length victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 at Aqueduct.
Peppi Knows rallied to be second, 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Citrus Kid. He was followed in the order of finish by Fudge Truffle, Homeboykris, and Grand Rapport.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Kodiak Kowboy threw his hat in the ring to be considered champion sprinter by running down Bribon to win Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000
by three-quarters of a length at Aqueduct. It was a head back to Vineyard Haven in third.
The victory was the third Grade 1 of the year for Kodiak Kowboy and his fourth stakes win this season. He has twice defeated Fabulous Strike, considered by many to be the top dirt sprinter in North America.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Dale Romans was denied his first Golden Rod Stakes when he sent out Sara Louise to a runner-up finish to Rachel Alexandra last year. There was no denying Romans this year, as Sassy Image, getting a perfect trip under Robby Albarado, glided to a 3 3/4-length score Saturday on the "Stars of Tomorrow" program that closed the 21-day Churchill Downs fall meet.
"This was a nice one," said Romans, who trains Sassy Image for his older brother, Jerry Romans Jr. "Especially with the family ties and all."