Sat, 08/01/2009 - 00:00

Target Sighted takes to turf at Laurel

Target Sighted raced out of town on dirt for the first two starts of his career, but relished the opportunity to get on the grass at his home base of Laurel Park.

Coming off a maiden victory at Penn National, Target Sighted ($25.20) rallied to overtake Music City by a neck in the opening-day feature, the $50,000 Humphrey S. Finney Stakes for 3-year-old Maryland-breds.

Ridden by Jonathon Joyce for trainer Fran Campitelli, Target Sighted was the only horse in a field of five with no turf experience. He completed 1 1/16 miles on a course labeled good in 1:45.28.

Sat, 08/01/2009 - 00:00

Smokin Hero runs 'em off their feet

Smokin Hero was much too quick for his four New York-bred 3-year-old rivals in Saturday's $50,000 Ontario County Stakes at Finger Lakes.

Sent to the front by jockey John Davila Jr., Smokin Hero ($4.20) established command through fractions of 21.04 and 44.64 seconds. He cruised to a three-length victory over stablemate Early Response in a stakes-record time of 1:09.25 for six furlongs. It was also the fastest six- furlong time of the season at Finger Lakes.

Since coming to leading trainer Chris Englehart's barn, Smokin Hero is 2 for 2. Overall, he is 4 for 11.

Sat, 08/01/2009 - 00:00

Colonel John conquers turf

Benoit & Associates
Colonel John wins the Wickerr on the Del Mar turf Friday under Garrett Gomez.

DEL MAR, Calif. - The issue of what to do with Colonel John for the rest of this summer went largely ignored between Bill Casner of WinStar Farm and trainer Eoin Harty on Saturday morning, a day after the colt's convincing win in his turf debut in the $91,970 Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar.

The Wickerr was intended as a prep race for the $500,000 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 5 or the $1 million Pacific Classic here on Sept. 6. Instead, Colonel John could follow a different career path - on turf.

Sat, 08/01/2009 - 00:00

Commentator works like a young pup

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The sight of Commentator on the track always brings a smile to trainer Nick Zito's face. When Commentator works the way he did Saturday morning, the smile broadens.

Commentator completed preparations for his attempt at winning a third Whitney Handicap next Saturday with a four-furlong work in 47.85 seconds Saturday morning over the Oklahoma training track. Under regular exercise rider Maxine Correa, Commentator went in fractions of 11.61 seconds and 23.43 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.64.

Sat, 08/01/2009 - 00:00

The Rumor's True wins at the right time

OPELOUSAS, La. - Longshot The Rumor's True ($38.60) unleashed a strong rally down the stretch to outfinish odd-on favorite Rebel Queen and capture Friday night's filly division of the $100,000 John Franks Memorial Stakes at Evangeline Downs. It was another neck back to Addy Annie in third, followed by Twelve Stepper.

Sat, 08/01/2009 - 00:00

Casanova Killer sets Penn National track record

Casanova Killer broke a 13-year-old track record when she cruised to a 6 3/4-length victory in Friday night's $100,000 Jennie Wade Handicap at Penn National Race Course.

Sat, 08/01/2009 - 00:00

Bennett's win streak ends at eight

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Trainer Gerald Bennet's consecutvie win streak at Thistledown came to an end with eight winners, one short of the record nine won by Jamie Ness just two months ago, when his charge Berkley Square finished fifth in Friday's sevenh race at Thistledown.

Berkley Square broke a step slowly in the five-furlong claiming event but recovered nicely under Ernesto Oro, who handled the riding chores for Bennett's previous eight winners, to settle just three lengths off the early lead. He then turned in an even effort, finishing fifth beaten four lengths.

Sat, 08/01/2009 - 00:00

Colonel John impresses in turf debut

DEL MAR, Calif. - A two-length win by Colonel John in Friday's $91,970 Wickerr

Stakes at Del Mar, the five-time stakes winner's turf debut, left trainer Eoin Harty dazzled, and unsure whether to stay on turf.

"It's certainly a viable option now," Harty said. "He can do anything."

Fri, 07/31/2009 - 00:00

Be Fair wins Lake George in slop

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - D. Wayne Lukas admitted he might have mismanaged Be Fair when he tried her in Grade 1 races like the Acorn and Prioress earlier this season. But the Hall of Fame trainer couldn't have spotted his 3-year-old filly any better than Friday's $142,500 Lake George Stakes at Saratoga, which Be Fair won by four widening lengths over Mary's Follies after the race scratched down to just four starters after being switched from the turf to a sloppy main track earlier in the day.

Fri, 07/31/2009 - 00:00

Quality Road ready for Amsterdam

Barbara D. Livingston
Quality Road gets a bath Wednesday after working five furlongs in 59.20 seconds in preparation for his return in Monday's Grade 2 Amsterdam.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The 6 1/2-furlong Amsterdam has never been known as a stepping-stone to the Grade 1 Shadwell Travers. But such could be the case this summer if Quality Road performs to expectations when making his much-anticipated return in Monday's Grade 2 Amsterdam at Saratoga.