Mon, 06/08/2009 - 00:00

Quality Road back to work

Barbara D. Livingston
Quality Road is being pointed to 3-year-old stakes later this summer.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Jimmy Jerkens won't dwell on what might have been, but he is certainly looking forward to the second half of the year to see what might be.

Mon, 06/08/2009 - 00:00

Big Drama headed to Charles Town

Big Drama, who finished fifth after setting the pace in the Preakness, will make his next start in the $250,000 Red Legend Stakes at Charles Town on June 20, trainer David Fawkes confirmed on Monday. .

Big Drama had his first workout since the Preakness on Sunday morning at Monmouth Park, where he went five furlongs in 1:00.40. Channing Hill was aboard for the work, but Fawkes said Eibar Coa would be reunited with Big Drama for the seven-furlong Red Legend. Coa took off Big Drama to guide Musket Man to a third-place finish in the Preakness.

Mon, 06/08/2009 - 00:00

Pace battle clears way for Gadget Queen

AUBURN, Wash. - A suicidal pace duel set up Gadget Queen for a strong closing move and an emphatic victory Sunday in the $50,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes at Emerald Downs.

Mon, 06/08/2009 - 00:00

Belmont business healthy for non-Crown year

Given the circumstances of not having a Triple Crown at stake nor having Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra in the field, both track and television officials were pleased with the numbers generated from Saturday's 141st Belmont Stakes.

Mon, 06/08/2009 - 00:00

Injury knocks My Bad out of Queen's Plate

My Bad is out of the $1 million Queen's Plate at Woodbine on June 21 after a ligament injury emerged following his five-furlong workout last Friday.

"When he breezed the other day, he came back and he looked like he was fine," said Martha Gonzalez, wife and assistant to My Bad's trainer, Nick Gonzalez. "But then I trained him, and he wasn't."

"It's good that we caught it when we did . . . We're going to re-evaluate him in 30 days, and go from there."

Mon, 06/08/2009 - 00:00

Street Magician sets Presque Isle record

Street Magician led at every call to win the $100,000 Karl Boyes Memorial at Presque Isle Downs Sunday evening.

Trained by Michael Trombetta, Street Magician set a track record, covering the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.24 over the Tapeta surface. Street Magician returned $7.20 to win.

Mon, 06/08/2009 - 00:00

Tricky Temper holds off Dandy Dora

Tricky Temper used her good speed to upset heavily favored Dandy Dora in the $80,870 Mount Royal Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Northlands Park on Sunday.

With Desmond Bryan aboard, Tricky Temper battled with Belong Again for the first half-mile through honest fractions of 23.40 and 46.60. She took the lead on the stretch turn and then easily held off Dandy Dora to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

Tricky Temper, who is trained by Kelly Grieves, paid $32.70.

Mon, 06/08/2009 - 00:00

Wind Storm wins eventful Hastings stakes

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Wind Storm scored an easy win in the $53,513 Senate Appointee Stakes for fillies and mares at Hastings Sunday. Trained by Dave Forster, Wind Storm ended up being the favorite and paid $9.50.

Wind Storm, who was ridden by Richard Hamel, wasn't favored when she left the starting gate. She inherited the role when heavily favored Holy Nova was declared a non-starter by the stewards after she reared and lost her jockey in the starting gate.

Mon, 06/08/2009 - 00:00

Trophy Collector connects in turf debut

Trophy Collector, passing five horses in the final furlong, reached the wire just in time to secure her first career stakes victory in Sunday's $50,000 Oakley at Colonial Downs.

Mon, 06/08/2009 - 00:00

Rail Trip will go for lead in Californian

Benoit & Associates
Trainer Ron Ellis said Rail Trip will be prominent early in Saturday's Grade 2 Californian at Hollywood.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - When Rail Trip made his graded stakes debut in the Grade 2 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap at Hollywood Park on May 9, he failed to make an early lead and wound up losing for the first time in his six-race career.

The tactics are changing for Saturday's $250,000 Californian Stakes, a Grade 2 race at 1 1/8 miles. Trainer Ron Ellis plans for Rail Trip to be prominent early, most likely on the lead, and hopes the 4-year-old gelding can show a career-best performance.

"I think he's a little better as a free-running horse," Ellis said.