Sun, 06/21/2009 - 00:00

Castro wins six, including Dowd

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Eddie Castro tied the Monmouth Park record with six wins on the Sunday card, including a seven-length victory aboard At the Disco in the $60,000 Bernie Dowd Handicap for New Jersey breds.

Castro joined Jose Lezcano, Joe Bravo, Julie Krone, Chris Antley, and Walter Blum as the riders to boot home six on one card.

At the Disco ($10) took charge turning for home and drew off to his first win in eight starts this year. The gray 5-year-old trained by Mary Hartmann ran the one mile, 70 yards in 1:40.99 in the slop.

Sun, 06/21/2009 - 00:00

Eye of the Leopard takes Queen's Plate

Michael Burns Photo
With Eurico Rosa Da Silva up, Eye of the Leopard captures the 150th Queen's Plate at Woodbine on Sunday by overtaking Mr. Foricos Two U in the final strides.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Eye of the Leopard ($6.70) overtook front-runner Mr. Foricos Two U in the final strides to capture the 150th running of the

$1 million Queen's Plate at Woodbine on Sunday.

With Eurico Rosa Da Silva aboard, Eye of the Leopard prevailed by a neck while covering the 1 1/4-mile distance on Polytrack in 2:03.84. It was the fifth Plate victory for Sam-Son Farm, and the fourth for trainer Mark Frostad.

Sun, 06/21/2009 - 00:00

Big Drama bounces back in Red Legend

Big Drama wasted little time returning to his winning ways, rebounding from a decent fifth-place finish in the Preakness Stakes last month to capture the $250,000 Red Legend Stakes on Saturday night at Charles Town.

Sun, 06/21/2009 - 00:00

Heart of a King wires Tall Ships

Heart of a King led every step of the way winning the $100,000 Tall Ships at Presque Isle Downs on Saturday evening. Trained by Michael Pino, Heart of a King broke sharply in the field of six and set moderate fractions under Mario Pino. The 3-year-old son of Lion Heart drew off by 1 1/2 lengths in upper stretch and prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths at the finish. Mikoshi was second, 3 1/2 lengths in front of Colonel Rutledge in third. Heart of a King ran the one mile and 70 yards in 1:40.51 and returned $6.80 to win.

Sun, 06/21/2009 - 00:00

Conclusive scores in State Fair at Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. - Conclusive shook off his challengers after a half-mile and drew off for a 4 1/4-length win in Saturday's $17,500 State Fair Derby at Lincoln State Fair.

Ridden by Jesus Ponce, Conclusive was never challenged in the final quarter-mile and held his margin under hand urging as trainer Kim Veerhusen claimed his first stakes win at the meet. Conclusive returned $4.20 as the narrow second choice in the short field of five.

Sun, 06/21/2009 - 00:00

Battle of Hastings holds on in Turf Cup

Kurtis Coady/Coady Photography
Battle of Hastings, with Tyler Baze up, holds on to win by a head in the Grade 2, $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup on Saturday.

Battle of Hastings got a terrific trip from just off the pace and was pushed to the limit when holding off a game Straight Story to post a head victory Saturday in the Grade 2, at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va.

With Tyler Baze aboard for owner Mike House and trainer Jeff Mullins, Battle of Hastings returned $7.40 as the favorite after finishing 1 3/16 miles in 1:57.79 over a firm turf.

Sun, 06/21/2009 - 00:00

Fort Prado shows he's still got it

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Trainer Chris Block talked recently about retiring Fort Prado at the end of 2009. On Saturday, 8-year-old Fort Prado showed why he hasn't been retired yet, winning the Black Tie Affair Handicap by a neck over favored Gentleman Chester in a rousing conclusion to the six-stakes Prairie State Festival for Illinois-breds.

Sun, 06/21/2009 - 00:00

Fillies prominent in Queen's Plate

Michael Burns
Milwaukee Appeal was impressive winning the Oaks but she will face males, stretch out in distance, and return on two weeks' rest Sunday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Woodbine Oaks winner Milwaukee Appeal has improved by leaps and bounds since making her first two career starts in maiden claimers, and she should be well-backed on Sunday in the 150th running of the $1 million Queen's Plate.

Milwaukee Appeal and Oaks runner-up Tasty Temptation were both supplemented to the Plate at a cost of $25,000, and both have legitimate shots in the 1 1/4-mile race for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds. Fillies have won the Plate 33 times, with the last being Dancethruthedawn in 2001. Ginger Brew was a close second in last year's running.

Sat, 06/20/2009 - 00:00

Grazen captures Affirmed in stakes debut

Benoit & Associates
Grazen, ridden by jockey Rafael Bejarano, led throughout Saturday's Grade 3 Affirmed and won by 2 3/4 lengths.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Repelling a solid challenge on the backstretch, Grazen won his stakes debut in Saturday's at Hollywood Park. The style of the win suggested that the late-developing 3-year-old could show further improvement.

Grazen led throughout the Grade 3 Affirmed. He fought off a threat from longshot Fiddlers Afleet through early fractions of 24.06 and 46.97 seconds before pulling away to win by 2 3/4 lengths under a confident ride from jockey Rafael Bejarano.

Sat, 06/20/2009 - 00:00

Smart Surprise all the way in Hill 'n' Dale

Smart Surprise ($5.10), trained by Josie Carroll for Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, won the $105,500 Hill 'n' Dale Stakes at Woodbine.

Smart Surprise led throughout the 1 1/16-mile route, setting slow fractions of 24.66 and 49.44 seconds under Patrick Husbands. Favored Serenading, another Hill 'n' Dale runner, rallied along the rail into contention on the far turn before fading to fourth. Roses 'n' Wine finished second, and Arden Belle closed for third in the six-horse field of fillies and mares.