ARCADIA, Calif. - Indian Blessing's absence from the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 6 does not necessarily mean the two-time champion has run her last race.
Sunday, trainer Bob Baffert said Indian Blessing would pass the BC Filly and Mare Sprint after watching the 4-year-old filly work six furlongs in 1:12.80 on Santa Anita's Pro-Ride synthetic track. He was not pleased with the way she traveled over the surface, but said he was happy with her physical condition.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Black Mamba made her swan song for the Double Down Stables a winning one Sunday at Keeneland, getting a perfect trip under Robby Albarado when capturing the over a yielding turf course.
Maintaining an ideal striking spot throughout the 1 1/2-mile journey, Black Mamba bounded to the lead in the last of three turns before finishing 1 1/2 lengths clear of a belated run from Winter View and jockey Julien Leparoux.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Dyna Stroll overcame a wide trip to win the $107,186 Ascot Graduation for 2-year-olds at Hastings Sunday.
With Mario Gutierrez, aboard Dyna Stroll lost a lot of ground going around the first two turns in the mile and a sixteenth feature, but he still managed to produce a strong late run to win by a widening 2 1/4 lengths over Silly Fella. Silly Fella stalked the early pace, took the lead on the middle of the stretch turn and held on to edge Victor's Magic by neck.
You Go West Girl put herself in position to be crowned New York-bred female turf champion with an explosive late kick that carried her to a three-length victory in Sunday's at Belmont Park.
The victory came one month after You Go West Girl won the John Hettinger Stakes here with a similar late run.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Bodua edged by the 2-5 favorite, Jenny's So Great, in deep stretch to take the $150,800 Fanfreluche Stakes at Woodbine Sunday.
Bodua ($20.50) went right to the front and set honest fractions in the six-furlong dash for 2-year-old fillies. Jenny's So Great stalked on the outside and hooked up with Bodua midway on the turn, before assuming a slim lead in the stretch.
Bodua fought back in the final sixteenth to prevail by neck, in a time of 1:10.48. Attitude Included was another half-length back in third in the seven-horse field of Ontario-breds.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Two-time champion Indian Blessing will not be pre-entered on Monday for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 6, trainer Bob Baffert said on Sunday.
Baffert was unhappy with Indian Blessing's six-furlong workout in 1:12.80 on Santa Anita's Pro-Ride surface Sunday morning.
"I think I'm going to pass," he said. "She just doesn't like the track. What can you do? She looks good. It's frustrating.
"I'm not going to pre-enter because I don't want the temptation to change my mind."
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Tar Heel Mom dueled Bold Union into submission Saturday night, pulling away to a 4 1/2-length victory in the $65,000 Seton Hall University Stakes at the Meadowlands.
Bold Union got the first jump out of the gate, only to have Tar Heel Mom quickly pick up the chase. They battled through the slop in brisk fractions of 22.10 and 44.45 seconds before Tar Heel Mom suddenly opened up in the lane with Jose Lezcano aboard for trainer Stanley Hough.
Owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Mike Maker have some fresh Breeders' Cup ammunition in Kera's Kitten and Lisa's Kitten after the 2-year-olds gave their connections a sweep of a pair of $100,000 turf stakes Saturday night at Retama Park.
Earlier this week, Maker said a convincing performance would put either horse under consideration for the Breeders' Cup. Both delivered, with Kera's Kitten romping home by five lengths in the $100,000 El Joven and Lisa's Kitten overcoming trouble for a length win in the $100,000 La Senorita.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Saturday was billed as New York Showcase Day. It turned into Ramon Dominguez Showcase Day.
Dominguez, the dominant rider on this circuit all year long, turned in another brilliant performance, winning four stakes, capped by a front-running, three-quarter-length score aboard Haynesfield in the before a crowd of 4,180 at dreary Belmont Park.
