Sat, 08/01/2009 - 00:00

Shadowbdancing's speed carries in Govenor's

CHESTER, W.Va. - Like most of the winners on the Saturday undercard at Mountaineer Racetrack, Shadowbdancing put his speed to full advantage when leading all the way in the $125,000 West Virginia Governor's Stakes, the richest co-feature on West Virginia Derby Day.

Jockey Randy Meier sent Shadowbdancing to the front going into the first turn, and after opening a clear advantage, the colt just kept moving, prevailing as Meier pleased. Shadowbdancing returned $5 as the favorite in a field of seven older horses.

Sat, 08/01/2009 - 00:00

Raise the Reward rallies at River Downs

Raise the Reward came from off the early pace under Hector Rosario Jr. to win the $55,000 Horizon at River Downs. The Horizon, for accredited Ohio-bred 3-year-olds, was scheduled to be run on the turf, but was moved to the main course.

Trained by Tim Hamm, Raise the Reward was kept to the outside of the dueling leaders before rallying on the far turn and taking over in the stretch to win by 3 3/4 lengths. Ketchin Overdrive challenged the winner in the stretch and ran second, 8 1/4 lengths in front of favorite Brother Terry, who finished third.

Sat, 08/01/2009 - 00:00

Glitter Rox in an upset at Woodbine

Glitter Rox, the 15-1 outsider in a five-horse field, closed strongly along the inside to capture the Grade 3, $183,000 Royal North Stakes at Woodbine.

Sat, 08/01/2009 - 00:00

Lady Alexander gets up at Monmouth

Lady Alexander survived a stretch duel with Ocean Colors to score a three-length victory in the off-the-turf $60,000 Mongo Queen at Monmouth Park.

Ridden by Daniel Centeno for trainer Bruce Alexander, Lady Alexander ($5.80) ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.87 while winning for the third time in six lifetime starts.

Ocean Colors, the 8-5 favorite in a field of six 3-year-old fillies, held second, 3 1/2 lengths in front of Puddy de Luca.

Six horses were scratched when the race was taken off the turf.

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.