SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - As bad as things went for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin Stable at Belmont Park is as good as thing are going for the outfit at Saratoga.
Music Note, a disappointing fifth in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont in June, bounced back with a huge performance, splashing to a powerful 5 1/4-length victory in Saturday's at soggy Saratoga.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Salve Germania's introduction to U.S. racing did not begin well but ended in the Saratoga winner's circle after the Irish-bred filly rallied from last to a shocking head victory over 9-5 favorite Rutherienne in Saturday's
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - As a 2-year-old, Sara Louise was good enough to defeat Rachel Alexandra. So beating mere mortal 3-year-old fillies in Saturday's at Saratoga figured to prove no problem at all for Sara Louise, who rallied to a two-length victory over pacesetter Bold Union.
Trust N Seven made quick work of her older rivals when defeating 11 Indiana-bred fillies and mares in the $70,000 Merrillville at Hoosier Park on Saturday. Trained by Mike Lauer, Trust N Seven won her third stakes of the year, with the first two coming against 3-year-old fillies.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - In last year's Woodward, Past the Point took on the King of American racing when he finished a good second to Curlin. In this year's Woodward, to be run Saturday, Past the Point will take on the reigning Queen of American racing when he takes on Rachel Alexandra.
"I'm going through the Royal Family of horses," said Eoin Harty, who trains Past the Point for Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stable.
DEL MAR, Calif. - The eight-race Sunshine Millions program for California-breds and Florida-breds run each January at Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita will undergo significant changes, including lower purses, in 2010, Santa Anita president Ron Charles said on Friday. Charles said it is unclear how much purse money will be offered for 2010, or what other changes might be made to the series.
From 2003 through this year, the program offered $3.6 million in purses - a $1 million race for older horses, three $500,000 races, two $300,000 races and two $250,000 races.
Nadeshiko looks like a female sprinter on the rise. She picked up her first stakes win last weekend in the $100,000 Remington Park Filly and Mare Sprint, and could be headed next for graded company. Trainer Greg Foley is just starting to look over the sprint options available to Nadeshiko, who is back at Churchill Downs following her successful Remington invasion Aug. 22.
"She's sure gotten good here lately," Foley said. "She kind of had a rough trip in that race and was good enough to overcome it and win."
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - King of the Roxy lived up to his advance billing when he rallllied up the rail to make the lead in late stretch and then drew off to a 1 1/2-length win over nine Ohio-bred peers in the $50,000 Honey Jay stakes here Friday. Tri-Unimet was second, two lengths ahead of Royal Nemesis.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The seven jockeys scheduled to ride in Saturday's $1 million Shadwell Travers Stakes at Saratoga have pledged to donate 10 percent of their earnings to establish a fund for jockey Michael Straight, who suffered critical spinal injuries in a Wednesday spill at Arlington Park.
The fund will be set up through the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund, whose mission is to assist injured and disabled riders.
Eye Got the Blues won the most prestigious race of Sam Houston's meet for Quarter Horses on Friday night, when he led throughout for a 1 3/4-length win over Sixes Wisdom in the Grade 1, $321,900 Sam Houston Futurity. The winner covered 400 yards in 19.62 seconds, and paid $5.40.
Juan Vazquez rode Eye Got the Blues for Roselyn Atkins and Troy Fountain and trainer Frank Cavazos.
On the undercard, Charal Kid ($3.80) wired the field for a length win in the Grade 2, $121,700 Sam Houston Quarter Horse Derby.
