Thu, 07/30/2009 - 00:00

Oak Tree trims some stakes, boosts others

The purses of 15 stakes, including eight California Cup races, have been reduced for the upcoming Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting, which runs from Sept. 30 to Nov. 8. The meet is highlighted by the two-day Breeders' Cup program on Nov. 6-7.

In addition, the purses for eight early October prep races for the Breeders' Cup have been altered. The purses for three of the Breeders' Cup preps have been cut. The Goodwood Stakes was reduced $150,000, to $350,000; the Yellow Ribbon Stakes was cut $100,000, to $300,000; and the Oak Tree Mile is down $50,000, to $150,000.

Thu, 07/30/2009 - 00:00

Wolf Tail wins maiden in Graduation

DEL MAR, Calif. - Wolf Tail, winless in his first three starts, held off a late threat from Grace Upon Grace to pull an upset in Wednesday's $100,000 Graduation Stakes at Del Mar.

Ridden by Joel Rosario, Wolf Tail ($37.40) ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.15, winning by a neck. Daylight Storm finished third in the field of eight 2-year-old statebreds.

Wolf Tail rallied from seventh, with a four-wide move on the turn, while Grace Upon Grace snuck through on the inside in early stretch.

Thu, 07/30/2009 - 00:00

Toccet's Charm takes final stakes of Colonial meet

Toccet's Charm came from off the early pace to take command in the stretch and draw clear to win the $50,000 Jamestown at Colonial Downs Tuesday evening, the final card of the meet.

Jockey Malcom Franklin kept Toccet's Charm on the inside while chasing the early pace before dueling in upper stretch. He then asked for the 2-year-old's best and Toccet's Charm responded, drawing off to win by 2 1/2 lengths. Argent Affair was second in the field of eight Virginia-bred 2-year-olds.

Thu, 07/30/2009 - 00:00

Mata, Skerrett battling in Pinnacle jockeys' race

When Terry Houghton won six races at Pinnacle Race Course on opening weekend here in early June, it looked like just another typical Michigan meet, with Houghton running away with the jockey race. But Houghton left for Mountaineer and now there's a real contest for top rider.

Thu, 07/30/2009 - 00:00

Franks Memorial Sales Stakes at Evangeline

Graduates of the John Franks Memorial 2-year-olds in training sale this past March will be showcased this weekend at Evangeline Downs, with the filly division slated for Friday night and the colt and gelding race scheduled for Saturday evening. Both stakes will be worth $100,000.

Thu, 07/30/2009 - 00:00

Apprentice Dill gaining momentum at Columbus

The meet opened on a high note last Friday with both attendance and ontrack handle up from last year's opening weekend. On the track, apprentice Ashley Dill opened the crowd's eyes with a riding triple, including a $42.60 winner in the middle of the card.

Thu, 07/30/2009 - 00:00

Scott Stevens nearing 4,000th win

Jockey Scott Stevens is quickly moving in on his 4,000th career victory after winning his 3,997th race Sunday when he guided 24-1 Quarter Horse longshot Quattro to victory in the Grade 3, $44,550 Bayer Legend Central Derby Challenge at Canterbury Park.

* Wheely Fast set a new course record for 330 yards in the last race Sunday, an allowance event for Quarter Horses, winging home in 16.676 seconds under rider Jerry Winters. Trained by Ron Winget and owned by Al and Claire Lundgren, Wheely Fast broke the record of 16.781 set by Callies Corona in 2007.

Thu, 07/30/2009 - 00:00

Bennett after 9th straight Thistledown win

Less than two months after spring meeting champion Jamie Ness set a Thistledown record for consecutive training victories by visiting the winner's circle nine times without a defeat, veteran horseman Gerald Bennett is poised to match Ness's efforts Friday.

Thu, 07/30/2009 - 00:00

Well Armed back: San Diego first

DEL MAR, Calif. - Winning a $6 million race would make you fat and happy. Trainer Eoin Harty, one of the wittiest guys on the backstretch, is happy. Well Armed, whom Harty trained to win the Dubai World Cup four months ago, is fat.

"I can't get the belly off him," Harty said while feeding Well Armed a carrot at his Del Mar barn. "He looks a little too prosperous."

He's entitled to be that way after taking down a first prize of $3.6 million. And despite the extra weight, Harty is enthusiastic over how Well Armed is training. "Well Armed is super," he said emphatically.

Wed, 07/29/2009 - 00:00

Spa gets off to a rousing start

Barbara D. Livingston
Hot Dixie Chick, ridden by Robby Albarado, dominates the opening-day feature, the Schuylerville for 2-year-old fillies.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Though sunshine eventually gave way to rain, Mother Nature couldn't dampen a robust opening day at Saratoga.

A crowd of 25,444 ushered in the 141st season, an increase of 40 percent over last year's crowd of 18,127. The ontrack crowd wagered $3,651,221, an increase of 30 percent over last year's $2,813,982. All-sources handle was $14,216,133, an increase of 24 percent over last year's $11,431,845.